Hanging for science

proposal at Cambridge University, the heads of three science departments have opposed plans that would offer better salaries for senior academics at the expense of junior and support staff. Short-term contracts are a particular problem for women. A recent report from the AUT shows that the number of female academics has risen by 43 per cent in the past seven years, while the number of male academics has increased by 4 per cent. Women make up 39 per cent of academics. The Unequal Academy, provides an analysis of changes in academic staff from 1995–96 to 2002–3, and also shows that the number of women working part-time has almost doubled in seven years from 7,500 to 14,500. More than a quarter now work part-time. The percentage of men working part-time rose from 9 per cent to 13 per cent. Forty-eight per cent of female academics are on fixed-term contracts compared with 38 per cent of men. The overall use of fixed-term contracts has risen slightly in the past seven years from 41 per cent to 42 per cent, despite government initiatives aimed at reducing them. Stephen Court, senior research officer at the AUT and author of the report said: " The report reveals the very different experiences of women and men working in higher education. " And the issue of pay remains a problem. The gap between full-time male and female academics has also widened slightly, to 15 per cent, the report finds.