AI Insight
An analysis by Nature Index reveals that men continue to dominate first and last authorship positions in leading science journals, despite significant increases in women's overall participation in scientific research. The gender gaps in these authorship positions, which typically indicate major contributions to research such as conducting the primary work or leading the project, have shown minimal improvement over the past decade.
Why it matters
First and last authorship positions are critical for career advancement in academia, influencing hiring, promotion, and funding decisions. The persistent gender disparity in these key positions suggests that structural barriers continue to limit women's advancement to leadership roles in science, despite their increased presence in the field.
Nature, Published online: 02 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01495-8
Women’s participation in science has risen sharply, but a Nature Index analysis finds that gender gaps in first and last authorship — markers of key scientific achievements — have barely shifted over the past decade.
Source: First and last authors more likely to be men in leading science journals