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Dr Elizabeth Pollitzer

Director, Portia Ltd.

CV

Elizabeth Pollitzer holds a BSC Degree in Biophysics and a PhD in Information Science from King’s… (more)

Elizabeth Pollitzer holds a BSC Degree in Biophysics and a PhD in Information Science from King’s College London. Her academic career includes 20 years of research and teaching on Human Computer Interaction at Imperial College London, and over 20 years in advancing understanding among the scientific community on why and how historical gender bias in science knowledge-making has differentiated quality of research outcomes for women and men, often with worse effects for women. In 2001 she co funded the not-for-profit organisation Portia, which has led on and participated in many international projects to advance gender equality in science knowledge making, innovation and socio-economic development. In 2011 she set up the Gender Summit platform for dialogue between scientists, gender scholars and policy makers to look at the new empirical evidence reporting on the presence and consequences of gender bias effects to achieve agreement among key actors in the science system on where improvements and actions are needed to ensure excellence in science. Since 2011, there have been 22 Gender Summit events around the globe, focused on five regions: Europe, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia Pacific, and Africa, with nearly 2000 expert speakers and more than 11,000 participants. The next Gender Summit in the series will be GS23-Africa, which will apply the gender lens to energy transition and to advancing a vision of equal, just and fair Green New Deal in Africa. It will take place in hybrid form on 27-28 April and 4-5 May 2023 and will be officially hosted by Ghana. The conveners are Portia and The African Institute of Mathematical Sciences. GS23 welcomes science institutions from across Africa to join as the summit's partners. For more information please contact ep@portiaweb.org.uk

17:00-18:30 8 December

Thematic session:

Thematic session IV/b Different lens, better outcomes? Intersectionality as a critical component of gender transformative research

Abstract

Abstract:
THEMATIC SESSION IV/B DIFFERENT LENS, BETTER OUTCOMES? INTERSECTIONALITY AS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF… (more)

THEMATIC SESSION IV/B DIFFERENT LENS, BETTER OUTCOMES? INTERSECTIONALITY AS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF GENDER TRANSFORMATIVE RESEARCH

Organised by: Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Portia

Venue: Meeting Rooms 1.43-1.44

Abstract: 

This moderated panel unpacks intersectionality as an essential conceptual tool in gender transformative research, while providing practical examples of how researchers and grantmakers have adopted this framework to advance science in the service of social justice. Intersectionality deepens understanding of the interplay between people’s diverse identities and experiences, to explore how this interplay shapes and mutually reinforces oppression and exclusion. It expands the focus on gender to also recognise overlapping inequalities related to other forms of diversity, such as age, race, class, (dis)ability and sexuality, amongst others, that create and perpetuate marginalisation. The framework has gained traction as a tool to support relevant, equitable and just science for the benefit of all.

Addressing gender disparities in science is not only a question of rights and justice, but helps to produce more inclusive teams in organisations, higher quality research, and greater relevance and impact of research and innovation. Further to this, gender-disaggregated data and robust indicators that reflect the diversity of people’s experiences of inequality are imperative in meeting development goals. Quality data to monitor the attainment of gender-related Sustainable Development Goals is, however, frequently non-existent and data that attend to marginalisation based on diversity beyond gender even more scarce. 

This session shares findings from a mixed-methods project exploring if, how and with what effects an intersectional framework has been adopted throughout the grant-making, human capital development and research cycles. The discussion is rooted in the socio-cultural and economic contexts in which knowledge production on the continent takes place, while extracting universal principles of global relevance. Respondents include researchers, Science Granting Councils and donors to offer a compelling case for the crucial role of intersectional gender transformation in advancing research quality and impact.

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