Women-Astronomers of Former Ussr

Extract

Astronomy is a very popular science in Russia, but officially it is considered rather a man’s speciality because of night observations, laborious measurements, developments of new facilities, etc.

At present there are about 35% women among specialists with higher astronomical education. The indicator of professional level is for women often higher then for men at this stage of career. Unfortunately this level remains the limit for most women-astronomers, because the possibility of farther promotion and higher position depends on family-status, home-life, having children, etc. That is why only 30% women have the first scientific degree, about 5%, the second scientific degree, and only a few individuals, the title of Professor.

As a consequence the most difficult part of this exciting science falls on women-astronomers: monotonous observations and calculations for astrometrical catalogues, processing of spectral information reduction of data, data bank management, and others. This is the most labour - intensive and ungrateful part of astronomical research that can not produce results ready for publication at relatively short times.