Is more inclusive science more innovative science?

The Women and Science Chair at Paris Dauphine—PSL University, supported by the L'Oréal Foundation, Generali France, La Poste, Amundi, Talan and Safran, studies the determinants of the low presence of women in science and its impact on innovation.

During a recent presentation, Jing Xu (University of Technology Sydney), in collaboration with Renée Adams, shared the results of a major study involving more than 160 scientific fields, in 180 countries and on nearly 30 years.

Their question:

Are more inclusive fields of science — measured by the proportion of women authors — more innovative?

Their response:

Yes, clearly.

Main results:

• Fields with more women produce research more diverse, more interdisciplinary and more original.
• A passage of 16% to 37% of female authors is associated with a 15% increase in distinct research topics.
• Inclusion appears as a major driver of innovation, well beyond an equity issue.

These results confirm a strong idea: removing barriers to women's participation in science means strengthening collective capacity to innovate.

Watch the full presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA0rwo-UhEI