Engineering news
The practicalities of combining work with family are putting women off pursuing careers in science, according to a government report.
The study by the Commons Science and Technology Committee says that women are under-represented in scientific professions due to ingrained bias and perceptions that science-based careers are for men.
It warns that the UK cannot meet the demand for more science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) workers without increasing the numbers of women working in these areas.
The report calls for universities to do more to keep women working in science, saying that currently about 175 of Stem professors are women.
Committee chairman Andrew Miller said: "Some universities are doing a great job at improving working conditions for women scientists, but others are not.
"More standardisation is required across the whole higher education sector and that is why we have called for government, universities and research councils to review the academic careers structure, so that talented women, and men, can have more stable career pathways."
There is "no single explanation" for the lack of gender diversity in Stem industries, the cross-party group of MPs found.
Many people who are early on in a science-based academic career are on short-term contracts, the report says, which can be a barrier to job security and continuing employment rights.
"This career stage coincides with the time when many women are considering starting families and because women tend to be primary carers, they are more likely than men to end their Stem career at this stage," the report says.
During its inquiry, the committee was given evidence that there is a perception among both students and parents that certain science careers are masculine rather than feminine, as well as a lack of knowledge in general about science-based jobs.
The report also says that scientists are as susceptible to the same biases about science careers as the rest of the population, and calls for diversity and equality training for all Stem undergraduate and postgraduate students. This should also be compulsory for those responsible for recruiting and promoting staff in science-based careers.
The study goes on to say that much work is being done to encourage girls to take up science, but warns that more needs to be done to get them to stay in, and progress in careers in these areas.
"The government gives funding to programmes such as Stem Ambassadors, the national academies, research councils UK fellowships and the Big Bang Fair. These programmes have a wide reach and make better use of resources. These are aimed at encouraging a diverse range of people to study science and engineering," a business department spokeswoman added.