• About Athena
• Athena's Aims
• Athena's Achievements
• Athena's forward programme
• Royal Society Athena lectures
• Athena committee
• Athena Reports
• News and media
• Case Studies
• Contacting Athena
• Athena SWAN
• ASSET

ASSET 2006, the third Athena Survey of Science Engineering and Technology runs for six weeks from 5 September to 20 October 2006.

Athena’s purpose in running the survey is to provide a firm basis from which to understand and address the barriers to women’s progression in scientific careers. The survey questions, based on those in the 2003 and 2004 surveys, address the areas identified by Athena as key to the differences between men’s and women’s progression through and enjoyment of a career in science and engineering.

The survey is open to all male and female UK based scientists, engineers and medics, whether in industry, public or private sector research, or research and development organisations, in education including higher and further education, the NHS and other public sector employment. The survey is open to those in corporate policy and management functions, and in operational, manufacturing, field and service posts, as well as in teaching and research. Understanding the career experiences, perceptions and ambitions of all these groups is important.

Athena needs help to reach and persuade scientists, medics and engineers to participate.

The higher the response rate the better the data to inform science policy, debate and action.

A report on the headline findings from the survey will be published in spring 2007. Comparisons will be made across the main SET employment sectors, and the main SET disciplines. These will focus on the areas which the survey’s sponsors and supporters can influence, which employers can control, and where change can make a difference.

ASSET 2006 is made possible by core funding from the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET, support from the University of East Anglia Survey Office, Bristol On Line Surveys, and the Science Council. The Athena Forum is based at and supported by The Royal Society. Athena’s other supporters include BP, Equality Challenge Unit, Institute of Physics, Opportunity Now, Pfizer, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society of Chemistry, and The Wellcome Trust.

For more information email athena@royalsociety.org

• Complete the survey at https://www.surveys.athenaproject.org.uk/asset2006