The Artemis Project
The Artemis Project is producing resources and support to shift the balance of female academics winning large grants and getting into the top jobs.
We know that in the UK (and globally) we have a leaky pipeline problem, especially in sciences and engineering (though all the tools you'll find here are discipline agnostic!) i.e. as researchers move through their careers, many of them into more senior roles, the balance becomes more and more male i.e. women start out on par with their male counterparts, but as they move through their careers aren't applying for and/or aren't as successful in securing: promotions, large research grants, and other metrics of academic achievement. Meaning the balance gradually shifts more and more male as the career ladder is climbed.
On this page you'll find links to the latest research into why that might be. You'll also find as much free support content as I can put out in my spare time, and some longer-term, more in-depth 1:1 support (which has to be paid for, I have children to feed!) to help you overcome any specific barriers to success you might be facing.
Why Artemis?
Artemis is the Greek goddess of the hunt (grants analogy?), protector of the wilderness, goddess of childbirth (that's got to be another grants analogy, anyone ever felt 10 months pregnant with an idea before it's submitted as a proposal??) and protector of children, particularly young women.
The Plan
The Artemis Project currently consists of 6 major themes. We'll be conducting original collaborative research, to complement the work already out there, in building understanding of how to shift the barriers currently holding female academics back.
Female early career researchers (ECRs) have told us that they need real life, practical, specific guidance to help them navigate an academic research life. We'll use our network of high achieving, senior female research leaders to anonymously answer all your would be too embarrassed to ask a colleague questions. We'll do this completely anonymously, particularly so that we can ask things like methods for optimising both home and professional lives, which comes up time and time again, particularly for heterosexual ECRs.
Fear not everyone who isn't female this is where you can help! We know there are a lot of you out there who already have a magnificent work/home balance, and with your partner are functioning as a highly supportive team. Please volunteer your learning as a detailed case study!
On the topic of anyone who isn't female. None of what is produced for public consumption will be restricted i.e. exactly the same as for our grant application support services, training, blog posts, etc. Whoever you are, you're very welcome to browse, read, and contribute, because this isn't a women's problem to solve, this is an issue for everyone so we need everyone's help!
The only thing that, for now at least, will be restricted to female researchers only, are the coaching elements. This is because Becky (Dr Becky Steliaros, RiF's founder, and the passion behind this passion project) has become certified in the Foundations of Women Centred Coaching by the Institute for Women Centred Coaching, Training & Leadership, and is currently working towards her full Coaching and Facilitation Certification. The models used and taught by the institute are based on the PhD and subsequent professional work of Dr Claire Zammit and have only been tested on those born, raised and identifying as female. Becky's experience with the models gives her a hunch that they would work with a wider set of participants, but testing that hunch is currently ongoing at the Institute.
The purpose of the overall project is to provide resource that shifts whatever it is within culture that is causing this leaky pipeline; the purpose of the 1:1 coaching is to shift any internal barriers that might be holding individual women back. Hence the underpinning women specific training, coaching models and anticipated clients.
If you want general, or grants specific coaching please sign up for our standard services here: https://onlineaccess.researchinfocus.com/store!
