There are some interesting findings around gender and geoscience career paths in this recent report prepared by the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) for the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC).

“Field Experience – Women
The following challenges were articulated by female respondents:

• The existence of pay discrepancies
• Lack of flexible work practices
• Limited opportunity for advancement or promotion for women
• Prevalence of problematic workplace culture, discrimination, masculine networks
• Health and fieldwork challenges, and the need for work-life balance”

“A startling number of women indicated the prevalence of gender based discrimination, including personal accounts of harassment, bullying, difficulty in building working relationships with contractors, and limited opportunities in the field as a result of gender.”

“This highlights the need for industry to take concrete action to ensure inclusive workplaces in all facets of business, from corporate environments to field camps.”