{"id":12292,"date":"2021-03-08T10:00:37","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T10:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/marine-scotland\/?p=12292"},"modified":"2021-03-08T11:02:28","modified_gmt":"2021-03-08T11:02:28","slug":"celebrating-our-marine-scotland-women-on-international-womens-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/marine-scotland\/2021\/03\/08\/celebrating-our-marine-scotland-women-on-international-womens-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating our Marine Scotland Women on International Women\u2019s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today is International Women\u2019s Day<\/a> \u2013 a global day to celebrate the achievements of women, and we are thrilled to highlight some of the achievements of the women that lead and play an important part in Marine Scotland\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

Our women command ships, manage projects, lead scientific research and represent us internationally at meetings and negotiations.\u00a0 From colleagues going to sea, engineers, master mariners, scientists, fisheries officers and more beyond our women head up teams, departments and divisions and develop policy across marine and freshwater areas.\"Mixed<\/a><\/p>\n

Echoed in our recent publications (Scotland\u2019s Marine Assessment 2020<\/a> and Future Fisheries Management Strategy<\/a>) our women are integral to everything we do and represent key areas in Marine Scotland that are crucial to how we manage Scotland\u2019s seas.<\/p>\n

Choose to Challenge<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\"Guest<\/a>

Dr Carey Fraser, Head of Professional Development for Science in SG and Athena SWAN Lead<\/p><\/div>\n

This year\u2019s theme is \u2018Choose To Challenge\u2019 and that is exactly what Dr Carey Fraser, the first Head of Professional Development for Science in the Scottish Government (SG), has been doing. Active in promoting diversity, inclusion and equality, specifically, within the science and engineering areas of the SG, Dr Fraser\u2019s work has also included leading our successful application for the Athena SWAN Bronze<\/a> gender equality award, the first area of SG to achieve this.<\/p>\n

Dr Fraser will be taking part in a guest webinar for Women in Scottish Aquaculture (WiSA)<\/a> later this week, discussing her career and on how she promotes diversity and equality within the SG.\u00a0 Spaces are limited but some are still available –\u00a0 sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cInternational Women\u2019s Day reminds us that by celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness against bias, and taking action for equality we can encourage the positive growth and diversification in not only our workforce but throughout our communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have made some really good progress with our Athena SWAN work in Marine Scotland so I\u2019m really pleased that I\u2019ll be able to share my experiences with women who are doing great work to promote the aquaculture industry.\u201d\"MS<\/a><\/p>\n

The WiSA<\/a> network aims to promote diversity within aquaculture, supporting career development, and encouraging new talent into the burgeoning sector.<\/p>\n

Evidence from the Scottish Government suggests that women still face barriers when returning to work after an extended absence, with many experiencing a ‘motherhood penalty’ following maternity leave.<\/p>\n

\"MS<\/p>\n

Backed by the Scottish Government the Women Returners Fund<\/a> was established to help to address some of these issues, with a focus on rebuilding skills, knowledge and confidence. Through this fund WiSA will support up to 50 women with career coaching, confidence training and mentoring, empowering them to step back into\u00a0employment. March will see a month-long series of free workshops and events being offered, some developed specifically for participants who may not have worked in the sector before.<\/p>\n

WiSA<\/a> was set up in 2019 to encourage more women into all\u00a0levels of aquaculture and support them throughout their careers. Read more about their work during the pandemic in a recent Q&A<\/a> with the group\u2019s co-chairs.<\/p>\n

Further celebration of (just some of) our Women in Marine Scotland:<\/strong><\/h4>\n