Audiovisual Content to Promote Women Scientists on the YouTube Channels of Spanish Biosanitary Research Institutes

YouTube is an appropriate social network for disseminating scientific audiovisual content, and this content can help to make the position of women in science, and gender equality, more visible. The aim of this study is to analyse the visibility of women scientists on the YouTube channels of Spanish biosanitary research institutes accredited by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. A mixed study of the channels and communication departments of the institutions has been carried out, analysing metrics of audience impact, the type of audiovisual production and the use of YouTube in the institution. Of the 1914 videos analysed, 4% (n = 76) of the content is related to the visibility of women scientists and has little impact. The audiovisual production is basic and informative, without a dramatic narrative structure and focused on transmitting the personal experiences of women scientists. It is necessary to invest resources in institutions to improve the production and dissemination of content that makes women in the scientific field more visible, especially among students.

https://wjbphs.com/content/visibility-and-invisibility-women-contribution-environment

Recent study about women and science is a good source of material for addressing the under representation of women in science. This article is the result of an interdisciplinary fusion of science and women’s studies in environment. Discipline demographics reveal that women are presented to textbooks less often expected and that explicit discussion of the social and cultural context is enriched with material about women’s contributions, students’ awareness of women scientists improves. Such knowledge of women can play a critical role in proactively challenging students’ perceptions of ecology.