The ’glass obstacle course’ facing women in marine science

ANU researcher Dr Rebecca Shellock. Image: Tracey Nearmy / ANU - Major change is needed to counteract the lack of gender equality in marine science, according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU). The study's authors say it is not only a problem of diversity, but a barrier to achieving our global ocean sustainability goals. The research collated data from 34 women leaders across 27 countries, highlighting not only the gendered barriers to women's leadership, but the concrete actions needed to help overcome them.   "To solve the biggest problems facing our oceans, we need to bring together diverse people from a range of different disciplines," lead researcher Dr Rebecca Shellock from ANU said.   "Having women leaders is important, as with diversity comes new ideas, new opinions and innovation. Without women and other minority groups, we lack all of that."   The research found that 70 per cent of the research participants perceived that from their own experience, interdisciplinary marine research was more challenging for women leaders then their male counterparts.