In conversation | 11.02.2025Women in science

Prof. Dr. C. Katharina Spiess, Director of the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) and education economist Source: © BiB

Professor Spieß, for years there has been debate about boys increasingly becoming ‘educational losers’ at school. Girls achieve better school-leaving qualifications on average, and their proportion among university students exceeds that of men. Nevertheless, the proportion of women decreases with increasing academic qualification. Why is that?

This is indeed an interesting question, and there has already been some research on it. As is so often the case, the reasons for this development are complex. It has to do with how women are treated, what they are trusted to do, and what the social norms are. ‘Unconscious bias’ also plays a role in science. Influenced by social norms, women have their own ideas and preferences. Care and educational work is still mostly done by women, and it is not easy to combine this with an academic career. This discourages many women, and still fewer men.

What would you recommend to young people who are still studying and could imagine pursuing an academic career? Do you have different recommendations for male and female students?

I would advise everyone to first consider whether they enjoy academic work. This is something you can easily ‘try out’ during a master's thesis and a doctorate. If you find it inspiring and realise that this is exactly the kind of work you are passionate about, then it is worth doing. In addition, you have to be very resilient and be able to handle ups and downs well. That's my advice to both young men and women. Young women tend to doubt whether they can persevere on this difficult path. That's what I try to discuss with them.

What has changed for women in science in the last 20 years since you began your scientific career?

There are now many more women working as university lecturers at universities or non-university institutions. We all know that a lot has changed in this regard – but the proportion of women among professors is still lower than that of men. What has changed is the awareness of how women can be supported and how to approach these issues sensitively. I think it's good that we are now considering how to deal with the fact that women in particular are more burdened by committee work than men, for example. This has to be compensated for differently, I think that's important, because we need women on the committees.

What can young women who are interested in an academic career do right from the start of their studies to gain insights and make their start easier?

They can, like you, take a look at a research institution from the inside. They could also work as a student assistant or tutor. I did both during my studies and gained good insights. I also gained a lot of insights into how the university system works from the inside through my work with the student council. In addition, you can also exchange ideas with doctoral students or other employees at the research institutions. But I also think it's important to recognise when research isn't for you. There are many exciting professional fields – you can try them out if you're not sure.