Illuminating women’s hidden contribution to the foundation of theoretical population genetics

摘要: Plentiful evidence shows an historic and continuing gender gap in participation success scientific research. However, less attention has been directed at clarifying obscured contributions of women to The lack visible role models science (particularly computational fields) contributes a reduced sense belonging retention among early stages their careers [Steele 1997]. We seek counteract this cycle by illuminating the contribution programmers foundation our own fields — population evolutionary genetics. consider past 9acknowledged programmers9 (APs), who developed, ran, sometimes analyzed results computer programs. Due authorship norms time, these were credited acknowledgments sections manuscripts, rather than being recognized as authors. For example, one acknowledgement reads "I wish thank Mrs. Jennifer Smith for ably programming executing all computations" (Supplemental Table 1). In study, we documented acknowledgment identified APs Theoretical Population Biology ( TPB ) articles published between 1970 1990. While only 7% authors women, 43% women. This significant difference (p = 4.0×10-10) demonstrates substantial proportion women9s foundational genetics unrecognized. additionally observed decrease over time APs, well number generally These observations correspond masculinization programming, probable shifting responsibilities individuals (likely graduate students). Finally, note recurrent contributed several manuscripts. conclude that, while previously overlooked, historically, have made biology.