Dr Gillian Gray, University of Edinburgh. Chair BPS WiP sub-committee

1. Women in Pharmacology Dr Gillian Gray, University of Edinburgh. Chair BPS WiP sub-committee SPIDER event 25th March, 2010

2. about the BPS • why promote womens careers? • initiatives: mentoring and more • success? • obstacles

3. About the British Pharmacological Society • the primary learned society in the UK concerned with research into drugs and the way they work • 2651 members in UK and overseas; scientists and clinicians • approximately 1/3 are women • members carry out research in universities, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, hospitals and health services  • members teach medical students the principles of basic and clinical pharmacology, which underpin safe and effective prescribing in the NHS. • in industry and academia, members are responsible for clinical trials that translate new medicines from molecule to society. • annual turnover of £3M, small permanent staff (10) to manage activities, including scientific meeting, publications, training etc

4. Why support the careers of women in our discipline? Secondary analysis by UKRC, Primary source: HESA Students/Researchers in Higher Education Institutions 2003/04 Greenfield report, Nov 2002

5. member retired Hon fellow assoc member PG UG fellow BPS membership 2005 • students: male = female • full members, fellows: male > 3x women • women decreasing from 30’s on Women leaving pharmacology : need role models & encouragement to stay and progress

6. First steps: mentoring programme • pilot programme established in 2005 in partnership with UKRC • role models, encouragement, advice, career progression, work-life balance • programme aimed at women (mentee) in 25-35 year age bracket-early post-doc or equivalent • paired with matched mentor (geographical & speciality): senior lecturer equivalent or above • annual call for mentors and mentees followed by matching & mentoring training session (UKRC) • travel costs covered by BPS for training and meeting mentor

7. BPS mentoring programme ‘mentoring has helped me, giving me a role model who encourages me…’ ‘my mentor introduced me to grants & societies that I would not have otherwise known about’ ‘mentoring has helped me to explore other avenues for work, specifically networking with other women from both academic and industrial backgrounds’. • since have over 40mentoring pairs -representing range of BPS membership • mentoring relationship usually last 1 year or more • feedback collected from mentors and mentees

8. What next? 2007: establishment of Women in Pharmacology (WiP) sub-committee • terms of reference, approved by BPS council • sub-committee-under Education section • financial support for activities • administrative support • representatives invited from different sectors: academia, industry, clinical pharmacology, younger members • 1st meeting October 2007: Brain-storming: increase mentoring visability, promote role models, increase representation of women in symposia, as prize winners

9. Putting ideas into action: increase visability Publicity leaflet available at BPS conferences Web pages on BPS site (still hidden under Education, 2010 agenda-increase visability)

10. BPS had number of prizes available but few women recipients • in early 2008 Aim: raise the profile of our most successful female pharmacologists and clinical pharmacologists by introducing a prize specifically to recognize outstanding achievement in research by women in Pharmacology. • Royal Society Rosalind Franklin award • 2008: Case made to BPS Prizes and awards committee • secured 5 years funding from Pharma industry Role Models: A Prize for Women

11. Astra-Zeneca Prize for Women in Pharmacology 1st call for nominations, March 2009 1st recipient: Professor Julia Buckingham, Imperial College London Lecture & presentation of prize at Christmas meeting of Society, December 2009 presentation to be made available on BPS YouTube site

12. Increasing Diversity • although women make up 1/3 membership, relatively few women are invited to speak at BPS symposia • WiP requested that diversity guidance be supplied to symposium organisers  appropriate representation of women and ethnic minorities in relation to their participation in the specific subject area (e.g. as regards invited speakers, where there is a high proportion of women in a specific field at least 30 % of the invited speakers should be women)  there is a good balance between established and new investigators on the speaker list  there is an attempt for broad geographical representation where possible. approved by BPS council March 2009 • this guidance is now integral aspect of the template which those bidding to host any BPS supported meeting are required to complete.

13. what prevents more women from becoming leaders ? • successful strategies in academia • changing Institutions: Promoting equality and diversity in R&D • the role of networking Professor Jacki Hunter Senior VP, GSK • time for discussion & reflection Promoting leadership Women in Leadership symposium, Sept 2008

14. 10 participants (senior women, including mentors), UKRC recommended facilitator • excellent feedback, repeat planned for this year Promoting leadership Leadership workshop, June 2009 Aim:To provide women in leadership positions or aspiring to them with a forum for: • Discussion of leadership issues and networking with peers • Practical experience of developing leadership skills and leadership language in an academic environment • Personal development and career planning discussions.

15. Secondary analysis by UKRC, Primary source: HESA Students/Researchers in Higher Education Institutions 2008 Secondary analysis by UKRC, Primary source: HESA Students/Researchers in Higher Education Institutions 2003/04 Are things improving for Women in Pharmacology? Increased representation of women at higher levels

16. the future…… • improve website to increase visability • networking lunch at meetings, guest speakers, mentoring update • repeat leadership training event • preparing for leadership: younger members • ‘Effective Presentation Skills’-March 2010

17. Need to highlight problem within BPS • old traditional society • failure to recognise the problem • some issues with selective positive action for women Overcome: strong & respected initial leadership to lay the foundations; present a clear case for supporting the need for support of women’s careers, backed up with good data. on the whole to date the BPS have been supportive Persuading women to participate • do not volunteer, ‘not for me’, ‘no time’ Obstacles along the way Overcome: offer help with travel costs, personal calls, role models, feedback Most who do participate are very positive

18. Recognition for achievements • 2010 BPS becomes signatory of UKRC CEO charter • enables organisations to demonstrate a visible commitment to women in science, engineering and technology 11th March 2010, BPS CEO Kate Baillie receives CEO Charter from Di Barber, UKRC

19. BRITISH PHARMACOLOGICAL SOCIETY Thanks Amrita Ahluwalia-founding chair WiP committee Kate Baillie , current CEO mentors Rachel Tobell Jacki Mason