Women in physics in Armenia

Mary Zazyan

Citation: AIP Conference Proceedings 1697, 060003 (2015);

View online: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4937650
View Table of Contents: http://aip.scitation.org/toc/apc/1697/1
Published by the American Institute of Physics

Articles you may be interested in

Women in science: Current advances and challenges in Belarus
AIP Conference Proceedings 1697, 060006 (2015); 10.1063/1.4937653

Albanian women in physics

AIP Conference Proceedings 1697, 060001 (2015); 10.1063/1.4937648

Women in physics in Mexico: The question of the female scientist

AIP Conference Proceedings 1697, 060030 (2015); 10.1063/1.4937677

National survey of women in physics in Austria

AIP Conference Proceedings 1697, 060005 (2015); 10.1063/1.4937652

Women in physics in Canada

AIP Conference Proceedings 1697, 060009 (2015); 10.1063/1.4937656

Chemical composition of planetary nebulae: The abundance discrepancy problem

AIP Conference Proceedings 1697, 040003 (2015); 10.1063/1.4937639
 Women in Physics in Armenia
Mary Zazyan

Yerevan Physics Institute, Yerevan, Armenia

mary@yerphi.am

Abstract. Armenia has a long tradition of excellence in science, technology, and education. However, today Armenian
science, famous especially for its achievements in physics, confronts serious challenges. Low social prestige, poor
funding, and the low income of scientists make physics unwelcoming to women. In our paper we discuss the current
situation and the most important problems Armenian women in physics face.

SITUATION AND PROBLEMS

Armenia is one of the republics of the former Soviet Union. It is a small, modern country with a long history and
a very rich culture. Throughout the land’s history, the Armenian woman has been the pillar of society. The nation
and its language, mentality, and culture have been preserved mostly thanks to women [1].
In Soviet times the law gave men and women equally free access to higher education and professional employ-
ment. Although being a woman in a male-dominated field was difficult, many Armenian women chose physics for
their profession.
Today, as before, women have the same opportunities as men in Armenia. However, in today’s Armenia, physics
is no longer popular. It is not considered an interesting field, or one that provides a secure and comfortable future.
This goes for men and women alike, which we believe is a factor that has a lot to do with women avoiding physics
in Armenia.
Why is physics unpopular in Armenia?
Researchers in 2006 found that Armenians are very realistic and reasonable in almost all aspects of their lives,
including the planning of their futures [2]. When choosing a major, young people (both males and females) most
often take a realistic look at their abilities and their chances at succeeding in a particular field. Following an “empty
dream” is not encouraged. Thus, young people choose a major more often because they believe they will be good at
it and that it will guarantee a good living. Today young people in Armenia prefer the economic sciences [3].
In his 2010 address to the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan spoke of a
moral and psychological crisis [4]. In contemporary Armenia scientists are not considered heroes; on the contrary,
scientists are often subjected to ridicule. Scientific activity no longer offers many career prospects and is no longer
seen as beneficial to young people. This is a serious problem. The number of employees in science today is 5,700,
whereas in Soviet times it was more than 12,000 [5].
Although the Armenian government has shown that it is concerned about the future of science and education, its
financial contributions to the scientific sector are not sufficient. Many young physicists go into the information
technology sector, where they can earn higher salaries.
The lack of career opportunities motivates scientists to go abroad. Since the nation achieved independence from
the Soviet Union in 1991, emigration has been a central characteristic of Armenian life. And today, many young
physicists in Armenia plan their expatriation during their studies and leave the country right after graduation. Thus,
in our country, the problems of women in the field of physics appear to result from the larger problem. It is a
reflection of a long-standing reality.

Women in Physics
AIP Conf. Proc. 1697, 060003-1–060003-2; doi: 10.1063/1.4937650
© 2015 AIP Publishing LLC 978-0-7354-1344-3/$30.00

060003-1
 SOME STATISTICS
Despite these negative factors, some women do quite well in physics. The problems women physicists in Armenia
face are the relatively slow promotion rate and the low probability of occupying a leadership position. For example,
the situation at the Yerevan Physics Institute, one of the top research institutes in Armenia, is representative.
• There is no woman physicist in top management.
• There is one woman on the Scientific Council.
• One of 22 theses is presented by a woman.
• Sixteen percent of PhD students are female.
Figures 1 and 2 show the gender disproportion at Yerevan Physics Institute. The figures also illustrate a certain
“aging” of physics.

50% 60%

45%
50%
40%
35% 40%
male candidates of male doctors of
30% sciences
sciences (PhD) 30%
25% female doctors of
female candidates of
20% sciences
sciences (PhD) 20%
15%
10% 10%
5%
0% 0%

<30 30-39 40-49 50-59 >60 <30 30-39 40-49 50-59 >60

age (years) age (years)

FIGURE 1. Candidates of sciences (PhD) in FIGURE 2. Doctors of sciences in Yerevan

Yerevan Physics Institute by age group. Physics Institute by age group.

CONCLUSION
Armenia has some serious problems in science, problems that are important to female physicists as well. The
solutions are not simple. They can be solved only at the national level. The Armenian Government recognizes these
problems. In May 2010, the government adopted the Strategy on Development of Science in Armenia, which out-
lined the state policy towards the development of science from 2011 to 2020.
As for the group Armenian Women in Physics, we work toward improving the situation of women in science.
Women physicists need supportive relationships with colleagues. The Association of Women Scientists (AWS) was
founded by the Women in Physics Group for this reason. One of the main tasks of AWS is to make physics attractive
to young women and to raise the prestige of this field of science by organizing lectures and seminars for different
target groups.

REFERENCES
1. “Year of the Armenian woman 2010,” message of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia, 2010, http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/en/archives/3839.
2. H. Gharibyan and S. Gunsaulus, “Gender gap in computer science does not exist in one former soviet republic:
Results of a study,” ITiCSE 2006, pp. 222–226.
3. “Young scientists in Armenia prefer economic sciences,” Arka News Agency, August 30, 2013,
http://arka.am/en/news/society/young_scientists_in_armenia_prefer_economic_sciences/.
4. “Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s address to the annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences,” April
23, 2010, http://www.gov.am/en/speeches/1/item/2999/.
5. R. Martirosyan, “President of the Academy of Sciences: Armenian scientists’ salaries will increase by 2014 [in
Armenian], October 16, 2013, http://news.am/arm/news/176058.html.

060003-2