Letter: Inequality blow

Few could disagree with Linda Somerville that "Tackling gender inequality will benefit us all" (3 March).

There is widespread agreement that science underpins key sectors of the Scottish economy and is a vital component in growth. But sustainable growth can only be achieved if we make best use of the skills of our people to boost productivity, and support the flow of knowledge from universities and colleges into wealth creation.

Change is necessary to ensure Scotland makes full use of its available talent and tackles the under-representation of women in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) workforce.

This is of particular concern when considering that growth relies on innovation and knowledge, especially in science and technology. It has been estimated that increasing the participation of women in the UK labour market could be worth between 15 billion and 23bn (1.3-2 per cent GDP), with Stem accounting for at least 2bn.

Although recent years have seen significant increases in the number of female Stem graduates and postgraduates, the proportion who proceed to take up senior positions in universities, research and business remains significantly smaller than in the case of their male counterparts, a serious loss of potential.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh, with the chief scientific adviser for Scotland, has established a working group to develop a strategy to increase both the proportion of women in the Stem workforce, and the number who rise to senior positions. Our report, due in the autumn, will aim to provide practical advice on what stakeholders can do to harness the full potential of women in Stem. We are concerned, therefore, to learn of the UK government's plan to remove funding from the UK Resource Centre which provides a major part of the funding for the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology. This is likely to have major implications for recruitment and retention of women scientists, engineers and technologists in the future.

(Prof) Alice Brown CBE FRSE

RSE 'Scotland's Women in Stem' working group

George Street, Edinburgh