Centres

SET Women - Leicestershire Women in Science Engineering & Technology

e-Book - Dr Clare Madge - Geographer

"The roots of getting women into science grow early on. "

Science has always played a part in Clare's life, as her mother, a biology teacher, brought her enthusiasm for science home. The strength of the science teaching at her all-girls grammar school helped to feed Clare's interests, and she completed A-levels in Chemistry, Biology and Geography. Her favourite subject was Geography, because, she says, "I felt at the time that it dealt more directly with people than the other sciences."

At the University of Birmingham, Clare enrolled in a Geography degree and learned how diverse the subject is. Like so many keen undergraduates, she explored her options and was able to focus her goals. "Originally, I was interested in physical geography, particularly glaciology, but I found myself increasingly pulled towards the more human side of the subject as I progressed with my degree."

To experience the research aspects of being a Geographer, Clare accepted a prestigious Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) scholarship after graduation that supported research work in West Africa leading to a PhD. "The post was originally intended to be to study women's vegetable gardens, I ended up exploring the social, political and economic value of minor forest products."

Although she was born in Nigeria, coming back to West Africa as an adult strengthened her desire to work with people, especially with issues of inequality. Her passion for the subject was strong, but she was unsure of how being a Geographer would be a viable career option. Like all good scientists, she needed more data before she could decide.

It was during postgraduate work as a part-time lecturer that she got the academy bug, "I found I really enjoyed teaching and wanted to continue with my research." Several more part-time positions later, and she attained a Lecturer post in the Department of Geography at the University of Leicester, the first woman to do so.

"At first I worked full-time, but when my children were born I started to work part-time and have now done so for eight years." Choosing this balanced lifestyle has not stopped the advancement of her career, as Clare is now a Senior Lecturer in the department. Her research in human geography has gained acclaim from international leaders in her field, and her enjoyment of teaching has strengthened into a passion all on its own. "Supervising postgraduate students, particularly non-UK students, has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of my career."

Clare is a recognised voice on the issue of women in the academy, specifically on women physical geographers and the situations of other research women working fractional hours in higher education. The subject is referred to as "Women, Science and Identity", and she has published several papers on this topic.

From her own experience and from the extensive interviews she has conducted, Clare has learned the sage advice to give to women in SET, most especially for them to join relevant support groups. She cites The Women and Geography Study Group of the Institute of British Geographers as "invaluable to me throughout my career."

Clare says that the sense of belief in yourself and your work that a mentor can give is an important key to success. "Get advice from women already in your field/department, and try and build a good relationship with a senior colleague who will support you in promotion attempts and grant applications." She also stresses doing some investigation of potential workplaces before applying for jobs. "Find out about flexible working in practice, not just in policy documents: the rhetoric and reality might be quite different!"

In addition to her published research work in human geography, Clare also studies the impact of the Internet on reducing the isolation many women feel in their work and non-work lives. In particular, she is studying the use of parenting websites, and has developed an Internet tool for remotely training researchers in the professional methods and practices of the social sciences.

It is clear the profound influence these mentors have had on her, for Clare is now a respected and valued resource for other SET women who wish to combine work and non-work effectively. Her final piece of advice is "Learn to say no, and as much as possible, avoid working at weekends!"

Learn more about Clare Madge's work: Dr Madge's Homepage