There are many challenges faced by women in science, from accessing funding for their research to dealing with workplace difficulties. According to recent UN statistics, women are typically given smaller research grants than their male colleagues and they represent only 30% of all researchers.  

Within ECOTIP, Marja Koski, Associate Professor at DTU Aqua, coordinates the consortium which includes approximately 65 researchers, of which almost half are women. Over the past month and in the lead up to today´s International Day for Women and Girls in Science, we have been profiling some of the women scientists within ECOTIP and sharing insights into what work and life is like for them at the cutting edge of Arctic research.  

We encourage you to dive into those individual blogs on our website, but if you are short on time, here are some of the highlights from that series of blogs, and what we have learned:  

Message 1: You can have a family and still have a career, working with Arctic science 

As a young mother or father, doing Arctic research with a base in an Arctic community is highly family-friendly. You live in the field while being able to offer your children a safe and caring small community with natural experiences at a great intensity and scale just outside the door.  – Associate Professor, Dr. Rikke Bekke Jakobsen.  

Message 2: Women lift each other up 

There are quite many women scientists in the ECOTIP project which gives me more opportunities to see how they handle difficulties which come from being women. – Dr. Chie Amano 

Message 3: Diversity is key 

In any sector or discipline I think diversity is key; we can all learn something from each other. PhD candidate, Joanna Davies

Message 4: The more we talk about female-specific concerns, the less taboo they will be 

I think talking about strategies that can help overcome female-specific concerns not only produces better science but is also empowering for the woman to feel more confident and in control. - PhD candidate, Phoebe Armitage 

Message 5: The workforce benefits from a gender balance 

Being a woman scientist in the Arctic is no different than anywhere else–but the underrepresentation of women in general and especially in leading positions is a problem because Arctic and marine science often requires that you remove yourself from society for field expeditions. - Professor, Katherine Richardson 

Europe´s H2020 research programme aims to increase the scientific quality of produced knowledge and innovations by integrating deep understanding of both gender’s needs and attitudes. Within ECOTIP, gender equality is prioritized in terms of the balance between women and men in the research teams who implement the project, as well as in the dissemination of research and innovation content in the project.