1

Are there Differences doing Are there Differences doing Physics in Europe or the USPhysics in Europe or the US ??Are there Differences doing Are there Differences doing

Physics in Europe or the USPhysics in Europe or the US ??

a very personal viewa very personal view

E.C. AschenauerE.C. Aschenauer

JLabJLab

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Touring through jobsTouring through jobs

studies / master at university of Erlangen, Germany studies / master at university of Erlangen, Germany (1989)(1989)

PhD at ETH Zuerich (1990- 1994)PhD at ETH Zuerich (1990- 1994)

European Fellowship (1994/1995) European Fellowship (1994/1995) NIKHEF Amsterdam, The NetherlandsNIKHEF Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Gent University, BelgiumGent University, Belgium

PostDoc at DESY (1995 – 2000)PostDoc at DESY (1995 – 2000)Hera–B; HermesHera–B; Hermes

Staff Scientist at DESY (2000 – 2006)Staff Scientist at DESY (2000 – 2006)Hermes Run-Coordinator and Deputy Spokesperson 3 Hermes Run-Coordinator and Deputy Spokesperson 3 yearsyears

Hermes Spokesperson 3.5 yearsHermes Spokesperson 3.5 years

Hall-D group leader at JLab (2007 - ...)Hall-D group leader at JLab (2007 - ...)Hall-D @ 12GeVHall-D @ 12GeVWith a lot of “funny” ;) stories over the timeWith a lot of “funny” ;) stories over the time

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General SituationGeneral Situation

Ex-BRD:Ex-BRD:public kinder gardens only for children > 3 yearspublic kinder gardens only for children > 3 years

basically no mentoring programsbasically no mentoring programs

no carrier planningno carrier planning

still very traditional societystill very traditional society

the 3 Ks (Kirche = church; Kueche = Kitchen; the 3 Ks (Kirche = church; Kueche = Kitchen;

kinder = children) kinder = children)

Females with family and carrier still very rareFemales with family and carrier still very rare

Ex-GDR:Ex-GDR:public kinder gardens already for very small babiespublic kinder gardens already for very small babies

mentoring coupled very often with partymentoring coupled very often with party

nearly all females have been workingnearly all females have been working

still very few females in top positionsstill very few females in top positions

but a lot combined carrier and family but a lot combined carrier and family

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General SituationGeneral Situation

Germany today:Germany today:still very much like the BRDstill very much like the BRD

quota system for high level jobsquota system for high level jobs

very bad “taste” very bad “taste” she got the job because she is she got the job because she is femalefemale

old boys club still in big businessold boys club still in big business

current hierarchy: males from the Ex-BRDcurrent hierarchy: males from the Ex-BRD

femalesfemales

males from the Ex_GDRmales from the Ex_GDR

Female percentageFemale percentage

Begin of studiesBegin of studies

MasterMaster

PhDPhD

HabilitationHabilitation

ProfessorProfessor

For the same job females need twice the publicationsFor the same job females need twice the publications

2006:2006: 21% females are getting an appointment as Prof. 21% females are getting an appointment as Prof. (all faculties)(all faculties)

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The “ Rest” of EuropeThe “ Rest” of Europe

Switzerland even worse than GermanySwitzerland even worse than Germany

Belgium is small Belgium is small statistics; but also very statistics; but also very conservativeconservative

The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, ... are much The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, ... are much more openmore open

great childcare great childcare

very modern socialistic societiesvery modern socialistic societies

Italy, Spain and France Italy, Spain and France extremely high % of female scientists at lower carrier extremely high % of female scientists at lower carrier levelslevels

fraction of females in high level positions as low or fraction of females in high level positions as low or lower than in Germanylower than in Germany

correlation with income?correlation with income?

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General ObservationsGeneral Observations

So why do good social conditions don’t really helpSo why do good social conditions don’t really help asking around revealed as most frequent answer: asking around revealed as most frequent answer:

there is anyway no chance for females there is anyway no chance for females missing role missing role models ?models ?

Much more work needed to get females in higher Much more work needed to get females in higher educationeducation

have to start at kinder garden to overcome society biashave to start at kinder garden to overcome society bias

gender separated science classes gender separated science classes more confidencemore confidence

Traditional male female roles in society Traditional male female roles in society females are supposed to follow male partnerfemales are supposed to follow male partner

physics requires a lot of movingphysics requires a lot of moving

Can male partners deal with a more successful female in Can male partners deal with a more successful female in

the partnershipthe partnership

Why is the look of a female more important than her Why is the look of a female more important than her intelligence (for males ;) and females)intelligence (for males ;) and females)

Nice example: German Kanzler Dr. Angela MerkelNice example: German Kanzler Dr. Angela Merkel

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Personal QuestionsPersonal Questions

Why is the situation at national Labs worse than at Why is the situation at national Labs worse than at universitiesuniversities

Maybe there is a genetic gender difference Maybe there is a genetic gender difference are females maybe less carrier drivenare females maybe less carrier driven

are females maybe less competitiveare females maybe less competitive

to look for the health of the group does not help the to look for the health of the group does not help the carrier (females are more care takers)carrier (females are more care takers)

are females less self centeredare females less self centered

Does a new trend in society require for successful Does a new trend in society require for successful females females

to have family and carrierto have family and carrier

How to overcome the demographics of current leader How to overcome the demographics of current leader shipship

the “zoo” effect: one female in a big group of malesthe “zoo” effect: one female in a big group of males

extremely frustratingextremely frustrating

there are crown princes not crown princesses breedthere are crown princes not crown princesses breed

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ConclusionConclusion

Till now I saw NO difference betweenTill now I saw NO difference betweenEurope and the USEurope and the US