Australia suffering from women brain drain

The Australian economy was suffering because women scientists do not receive the same opportunity as their male peers resulting in brain drain, a top scientist has said.

The Australian economy was suffering because women scientists do not receive the same opportunity as their male peers resulting in brain drain, a top scientist has said.

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A conference is being held in Canberra to investigate into the causes of women brain drain, the AAP news agency reported.

"We're going to lose economic prosperity and opportunities of human ability to really contribute, to deal with the main issues that are facing Australia and the rest of the world," Cathy Foley, president of the Australian Institute of Physics, was quoted as saying by ABC.

"There's a need for real investment in looking at what are the issues that stop women from working regularly in science," she said.

Once women get into the workforce they are "not promoted" or dealt with in the same way as their male colleagues, she said.

"We're seeing them leave or do other things or just not participate at all."