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It is wishful thinking to suppose society will become "gender blind" over time.

Look at the trends, despite 47 per cent of bioscience graduates in 1970 being female, only 9 per cent have since reached professorial level.

Neither are the Greenfield recommendations costly diversions. The Roberts report found this year an emerging shortage in the supply of certain scientific and technical skills. Encouraging more talented women to enter the field and retaining them is the best way of supporting the science base.

Joyce Hill
Director
Equality Challenge Unit