New AUSTEHC content shows women are Bright Sparcs too
[ UniNews Vol. 12, No. 12
14 - 28 July 2003 ] By Catherine Sangster
The misconception that Australian women have played a limited role in scientific research is refuted in new materials added to the popular online encyclopaedia Bright Sparcs hosted by the University of Melbournes Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre (AUSTEHC).
The new resources are the outcome of a project launched recently at the University Australian Women in Science a joint initiative between AUSTEHC and the National Foundation for Australian Women. The project has been funded by a grant from the Commonwealth Office for the Status of Women.
Key aim of the project is to help bring Australian female scientists into the public consciousness by adjusting the historical record to more accurately represent the contribution women have made to the world of science.
Bright Sparcs currently records the names and achievements of around 4480 Australians successful in science, medicine and technology. It is a valuable research tool for students ranging from primary school through to PhD level.
AUSTEHCs Director, Mr Gavan McCarthy, says contributors to Bright Sparcs have long been aware the database over-emphasises the role of men in these fields.
Prior to the start of this project not much more than seven per cent of entries in Bright Sparcs were those of women, he says.
The new funding enables us to begin the task of correcting this imbalance. To date AUSTEHC staff have added 311 new entries relating to women, bringing their number to 620, which represents 13.8 per cent of listings in Bright Sparcs.
Ultimately Mr McCarthys aim is for this figure to reach 30-35 per cent. The new information will be launched during Science Week 2003 as part of an online exhibition: Where are the Women in Australian Science?
Mr McCarthy says the Australian Women in Science project follows on from two similar projects AUSTEHC has been involved with the Australian Women and Imperial Honours Project and the Australian Womens War Project.
Both these ventures, like the Australian Women in Science Project, aim to provide recognition for the contribution women have made to the daily life, work and defence of Australia.
Mr McCarthy hopes providing easy online access to new data on womens achievements and prominence across a range of fields will enable it to be retrieved directly into schools and influence the perceptions of the next generation, significantly increasing their awareness and knowledge of the role played by women in Australias scientific enterprises.
Bright Sparcs can be found at http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs
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