Proportion of women presidents unchanged since 2020, report finds

Just one in five national science academies is led by a woman—a figure that has not budged since 2020, according to a report published on 11 February, International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Based on data from more than 130 academies and international scientific unions, plus responses from nearly 600 scientists, the study reveals that women’s overall representation has increased only gradually since 2015.

Women now represent 19 per cent of national academy members, up from 12 per cent in 2015, with figures ranging from below 5 per cent to nearly 40 per cent. In international scientific unions, women hold around 40 per cent of leadership roles.

However, senior positions have not kept up with this trend. “Although women’s representation has increased in many organisations, this has not consistently translated into leadership and decision-making roles,” notes the study, produced by the International Science Council, the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) and the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science.

Read more at: https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-world-2026-2-female-leadership-in-science-academies-stalls/