Scientific Leadership through Collaboration or Fair Competition

By Dr. Nineta Hrastelj, FRSC, EuChemS Secretary General

Science thrives on two fundamental forces: collaboration and competition.

Collaboration brings together diverse perspectives, fosters creativity, and accelerates progress. When scientists work together across disciplines, borders, and cultures, they can tackle complex challenges that no individual or team could solve alone. Think of the global collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the rapid development of vaccines. This is the power of working together.

On the other hand, competition drives excellence. It pushes us to innovate, to strive for better results, and to challenge the status quo. Healthy competition can be a catalyst for breakthroughs.

But here’s the catch: for competition to be fair, the playing field must be level. And unfortunately, this is not always the case, especially for women in science.

We know that female scientists face more obstacles than their male colleagues. Whether it is unconscious bias, unequal access to leadership positions, or double standards in evaluating competence, competition in science is not always fair.

Some examples are well-documented also in scientific literature:

• Women receive less funding for research grants, despite submitting proposals of equal or higher quality.
• Women’s contributions to scientific papers are often undervalued, and their authorships overlooked.
•  Women in leadership roles still face higher scrutiny than men in similar positions. So, how do we create a more equitable scientific community?
  The answer lies in defining and embedding core values—equity, respect, transparency, and accountability—into everything we do as a scientific community.
  We need to go beyond just talking about these values and ensure that they become intrinsic to how we operate. This means:

• Setting clear policies on gender equity in hiring, funding, and leadership roles.
• Applying these policies consistently, not just when it is convenient.
• Calling out biases—not just when they are obvious, but especially when they are subtle.
• Recognizing and rewarding contributions from all scientists fairly. This requires persistence. Change does not happen overnight. But if we apply these values with consistency, they will slowly reshape the environments we work in. Here, leadership plays a crucial role. We need more women in leadership positions—not just for representation, but because diverse leadership leads to better decision-making and innovation. Science is also not just about data and experiments; it’s about people, relationships, and empathy. Women bring unique perspectives and strengths to the table, and these qualities are essential for building a more inclusive and collaborative scientific community.

Some concrete policy initiatives are already being put in place. For example, the European Commission has been promoting gender equality in research and innovation through Gender Equality Plans (GEPs)—which are now a requirement for institutions receiving Horizon Europe funding.

But policies alone are not enough. We need a cultural shift in the way we see leadership in science.

The landscape is improving. We now have the first female presidents of member societies, more women leading research teams, and greater visibility for women in STEM. But we have to keep moving in this direction.

The question is: How do we make sure that progress does not stall?

I believe we can all contribute to this change, in three practical ways:

1. Mentorship and Sponsorship: If you are in a position of influence, bring other women into the conversation, recommend them for leadership roles, and make sure their work is seen and valued.
2. Institutional Accountability: Push for real gender equity policies in your institutions, and insist that policies cannot exist only on paper.

3. Courage to Challenge the Status Quo: Speak up when you see bias, and be willing to challenge the systems that were not built for fairness. But do it constructively.

It is true—we are still operating within a system that has historically been shaped by men. And while progress has been made, we must acknowledge that the goal is not to replace one dominant group with another, but to create a truly inclusive and balanced environment where all scientists, regardless of gender, can thrive.

This is not a battle between male and female scientists. It is about a shared responsibility to build a system where ideas are judged on their merit, where competition is fair, and where collaboration is the driving force behind scientific progress.

So let me leave you with this thought: Science does not just need more women—it needs a culture that values diversity in leadership, fosters equity, and embraces respect as a fundamental principle. Only by working together can we create an environment where the best ideas flourish, where competition and collaboration reinforce each other, and where scientific excellence knows no barriers.

Thank you for your attention. I wish you a fruitful discussion.