It's apparently the norm in some fields, notably medicine, and I haven't
heard of any ill effects, nor is it easy to imagine what the downsides
could be for the general quality of publication. Maybe just not enough
squeaky wheels?

- Cynthia

On Tue, Feb 19, 2013 at 11:45 PM, Wayne Tyson <[email protected]> wrote:

> O'Rourke and Ecolog:
>
> Why isn't this a uniform policy?
>
> Bias has no place in science, but it's everywhere.
>
> In fact, I think the submittals should be blind as well, to ensure that
> papers are judged on merit only. Students could be used as screeners, with
> editors checking all submissions and the reasons for rejection/acceptance
> by the screeners, to keep costs and the editors' work loads down.
>
> Finally, of course, the authors' and reviewers' names should be published,
> and all comments published. There should be a reasonable amount of back and
> forth between the reviewers and authors in the blind, so that reviewers and
> authors can be frank.
>
> Nothing polishes like fine grit.
>
> WT
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cynthia O'Rourke" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 6:50 PM
> Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] So what does the science say? ... Re: [ECOLOG-L]
> Gender issues
>
>
> "Double-blind peer review, in which neither author nor reviewer identity
> are revealed, is rarely practised in ecology or evolution journals.
> However, in 2001, double-blind review was introduced by the journal
> Behavioral Ecology. Following this policy change, there was a significant
> increase in female first-authored papers, a pattern not observed in a very
> similar journal that provides reviewers with author information. No
> negative effects could be identified, suggesting that double-blind review
> should be considered by other journals."
>
> Budden et al. 2008 Double-blind review favours increased representation of
> female authors. Trends Ecol Evol 23(1):4-6
>
> On Tue, Feb 19, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Denise Burchsted
> <[email protected]>**wrote:
>
>  Science faculty’s subtle gender biases favor male students
>> http://www.pnas.org/content/****early/2012/09/14/1211286109<http://www.pnas.org/content/**early/2012/09/14/1211286109>
>> <ht**tp://www.pnas.org/content/**early/2012/09/14/1211286109<http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/09/14/1211286109>
>> >
>>
>> "science faculty from research-intensive universities rated the
>> application materials of a student—who was randomly assigned either a male
>> or female name—for a laboratory manager position. Faculty participants
>> rated the male applicant as significantly more competent and hireable than
>> the (identical) female applicant. These participants also selected a
>> higher
>> starting salary and offered more career mentoring to the male applicant.
>> The gender of the faculty participants did not affect responses, such that
>> female and male faculty were equally likely to exhibit bias against the
>> female student. "
>>
>>
>> On 2/19/2013 4:15 PM, Hanberry, Brice B. wrote:
>>
>>  Or is it (sexist)?
>>>
>>> See: Bias Is Hurting Women in Science, Panel Reports
>>> http://www.nytimes.com/2006/****09/19/science/19women.html?_r=****0<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/**09/19/science/19women.html?_r=**0>
>>> <http://www.nytimes.com/**2006/09/19/science/19women.**html?_r=0<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/science/19women.html?_r=0>
>>> >
>>>
>>> Five Years After an Incendiary Remark, Signs That Harvard Is More
>>> Welcoming to Women
>>> http://thechoice.blogs.**nytim**es.com/2010/03/12/**harvard-2/<http://nytimes.com/2010/03/12/**harvard-2/>
>>> **<http://thechoice.blogs.**nytimes.com/2010/03/12/**harvard-2/<http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/harvard-2/>
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:
>>> [email protected].**EDU <[email protected]>] On Behalf Of
>>> Jane Shevtsov
>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 1:36 PM
>>> To:[email protected]
>>> Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Gender issues
>>>
>>> Let's not forget that the original comment that triggered this whole
>>> discussion was made by a woman! I don't think it was intended to be
>>> sexist.
>>> It's not sexist to say, "In my experience, women tend to do X and would
>>> be better off doing Y". It may be accurate or inaccurate, but it's not
>>> sexist.
>>>
>>> Jane Shevtsov
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Feb 18, 2013 at 12:40 PM, Leslie M. Adams
>>> <[email protected]>****wrote:
>>>
>>>  Now, I am the one who must speak up and voice my support for Yvette
>>>
>>>> (and Chandreyee). While no slight may have been intended, as a female
>>>> scientist I too experienced the responses Yvette cites - and
>>>> especially the one recently posted by Dr. Olden - as belittling and
>>>> dismissive. There is considerable gender bias in the fields of ecology
>>>> and biology and it is important to object to it whenever it arises;
>>>> whether intentional or not. Perhaps it is easy to counsel "moving on"
>>>> when you are unaffected by this handicap personally, but to say that
>>>> it is somehow unsuitable or inappropriate to address on this listserv
>>>> is ridiculous and dismisses the tremendously damaging effect this bias
>>>> has on many, many lives. It is also not lost on me that the issue of
>>>> gender has somehow arisen in a discussion of the skills necessary for
>>>> landing a job in ecology. I would suggest that this is no coincidence.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Leslie M. Adams, Ph.D.
>>>>
>>>> Adjunct Professor of Plant Systematics
>>>>
>>>> Professional Training and Development
>>>>
>>>> University of New Hampshire
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> <http://home.comcast.net/~****leslie.adams/<http://home.comcast.net/~**leslie.adams/>
>>>> <http://home.**comcast.net/~leslie.adams/<http://home.comcast.net/~leslie.adams/>
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> http://home.comcast.net/~****leslie.adams/<http://home.comcast.net/~**leslie.adams/>
>>>> <http://home.**comcast.net/~leslie.adams/<http://home.comcast.net/~leslie.adams/>
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>> Home Office: 603 / 659-6177
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Adjunct Associate Professor of Environmental Sustainability
>>>>
>>>> School of Undergraduate Studies (online)
>>>>
>>>> University of Maryland University College
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Adjunct Professor of Life Sciences
>>>>
>>>> Department of Liberal Arts
>>>>
>>>> New Hampshire Institute of Art
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used
>>>> when we created them." -  Albert Einstein
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news
>>>> [mailto:[email protected].****EDU <[email protected]>] On
>>>> Behalf Of Julian Olden
>>>> Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 1:04 PM
>>>> To:[email protected]
>>>> Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] A Graduate Student&#x2019;s Guide to Neces
>>>> sary Skills for Landing a Job
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi Yvette,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Apologies, but your interpretation of my suggestion is extremely
>>>> misguided
>>>>
>>>> and flat-out wrong.  My response was a cleaver way of saying that you
>>>> can
>>>>
>>>> ignore the silly responses of particular ECO-LOGGERS (some of which
>>>> have a
>>>>
>>>> track record of this behavior) by filtering your emails. Unfortunately
>>>>
>>>> your email has added fuel to a series of ECOLOG posts that have very
>>>>
>>>> little to do with the original premise of the Blickley et al. (2012).
>>>>
>>>> Let's all move on now.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Cheers,
>>>>
>>>> Julian
>>>>
>>>> ---
>>>>
>>>> Julian D. Olden
>>>>
>>>> Freshwater Ecology & Conservation Lab
>>>>
>>>> School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
>>>>
>>>> University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195
>>>>
>>>> e:<mailto:[email protected]>  [email protected], t: (206) 616-3112 <
>>>> <tel:%28206%29%20616-3112> tel:%28206%29%20616-3112>
>>>>
>>>> w:<http://www.fish.washington.****edu/research/oldenlab/<http:**
>>>> //www.fish.washington.edu/**research/oldenlab/<http://www.fish.washington.edu/research/oldenlab/>
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> http://www.fish.washington.****edu/research/oldenlab/<http://**
>>>> www.fish.washington.edu/**research/oldenlab/<http://www.fish.washington.edu/research/oldenlab/>
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>> skype: goldenolden
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "The face of the river . . . was not a book to be read once and thrown
>>>>
>>>> aside, for it had a new story to tell every day." < Mark Twain
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 2/18/13 7:37 AM, "Yvette Dickinson" <<mailto:
>>>> [email protected]>
>>>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  Like Chandreyee Mitra I was surprised by the comment included in
>>>>
>>>>> Clara's
>>>>> list:
>>>>> "7. ...i am somewhat exercised by your post because, IMO, too many
>>>>> young,
>>>>> especially, female,
>>>>> applicants don't bring much to the table that others don't already
>>>>> know
>>>>> or that cannot be readily
>>>>> duplicated or that is mostly generalist-oriented..."
>>>>> This is a sentiment that I have heard before in other venues and find
>>>>> abhorrent.  I initially chose not
>>>>> to comment on it here, but I do support Chandreyee's in her comment.
>>>>> However, I am disgusted by the response Chandreyee recieved.  To be
>>>>> told
>>>>> to simply use your email
>>>>> filter and not worry your silly little head over such matters is
>>>>> offensive.  The concerns Chandreyee
>>>>> raised are legitimate, and should be addressed with the gravity and
>>>>> respect they deserve.
>>>>> I would like to remind all readers of ESA's code of ethics,
>>>>> particularly
>>>>> principle g.
>>>>> "Ecologists will not discriminate against others, in the course of
>>>>> their
>>>>> work on the basis of gender,
>>>>> sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, race, color,
>>>>> national origin, age, economic status,
>>>>> disability, or organizational affiliation."
>>>>> Yvette Dickinson
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>  --
>>> -------------
>>> Jane Shevtsov, Ph.D.
>>> Mathematical Biology Curriculum Writer, UCLA co-founder,www.**
>>> worldbeyondborders.org 
>>> <http://www.**worldbeyondborders.org<http://www.worldbeyondborders.org>
>>> >
>>>
>>> "Those who say it cannot be done should not interfere with those who are
>>> doing it." --attributed to Robert Heinlein, George Bernard Shaw and
>>> others
>>>
>>>
>>
>
> --
> Cynthia O'Rourke
> Mendelson Lab
> Department of Biological Sciences, UMBC
> 615-389-1890
> [email protected]
>
>
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