Policy Instruments to Promote Women Participation in Science: The L'Oréal-unesco Prizes in Argentina

Abstract

In the last two decades, the number and variety of policy instruments implemented in the field of science, technology and innovation in Latin America and particularly in Argentina has increased significantly. In this context, although new initiatives to promote the participation of women in the area have been created, they have been poorly incorporated into inventories and diagnoses in the area. This paper analyzes a specific type of policy instrument: prizes for women in science, in this case the L'Oréal-unesco prize in Argentina.The approach focuses on three main aspects from the point of view of both theresearch and the formulation of policies: the motivations of the winners to participate, he effects they identify after being distinguished and their opinion about the participation of women in science and its relation to the objectives of the award. The study is based on qualitative evidence through the combination of the analysis of official documents of the sponsoring agencies and the conduction of in-depth interviews with the prize winners.