The Helsinki Initiative will hold its fifth webinar dedicated to multilingualism in scholarly communication, bringing together experts from various research communities to discuss how language shapes participation, recognition, and diversity in academia.
This session will focus on three key themes:
- how gender, language, and economic background influence scientific productivity;
- the challenges narrative CVs pose for non-native English speakers;
- and the persistence of English dominance in global research publishing.
Programme
- Tatsuya Amano (University of Queensland): Language, economic and gender disparities widen the scientific productivity gap
Using a survey of 908 environmental scientists, we show in a recent article that being a woman is associated with up to a 45% reduction in the number of English-language publications, compared to men. Being a woman, a non-native English speaker, and from a low-income country is associated with up to a 70% reduction, compared to male native English speakers from a high-income country. The linguistic and economic productivity gap narrows when based on the total number of English- and non-English-language publications.
- Karen Stroobants (CultureBase): Narrative CVs - implications for the non-native English speaker
A common worry in user feedback on narrative CV implementation, both from applicants and reviewers, is that they might disadvantage non-native English speakers. What does evidence collected so far tell us about this? Are narrative CVs used in native languages? And how might the use of generative AI play into this?
- André Brasil (CWTS, University of Leiden): English dominance and multilingualism in scholarly communication
A report produced for the CoARA WG on Multilingualism and Language Biases in Research Assessment examines how English became the dominant language of scholarly communication and how multilingual publishing is organised, valued, and made visible across contemporary research systems. It traces the historical pathways that have privileged English through empire, geopolitical power, and cultural influence, and shows how these legacies are reproduced today through journal hierarchies, database coverage, and evaluation practices.
The event is hosted by Emanuel Kulczycki and @JannePolonen.
The event will take place on 8 December 2025, from 12:00 to 13:30 CET, and is free and open to all. Participants who register will later receive access to the recording and presentations.
Register here: Webinar Registration - Zoom