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Mentoring Programme of the Max Planck Society for Promoting Female Junior Scientists
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In Homer’s Odyssey, Mentor is Odysseus’s trusted friend and adviser, to whom Odysseus leaves the care
of his household and his infant son Telemachus when he leaves
to fight in the Trojan Wars. The goddess of wisdom, called “Athena” by
the Greeks and “Minerva” by the Romans - whose image
appears as the Max Planck Society’s logo today - on several
occasions also assumes the shape of Mentor in order to provide
guidance to Telemachus. In line with Homeric tradition, it was
customary in ancient Greece for wise and experienced adults to
take on the function of “Mentor” to the new generation.
Aristotle, for example, was the mentor of Alexander the Great.
In modern times, the task of a mentor is “to open doors”.
Mentors possess valuable experience of many different professional
areas and career strategies and can pass on their knowledge to
others. The protégé in this one-on-one relationship
is most often called “mentee”.
Women are still significantly underrepresented in leading positions
in science, regardless of their professional qualifications and
skills. What is more, they only have limited access to informal
networks which facilitate entry into the workplace as well as
career advancement. In order to improve the equality of opportunity
for women in science, the Max Planck Society has set up a mentoring
programme that offers support to all female junior scientists
- from graduate to top qualified scientist – tailored towards
their respective professional situations. The programme consists
of several connected modules which can be extended or adapted
according to individual requirements.
In 2001, the coordinator Barbara Legrum at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics set up the network Minerva-FemmeNet. This is now continued by Anke Hübenthal since July 2009. The aim behind the network is to use the experience
of former graduates of the Max Planck Society to the benefit
of young female scientists. Thanks to the participation of further
Max Planck Institutes, this network has continuously expanded
over the last few years. The successful concept is open to all
female junior scientists at the Max Planck Society.
A cooperation agreement with the  Mentoring
Network for Women in Engineering and Natural Sciences enables
women from the area of natural science and technology, on the
basis of annual mentoring programmes, to qualify in mentoring,
training, and networking, and to gain all the skills required
to be successfully equipped for the workplace. Participants can
attend workshops and seminars to improve and bolster their professional
abilities and social
skills.
A further cooperation agreement with the mentoring network MuT
- Mentoring und Training is geared towards highly qualified
female scientists working on their post doctoral lecturing qualifications.
It helps them to both recognise and realise their leadership
skills, thus being able to maximise their career potential.
For more information on individual modules please follow the
given links.
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