My most liked X post, reposting here: 1 in 10 of the top 100 ‘best’ scientists are named Michael or Eric, but only 3% are female according to Research.com. Putting aside the obvious flaws of the H-index, these numbers are disheartening: research.com/scientists-r... #SciComm #WomenInSTEM - ThreadSky

sallyburn.bsky.social • 103 days ago

My most liked X post, reposting here:
1 in 10 of the top 100 ‘best’ scientists are named Michael or Eric, but only 3% are female according to https://Research.com. Putting aside the obvious flaws of the H-index, these numbers are disheartening: https://research.com/scientists-rankings/best-scientists
#SciComm #WomenInSTEM

Comments

thelemic.bsky.social•101 days ago

The word I would choose is disgusting.

retropz.bsky.social•102 days ago

📌

retropz.bsky.social•102 days ago

This is really shocking, even though I've seen it before. Thank you for re-sharing it, I was discussing this with some of our new PhD students the other day, and I couldn't remember the stats, but will pass this on to them now - newer generations of researchers who want to be part of the solution

gringene.org•103 days ago

With a little bit of maths, I can infer that one or both of the following is true:

* at least 5% are named Eric
* at least 5% are named Michael

... which seems even more bonkers to me in light of the "5% are female" statement.

i-am-erk.bsky.social•103 days ago

There's another statistical question here. Why is Eric so popular? It's a perennial name but never a super common one afaik. If there's a great Eric conspiracy at play, why don't I get the newsletters?

This is less important than your question but I couldn't help but notice.

aprylnicolle.dftba.social•102 days ago

No that’s a good question. What percentage are Johns? Or some form of Robert/Bob? Eric is not an overly common name.

aprylnicolle.dftba.social•102 days ago

I followed the link. Here’s what I was able to find using the search function:

11 Eric (no Eriks)
33 Michael (no Mikes)

24 Robert
1 Roberto
2 Rob
1 Bobby (no Bobs)

28 John
3 Jonathan

i-am-erk.bsky.social•102 days ago

Without checking name frequency stats I am going to simply presume by feel that Erics are overrepresented (I rarely run into people who share my name). Curious

sallyburn.bsky.social•102 days ago

Honestly, I feel this too. I have worked with and know of multiple Erics in my field (genomics) but have never come across one in the wild outside of science… I’m telling you, it’s an Erictocracy

aprylnicolle.dftba.social•102 days ago

Note: that’s the 1000 list. I didn’t see a way to look at just the top 100.

epiguy.bsky.social•103 days ago

Now the really important question: Amongst the females, which percentage is named Michaela or Erica/Erika?

100dianne.bsky.social•103 days ago

Welcome sally
Glad you made it out

sallyburn.bsky.social•103 days ago

Thanks! It’s so much saner here!

100dianne.bsky.social•103 days ago

It really is. If you need help there’s plenty. Just ask

prosborne.bsky.social•103 days ago

I have worked in software for over a quarter of a century, and I can attest to all of this in that sphere. In fact, my network has far more than 10% Eric and Michaels. Which is one of the issues. My network is saturated with people like me because that is all I have been able to work with... (more)

prosborne.bsky.social•103 days ago

I have never had a direct supervisor that was female. Over 10 jobs and 26 years. If someone thinks it is silly to encourage/legislate diverse hiring, how would you solve this issue before women are forced out any industry? How do we give opportunities to people no one knows?

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