A group called "500 Women Scientists," which launched an online database of female scientists in January 2018, has seen huge interest in the database, registering 7,500 women in less than a year, according to a paper in PLOS Biology.
The platform, called "Request a Woman Scientist," was created to increase the representation of female scientists in the media, at industry meetings, and for peer review or professional connections. Since the platform's launch, it has been accessed more than 100,000 times. A survey of database members conducted in November 2018 indicated 11 percent of the 1,278 respondents have been contacted for various engagements, according to the paper.
To join the register, female scientists must fill out a Google form and 500 Women Scientists vets each person and their information.
The group plans to use more promotional strategies to increase enrollment, particularly of underrepresented disciplines and geographical regions. It has also created a subgroup called 500 Women in Medicine, which is working to build a similar database for women in the medical field.
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