Newswise — The RAISE Project, a program of the Society for Women's Health Research to increase recognition of women in science, technology, engineering and medicine through professional awards, has documented more than 1,000 awards and 20,000 recipients on its growing Web site, http://www.raiseproject.org. A resource for scientists and women's advocates, the RAISE Project features a searchable database with information on application processes and award histories.
"The RAISE Project is an important tool for any woman scientist, researcher or academician," said Phyllis Greenberger, president and CEO of the Society for Women's Health Research, a Washington, D.C., based advocacy organization. "It provides easy access to information on awards and how to apply for them. Women receive fewer professional honors in part because they are less likely than men to nominate and promote themselves. This site can help them pursue the recognition they deserve."
Despite women's growing presence in these professions, men still receive the vast majority of awards. For the 1,011 awards tracked by the RAISE Project to date, only 17 percent of the 20,373 recipients since 1981 have been women. Almost one-third of those women received an award given only to women. One-third of the awards documented by RAISE have never had a woman recipient.
"The percent of award recipients who are women is growing, but we have a long way to go, as the data show," Greenberger said. "We hope that groups and individuals interested in academic, workplace, gender and equality issues will take note of these facts and join us in encouraging award selection committees to do a better job of soliciting women applicants and honoring deserving women scientists for their professional achievements.
"The RAISE Project is important because awards play a significant role in career advancement. The ability of women to reach the highest levels of their chosen professions depends in part on whether they can break through what is a glass ceiling for many awards."
The RAISE Project is coordinated by Vanessa Schick under the direction of Stephanie Pincus, M.D., M.B.A., and Florence Haseltine, Ph.D., M.D., who founded the project.
The Society for Women's Health Research is the nation's only non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the health of all women through research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the Society brought to national attention the need for the appropriate inclusion of women in major medical research studies and the need for more information about conditions affecting women disproportionately, predominately, or differently than men. The Society advocates increased funding for research on women's health; encourages the study of sex differences that may affect the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease; promotes the inclusion of women in medical research studies; and informs women, providers, policy makers and media about contemporary women's health issues. Visit the Society's Web site at http://www.womenshealthresearch.org for more information.
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