Knowledge does not arise by itself – it takes time, collaboration, and dedication. When we invest in it, the whole of society benefits – from healthcare to education and industry. But what is built with care can be quickly torn down, and is slow to…

At Utrecht University (UU), a new move is being made towards equality within the academic world. Following a call from Athena’s Angels, the university has made a significant decision regarding the PhD Ceremony. From now on, every member of an…

On June 13, 2023, a Diner Pensant on social safety in Dutch science took place at Hodson House in Haarlem, organized by Athena's Angels in collaboration with the KHMW. Guests included Minister Dijkgraaf and representatives from the Ministry of…

Athena’s Angels argue in an NRC article that comparing science to elite sports is perverse. The article was prompted by the metaphor “Sometimes, research is like elite sport” that was chosen by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) as the starting point…

Resistance to policies aiming to increase diversity and inclusion are often motivated by the desire to evaluate ‘quality’, not diversity. This ignores decades of research showing that the perceived quality of identical CVs, achievements, and…

On November 17, 2020, Nature Communications published a paper (AlShebli, Makovi, & Rahwan, 2020) analyzing many decades of publication records, to examine 3 million senior-junior author pairs of US scientists working in ten different disciplines…

In response to the adaptation of the NWO procedures with regard to the VI (VENI-VIDI-VICI) scheme, we, as Athena's Angels, have received various signals from female applicants. We are concerned that the adjustments will act against them, and that…

Successful men in academia, Robbert Dijkgraaf, Ben Feringa, Alexander Rinnooy Kan, Wim van Saarloos and Carel Stolker, play the main roles in the movie ‘Through the eyes of my daughter’. These five men are all fathers of one or more daughters. How…

In NRC today, Athena's Angels react to the stir that has been caused around the opening of the Dutch cancer institute Oncode. When the question whether it is justified that no female researchers are part of this partnership was raised, initiator…

Good to see that NRC writes about the presentation of the de Ammodo KNAW Awards. However, Roshan Cools is a woman.

Fourteen women professors are to be given a place in the classic portrait gallery in Leiden University’s Senate Chamber. The portraits will be unveiled on March 8– International Women’s Day – by former Minister of Education, Culture and Science Jet…

On March 11, there is a conference about the question 'Does free will exist?' The program of the conference has been published: only men will present their vision in an interdisciplinary discussion. Where are the female experts?

The Young Academy has announced its 10 new members. But where are the female members?

Het nieuws van 12 juni 2014. Vier Spinozawinnaars worden bekend gemaakt: Twee mannen en twee vrouwen. Well chosen, NWO! But what do we see?

With an interactive image and sound show, sparing no effort or expense, Dutch research funder NWO launched its strategy for the coming years in the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague on 13 April (Click here for an impression). At the end of the meeting,…

On the first page after the table of contents of the 'Vision for Science 2025 - choices for the future' there is a collage of portraits from a long time ago - and all of them are of men. They are the Dutch Nobel Prize Winners. On the opposite page…