To maintain its global position in science, the UK had
to concentrate on ensuring more female graduates went
into SET industries and research, she said.
There is growing competition from India and China in
these industries because they are producing and retaining
so many more female SET graduates compared with the UK.
She added that women were missing out and the centre
was a "wake-up" call for industry.
One of the centre's aims is to see 40% of women sitting
on industry and academic boards in senior positions in
three years' time, or less.
Wasted talent
Centre director, Annette Williams, said women's talents
were being wasted.
"Women make up almost half of the workforce and
yet their talent and expertise are still not being utilised
to the fullest - particularly in science, engineering
and technology," she added.
"It is in the interest of progress, innovation,
and economic success that this problem is addressed and
the true potential of women is fostered. Shrewd employers
are beginning to recognise this."
The centre, a key part of the government's 10-year investment
framework in science and innovation which was published
in July, will work with employers and SET experts to provide
support, training, mentoring schemes, and information.
The prime minister has pledged that investment in science
will rise from £3.9bn this year to £5bn by
2008.
Women in SET professions stressed that it was not just
money that was required, but a talented skillbase.
Of key importance was recognising that men in senior
positions had to have involvement in the centre's schemes
and strategies, too.
Girls and data
Part of the remit will be to increase the profile of
female SET experts in the public, and finding role models
for young girls contemplating their careers.
Mentoring schemes will also be set up to support women
working in SET industries and research, and consistent
and publicly available data from industry and research
will be collated.
Part of the research effort will examine the reasons
why many women do not return to their SET careers after
they take maternity leave.
Based in Bradford, the centre will have support from
Sheffield Hallam University, the Open University, WISE
(Women into Science and Engineering Campaign), and the
Institute for Employment Studies.
The centre was set up as part of the government's Strategy
for Women in SET, published in 2003 in response to the
Greenfield Report in 2002.
