tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post8191021200318293228..comments2024-03-25T10:22:36.277-04:00Comments on Women In Astronomy: Cultural Change; Broadening the Metrics for PromotionAmanpreet Kaurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08734178178113146899noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post-78654921284526829622014-04-11T11:58:47.814-04:002014-04-11T11:58:47.814-04:00The purpose of the post was definitely not to argu...The purpose of the post was definitely not to argue for different evaluation criteria for men and women. That, of course, would be a terrible idea. <br /><br />And it's not about 'brownie points for other work'. It's about recognizing, valuing, and including in metrics for promotion the service work (and all the efforts that fall under that umbrella) that men and women do for their department and professional community. It's about the very real impact on the field, the next generation of scientists in the field, and on your specific institution's and department's culture that this 'service work' provides. <br /><br />But I don't think your comment argues against that. As you write, "it is about having a fair assessment of peoples contribution to the overall astronomical community evaluated in a broader way than is normally done." Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6374266320411149509.post-10481111491667727542014-04-08T11:44:42.515-04:002014-04-08T11:44:42.515-04:00While I think the sentiment is laudable and a good...While I think the sentiment is laudable and a good idea, I must admit this seems to me to be a terrible pitch for women. Alternative evaluation metrics is certainly desirable but to focus this on women I think is a really bad idea. <br /><br />The way this could easily be read is that women don't do well on science based metrics so give them some brownie points for their other work. I think that really opens up the door for lots of problems. I thought the letter in Times Higher Education really did not come across well in that regard but maybe I am just being too pessimistic. <br /><br />I personally think this particular point, evaluation metrics, should be argued on its own merits without making it explicitly a gender issue. That it would benefit women more than men if it were implemented is not really relevant - it is about having a fair assessment of peoples contribution to the overall astronomical community evaluated in a broader way than is normally done. Pitching it as a gender issue will just get the misogynists out of the woodwork complaining and I can't really see any benefit.Jarle Brinchmannnoreply@blogger.com