Conference to Address Gender Bias in Research Assessment: A Move from ‘Responsible’ to ‘Responsive’

• October 24, 2024

On Monday, 28th October at 12:00 CET, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid will host a conference addressing the often-overlooked issue of gender bias in research assessment. The event, titled “Gender and Research Assessment: Proposing a Move from ‘Responsible’ to ‘Responsive'”, is part of the Twin4MERIT project and aims to challenge the entrenched gender biases that persist within academic structures, research publications, and funding opportunities.

Research has shown that metrics commonly used to assess research impact, such as journal citations and impact factors, systematically disadvantage female researchers. These biases influence career trajectories, including hiring, promotions, and funding, yet are often justified under the guise of promoting research ‘excellence’. This conference will highlight how these structures maintain a neoliberal and patriarchal academic order, leaving gender inequalities unaddressed.

The event proposes a conceptual shift, inspired by Mair (2009), from so-called ‘responsible’ initiatives such as CoARA, DORA, and the Leiden Manifesto, which, while progressive, often fail to tackle gender bias effectively. The move to ‘responsive’ initiatives could expose these biases and prevent superficial gestures of gender equality, sometimes referred to as ‘genderwashing’.

By exploring this responsive approach, the conference aims to uncover the hidden potential for real change within academic research assessment practices.

Event Details:

• Date: Monday, 28th October
• Time: 12:00 CET
• Location: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (with online streaming available)
• Streaming Link: Watch live on YouTube

For more information, please visit Gender and Research Assessment Conference.