printable version2006 IN REVIEW: He’s looked at science from both sides now
BY AMY ADAMS
In 2006, Ben Barres emerged as a leading champion for equality for women in science.
The resignation in February of Harvard president Larry Summers ended months of turmoil in Cambridge, but the issue that triggered his stepping down remained very much in the limelight.
Summers' suggestion—that biological differences may help explain why men are more likely to reach the highest ranks of science—was rebuked in September by a National Academy of Sciences report, which attributed the glass ceiling to bias and "outmoded institutional structures'' in academia. And that report followed a stinging commentary in the July issue of Nature by associate professor of neurobiology Ben Barres, PhD, who is in a position to know something about the topic: He's done science as both a man and a woman.
Barres argued that it's easier to get ahead as Ben than as Barbara, referring to his personal experience as a female-to-male transgendered person. But he drew not only on his own experiences but also on extensive research, showing that even the most fair-minded people have inherent gender biases. He cited studies, for instance, that found that women applicants for grants had to be three times more productive than male peers to be considered equally competent.
In the five months since his piece appeared, Barres has received more than 3,000 e-mails, eight book offers and countless speaking requests. Among those who applauded Barres was medical school dean Philip Pizzo, MD, who reprinted the essay in his July newsletter, writing, "Change only occurs when individuals speak up and lend their voice and reputation to important issues."
Change, in this case, came in the form of two programs aimed at preventing bias at the medical school. The first, announced Oct. 23, was a recommitment to policies already in place allowing extended time off for child care and a delay in the tenure deadline for people who take extended leaves. That was followed by a Nov. 6 announcement of the formation of the Faculty Searches Task Force, which includes Barres. The task force is charged with eliminating inherent biases in the faculty selection process, with the end goal of increasing faculty diversity.