Equal opportunities
The Max Planck Society has established internal target agreements in order to implement the principle of equality and equal treatment stated in the constitution. We as an institute are also convinced that equal opportunities for all employees are an indispensable prerequisite for the future viability of our research institution.
At the MPI for Biological Intelligence, employees from around 50 nations work with a wide variety of career and life paths. Our goal is therefore to foster a culture in which all can live and work together in an open, non-discriminatory and respectful atmosphere. After all, people who feel comfortable, who are enthusiastic about their work and who can contribute their ideas and strengths in the best possible way, are the basis of our cutting-edge research.
We therefore promote the development of employees' individual abilities, regardless of gender, origin or physical limitations. In doing so, we focus especially on career advancement for young scientists, with a particular eye on female scientists. They are still heavily underrepresented at management level and have less clear future prospects than their male counterparts. In this context, we also try to improve the compatibility of family and professional life.
The Gender Equality Officers help to implement these goals and at the same time act as contact persons for all issues relating to gender equality and gender sensibility. They are involved in all personnel, organizational and social measures relating to gender equality of women and men, the compatibility of family and work, and protection against sexual harassment and bullying at the workplace.
The institute has defined its gender equality standards in a comprehensive gender equality plan. The gender equality plans in the MPG are created and evaluated every three years. The current plan, which covers the period 2024-2026, was awarded “Gold”, as was its predecessor. The plans include a detailed analysis and presentation of the strategy, taking into account both key personnel figures and other gender-specific figures important for career development, e.g. publications and participation in conferences. Our Gender Equality Officer Petra Winterholler comments on the positive effect the gender equality plans can have on the way people work together at the institutes: “The establishment of a gender and diversity working group, in which various interest groups such as the works council, public relations, doctoral students and postdocs, administration, representatives of the severely disabled, the speakers of the managing directors, group leaders and interested employees are represented, has made an enormous contribution to the implementation of our ambitious gender equality plan through cross-departmental cooperation. There are many synergies here.”
The MPI for Biological Intelligence supports the ALBA Declaration of Equity and Inclusion as a sign of commitment to equality and inclusion in neuroscience. The ALBA network advocates for equitable and diverse communities in neuroscience.