Gender Plays a Role in Scientific Funding

Male and female scientists within educational institutions are given broadly similar opportunities to pursue their investigations, according to the National Research Council.

However, there is one way in which the two genders' experiences differ - men are more likely to be granted access to the equipment they need.

The research found that clerical support is also more readily available to males in universities' science faculty jobs.

In its study, the National Research Council detected some other discrepancies, such as an apparent trend for men to be given more space to work in laboratories.

But after accounting for variations such as the rank of the individual, or the discipline in which they work, this was found not to be significant.

Women do, however, face a longer wait before securing a faculty position, as they are proportionally less likely to make the progression from assistant professorship to being considered for tenure.

Just 15 per cent of those being considered for faculty posts are female, compared with 22 per cent of assistant professors being women.

However, they are fairly treated when they do reach the interview stage, with the appropriate percentage given tenure, the research adds.

The National Academies Press, which publishes the report, notes that the findings are both "new and surprising".