Gender parity is slowly emerging at German universities, with the proportion of women decreasing as the level of qualification increases. This "leaky pipeline" effect means that, according to UNESCO, only one third of researchers worldwide were women in 2018. In Germany, the proportion of women in science was even only 28 per cent in 2019 (Destatis, 2021). This puts us well behind a number of eastern EU countries with peaks of 51% (Latvia), 49% (Lithuania) as well as 48% (Croatia) and below the EU-27 average of 33%. This picture, which is characteristic of Germany, is also reflected in the filling of permanent positions for scientific staff at the Faculty of Biology at TU Dresden.

But what is the reason that highly qualified and well-trained women leave science after a successful degree or doctorate?

One reason is the lack of long-term perspectives, which results from the lack of permanent positions and the special fixed-term contract law of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz. This often leads to leaving science, as professional qualification is often not compatible with family planning. But the science system needs the diversity, performance and creativity of everyone involved. Accordingly, in order to attract all bright minds, there must be more freedom for individual career plans.

In order to exchange views on the current situation at the Faculty of Biology at TU Dresden, the first retreat of female postdocs took place on 29 April 2022, which could be organised with the help of equal opportunities funds from the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. A total of nine female scientists took part, representing the perspectives of six working groups or junior research groups (Botany, Plant Physiology, Molecular Biology, Plant Genomics, EME and Zoology). Under the motto "Lights go up", candles were drawn in the traditional way in a creative workshop. In this informal atmosphere, the participants got to know each other better and found the necessary space to identify thematic synergies in direct exchange and to network more closely with each other.

The most important focus of the meeting was the discussion of the current perspectives for an academic career and the opportunities available to improve equal opportunities. In this context, it was also a matter of exchanging information about which events of the Centre for Continuing Education are recommendable and what can be taken away from them in terms of content. The need for support in applying for a professorship and upcoming commission interviews was also discussed.

The day together was over quickly and there was agreement to look for a regular exchange. The retreat ended in glorious sunshine in the summer garden of the Old Betting Office.