The Artemis Project
The Artemis Project is producing resources and support for female academics to unlock their full potential, be that demonstrated through leading large grants, getting into the top jobs, or changing the world through their research contributions.
In addition to the large grant critical friend and interview support we've been successfully offering for years we're now adding original research, think pieces and bespoke support for those who want to be up to big things in their life, but are feeling stuck at any career stage!
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. Women start out on par with their male counterparts, but as they move through their careers they aren't applying for, and/or aren't as successful in securing: promotions, large grants, and other traditional metrics of academic achievement. Meaning the balance gradually shifts more and more male as the career ladder is climbed.
This is a major problem for research and humanity as a whole, not just the individuals who aren't fulfilling their true potential, because we're loosing out on so much talent and innovation.
Has this situation come about because women are deficient, and therefore just need another leadership course? NO! Studies very clearly point to bias creating differential experiences; with intersectionality as a compounding factor. Many have been working to address these biases, but progress has been slow and therefore this generation still face barriers that the majority of male peers don't. One day this project will be redundant, until then, it is here to offer support to those who are held back!
The project consists of original research, as much publicly accessible free support as I can produce in my 20% FTE that RiF (the company I founded in 2012) is funding + spare time, and some longer-term, more in-depth bespoke support for individuals and groups (charged because it is bespoke for individuals and their organisations!) to help unlock success, despite whatever has held you back until now.
You can read more about the common barriers holding many women back, and therefore why this project is needed here.
Why call it 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 younger women.
For those who I haven't met yet, yes that's me in the photo above. In the process of shooting my first MasterBowman classification level score. I'm also an ArcheryGB Target Archery Coach in my spare time ;-)
The Plan
The Artemis Project currently consists of 6 major themes. We'll be conducting original solo and 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.
This is a collective effort, we need everyone's help, female, or not! We know there are great examples of magnificent work/home balance; please share your experience and learning. Contribute your life lessons via our live research projects! We also know there are plenty of really excellent mentors who have supported female colleagues. What are your key pieces of advice, especially where these are in addition to the standard advice you give to all mentees? Add your thoughts here.
Whenever issues typically faced by a population are mentioned, that doesn't mean everyone in that population experiences the same thing, nor does it mean anyone not in the population doesn't experience those things! We know that a lot of the barriers holding women back, effect a wider group of researchers. So whilst this project is underpinned by a determination to shift barriers for women, none of what is available on these pages will be restricted i.e. anyone is welcome to benefit from what we produce, in exactly the same way as for our grant application support services, training, blog posts, etc. Whoever you are, you're very welcome to browse, read, use, and contribute, and together we can create a culture in which anyone has the same chances of success!
Get support:
The purpose of the overall project is to provide a wide range of resource to contribute to a shift in the parts of culture that cause the leaky pipeline of talent. As part of the overall vision for the change Artemis will underpin, we offer coaching to support individuals, either working with us 1:1, or as part of a group coaching activity. Our coaching focuses on identifying, then shifting barriers (or succeeding in spite of!), at least partially within participants' control. Often these take the form of invisible internal (psychological e.g. impacting a person's confidence or readiness to move forward, or beliefs about themselves & others, and what is possible) barriers, which form as a result of external culture. Such barriers can cause repeated patterns that hold individuals back. Our coaching makes these barriers visible, and supports clients to dismantle them, unlocking their full potential!
This work is informed by our own research and 25+ years supporting researchers, in addition to the PhD research and subsequent professional work of Dr Claire Zammit, now encapsulated within the services and training offered by the Institute for Women Centred Coaching (IWCC). You can read more about the coaching, with links to the specific support available, and underpinning approach here.
Where next?
Not quite ready to be coached/for a course?
Get occasional top tips direct to your inbox (~10 newsletters a year):