Is it hard for a woman to pursue a science research career in Egypt? If you ask that to anyone in the science community in Egypt – the first answer would be a definite no, followed by several examples – such as how the number of women in science universities is higher than men. If you would have asked me a few days ago, I would have probably said no too.

However, in a meeting held a couple of days ago at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt, during a two-day discussion of the post-revolution science landscape in Egypt, I have come to change my mind. There is obviously a tone of bias against female scientists – even if this bias in unintentional, it is still prevalent.

The discussion was assessing the science landscape for the Royal Society’s interesting project The Atlas of Islamic-World Science and Innovation. the atlas will offer detailed case studies of the science landscape in several countries, including Egypt. One of the points discussed was the role of women in the science community.

Several of the scientists taking part, many of whom were women, quickly pointed out that they think there was less bias against women in Egypt than in some Western countries such as Germany. One of the students taking place in the discussion from the Faculty of Pharmacy in Alexandria University also pointed out that, in her faculty, the ratio of women to men was probably around 2:1.

However, a few minutes later certain issues started coming up that showed a different picture. El-Sayed El-Ashry, a professor of organic chemistry at Alexandria University, said that when he gets two potential candidates, one male and one female, he would most probably go for the male. This sentiment was echoed by Mona Hussein, herself a woman researcher at the pests and plant protection department in the National Research Centre.

Their argument was that, based on past experiences, the male researcher would be more reliable in the long run. So while both of them stressed they don’t have anything against women scientists, El-Ashry even saying many of them are smarter than their male counterparts, it was an issue of reliability and convenience for them.

“Sometimes I need someone to come into the lab late or stay past midnight to record some readings. A woman can’t do that which is why men are more reliable here,” said Hussein.

The discussion also brought up such issues as women researchers being less reliable due to pregnancy issues and taking long maternity leaves. Some people also said that women tend to be less dedicated to professional work, focusing more on their family and their home life which influenced the preference for men.

While the researchers kept stressing that they do not discriminate between male and female researchers, there is an obvious (unintentional) bias if they are basing their decisions on past experiences that generalize women as having the same negative attitudes and conditions.

Mohamed El-Faham, director of the Centre for Special Studies and Programs at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, puts it quite eloquently. “They are getting it all wrong. This is not a discussion of whether men or women make better scientists. This issue should not involve gender in the first place but should be a case by case based on the needs and merits. If they get a female scientist who is willing to stay late in the lab and is good and reliable, then she should be hired. It is as simple as that.”

Do you have any experiences of gender bias or discrimination in the science community? Share in the comments if you do please!

Researchers from the University of Michigan and the Environment Ministry of Egypt found the largest whale skeleton in the world, dating back around 37 million years.

The remains were found in the natural protectorate of Siwa Oasis, located in the northeast of Egypt, about 80 kilometres from the Libyan border. The team are also working on another 150 new palaeontological excavation sites in the area.

The same excavation site also yielded remains of several other aquatic creatures, including whales, dugongs, giant sea turtles, and water snakes. Several shark teeth were also found.

The researchers are currently educating the residents of the oasis on how to care for the remains and preserve them, as well as to how eco-tourism workers should deal with the expected increase in tourists to Siwa Oasis.

Egypt is also home to Wadi Al-Hitan (Wale Valley) located in the Fayyum area close to Cairo. The site, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to hundreds of fossils of whales. The remains there show evidence for the evolution of whales from a land-based mammal to an ocean-going on.