RWTH Celebrates Women in Research and Teaching: A Commitment to Equality

RWTH Aachen University is launching a major campaign to address the underrepresentation of women in academia. This initiative aims to inspire more women to pursue scientific careers by promoting genuine gender equality. Rather than token representation, the campaign calls for a cultural shift towards a fairer, more diverse research environment that benefits everyone.

At RWTH, only 22.9 percent of professors are women. In certain disciplines, this disparity extends to students and doctoral candidates…“Change Now to Change Tomorrow” is the slogan of this bold new campaign at one of Europe’s leading universities of technology. Led and supported by dedicated women at the University, this initiative challenges deeply ingrained prejudices and stereotypes about women in science and research.

The campaign provocatively addresses and seeks to dismantle the barriers faced by women, aiming to inspire more women to pursue careers in science and to create a more inclusive and equitable future for women in science. As Professor Sabine Brück, Vice-Rector for Human Resources Management at RWTH and the campaign’s patron, emphasizes, “We are actively working to make positive changes.” Her appeal underscores the urgent need for cultural transformation.

The term “token woman” describes the practice of superficially including members of a specific group, like women in science, without providing them with genuine opportunities or equality. The women researchers featured in this campaign are not examples of tokenism: They represent real achievements and are committed to promoting true gender equality within the scientific community.

“We are a modern, open, and welcoming university that actively supports and promotes the careers of our female scientists,” says Sabine Brück. “Together, we want to drive cultural change and encourage women to pursue careers in academia, particularly in STEM fields. This also includes asking ourselves uncomfortable questions: What can we do when women are disadvantaged in science? How can we as a university further promote gender equality and dismantle patriarchal structures?”

RWTH offers a wide range of support measures to assist women in their scientific careers. These include mentoring programs, coaching, counseling, support for female scientist networks, and practical assistance such as childcare, parent-child groups, and childcare services during events. By providing comprehensive support, we aim to alleviate the burdens faced by women scientists and their families, making a career in science more accessible and rewarding.

The campaign highlights women at various career stages who serve as role models, with the stories of younger women such as Dr. Lena Patterer, who is a postdoctoral researcher at the Chair of Metallurgy of Iron and Steel, playing a crucial role in inspiring the next generation of female researchers. “Role models are important because they reveal opportunities you may not have considered”, she emphasizes.