Thank you Prof. Natashia Boland for the excellent and clear points you made, and offering an opportunity for private discourse. I support the job posting and hope it may help someone's career. I absolutely do NOT support anyone making derogatory remarks such as calling a peer institution's efforts 'shameful' and 'ridiculous'. There are more respectful ways to engage in these types of important debates.
Many institutions take various initiatives to help address under-representation and diversification in academia, and many of these initiatives do rely on being explicit about this. Recently my own university was able to dedicate a substantial amount of money and effort to these causes (
), which I am very proud of. For instance, there are various fellowships and grants that are directed at particular groups where perhaps not everyone can apply, which makes complete sense. Hopefully things are improving, but clearly there is a long way to go so any initiative that addresses gender, racial, and other types (religious, sexual, etc.) of under-representation in academia should be embraced. Keep in mind that very well-educated people put serious time and effort into these initiatives, and here is some of the backstory regarding the decisions made at the University of Adelaide (
). Perhaps a different thread could be created about more of these efforts and their success stories across our field.
Original Message:
Sent: 09-08-2018 10:38
From: Alexandre Linhares
Subject: Three female-only positions at The University of Adelaide, Australia
It's transparent and ridiculous and anachronic and very sad what they are doing.
Women are not inferior to men. They should not have these lower-calibre, lower-prestige, safe-space based, inferior, jobs. However this university decides to proceed, this ad does not belong in INFORMS, in my opinion. My daughter is never studying at a place like that.
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Alexandre Linhares
Associate Professor
Getulio Vargas Foundation
Rio de Janeiro
Original Message:
Sent: 09-06-2018 11:31
From: Natashia Boland
Subject: Three female-only positions at The University of Adelaide, Australia
A couple of days ago, this thread was taken down by INFORMS, and then restored. When that happened, the digests no longer seem to include my response to the question raised by Prof. Womer. Since there are still new responses coming in, I have decided to re-post it, below. I hope it will provide more context for people who missed it.
For now, I repeat my willingness to meet with anyone to discuss the topic further, in person, at the INFORMS meeting this year. I think there are important and difficult issues to discuss and hear a variety of viewpoints on. Respectful and constructive discussion can really help to make a difference to the underlying issues, in my opinion. When such discussion is occurring in this online forum, I personally would be very grateful if the focus could be on a reasoned and factual basis, without emotive language.
----------------- My response to Prof. Womer's questions ---------------------
This is a good question, and I am glad that someone raised it.
As an Australian female, I feel uniquely well placed to respond.
My first reaction to seeing this advertisement was one of discomfort. The reasons for my discomfort are too complex to go into in this forum, but I will single out one reason: I am deeply disappointed that a measure like this should seem necessary.
The unfortunate truth is that women remain severely underrepresented in STEM fields in Australian academia, and despite many "soft" measures by many groups in Australian academia over the years, this is still the case. I assume that this has driven the leadership at the University of Adelaide, which is one of the top Australian universities (one of the elite "group of eight") to attempt the stronger, affirmative action that we see in this advertisement. I hope that it succeeds, and that the women appointed to these positions go on to "raise" a new - larger - generation of women in STEM in Australian academia, that better reflects not only the balance of gender in society, but also the balance of STEM capabilities and achievements seen in school and at earlier career stages.
This still leaves the question of: what should INFORMS do?
As a body, INFORMS explicitly recognizes that there are underrepresented groups in our field. We have WORMS and the Minority Issues Forum, for example, which are energetically and enthusiastically supported by the INFORMS membership, in my experience.
So I do not see the case for INFORMS - having accepted a female-only advertisement - to now start suddenly accepting advertisements for male-only or white-only positions. Neither of these groups are underrepresented in our field at this time. By contrast, there is plentiful, clear, evidence that females (and other groups) are underrepresented, and that special measures are needed to help make our field more inclusive and more diverse. INFORMS already recognizes this, and is working to address it.
I am happy to discuss this topic further with anyone who wishes it, but would prefer to do it in person. We could meet at the INFORMS meeting in Phoenix.
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Natashia Boland
Professor
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta GA
Original Message:
Sent: 09-05-2018 02:24
From: Alexandre Linhares
Subject: Three female-only positions at The University of Adelaide, Australia
This is a shameful ad and it should be withdrawn from INFORMS.
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Alexandre Linhares
Associate Professor
Getulio Vargas Foundation
Rio de Janeiro
Original Message:
Sent: 08-30-2018 10:20
From: Norman Womer
Subject: Three female-only positions at The University of Adelaide, Australia
Should INFORMS accept ads that restrict the gender of the applicant? Would we accept a male only ad? A white only ad?
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Norman Womer
Professor
University of Missouri-St Louis
St Louis MO
Original Message:
Sent: 08-29-2018 19:15
From: Giang Nguyen
Subject: Three female-only positions at The University of Adelaide, Australia
Three female-only positions available at The University of Adelaide, School of Mathematical Sciences, Australia
Closing date: 11.55pm (Australian Central Standard Time), 9 September 2018
- Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer/ Associate Professor in Statistics, School of Mathematical Sciences
http://careers.adelaide.edu.au/cw/en/job/499012/lecturer-senior-lecturer-associate-professor-in-statistics-school-of-mathematical-sciences
The successful candidate will help lead the School's development of new programs in data and decision science. Appointments at Level D will also have the opportunity to contribute to the leadership of the School. You will conduct high quality research in statistics and collaborate within the School's research programs with opportunities to work alongside leading researchers across the university. You will also be involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students in theoretical and applied statistics.
We seek candidates who have:
- A PhD or equivalent in an area of Statistics or a related field is required
- An active research program in an area of Statistics
- Enthusiasm and ability to teach at all levels
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a team environment.
A variety of flexible working arrangements are available for the successful candidate.
Salary: (Level B) $96,135 - $113,788 | (Level C) $117,310 - $134,966 | (Level D) $140,845 - $154,965 per annum depending on experience.
Superannuation: An employer contribution of up to 17% applies.
Term of position: This continuing position is available immediately.
- Lecturer/ Associate Lecturer in Statistics, School of Mathematical Sciences
http://careers.adelaide.edu.au/cw/en/job/499013/lecturer-associate-lecturer-in-statistics-school-of-mathematical-sciences
The successful applicant will assist in the School's development of new programs in data and decision science. You will conduct high quality research in statistics and collaborate within the School's research programs with excellent opportunities to work alongside leading researchers across the University. You will also be involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students in theoretical and applied statistics.
We seek candidates who have:
- A PhD or equivalent in an area of Statistics or a related field is required
- An active research program in an area of Statistics
- Enthusiasm and ability to teach at all levels
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a team environment.
A variety of flexible working arrangements are available for the successful candidate.
Salary: (Level A) $67,894 - $91,425 | (Level B) $96,135 - $113,788 per annum.
Superannuation: An employer contribution of up to 17% applies.
Term of position: This fixed term position is available immediately until December 2020.
- Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Stochastic Modelling & Applied Probability
http://careers.adelaide.edu.au/cw/en/job/499014/lecturersenior-lecturer-in-stochastic-modelling-applied-probability
The successful applicant will play a key role in the School's development of new programs in data and decision science. In addition to this you will conduct high quality research in stochastic modelling and optimisation and collaborate with leading researchers in the School. You will also be involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students in the areas of stochastic modelling and optimisation.
We seek candidates who have:
- A PhD or equivalent in an area of Stochastic Modelling, Applied Probability, or a related field is required
- An active research program in an area of Applied Mathematics
- Enthusiasm and ability to teach at all levels
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a team environment.
A variety of flexible working arrangements are available for the successful candidate.
Salary: (Level B) $96,135 - $113,788 | (Level C) $117,310 - $134,966 per annum.
Superannuation: An employer contribution of up to 17% applies.
Term of position: This continuing position is available immediately.
For a confidential discussion about these positions, please contact A/Prof Gary Glonek, Head, School of Mathematical Sciences, telephone: + 61 8 8313 3218 or email: gary.glonek@adelaide.edu.au
------------------------------
Giang Nguyen
The University of Adelaide
Adelaide
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