Concerned researchers have to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to address what they see as ¡°damaging stereotypes¡± in the society¡¯s publications.

In particular, the letter refers to four episodes that occurred with the organisation¡¯s high-profile journal Science in the past 12 months.

The most recent incident the letter refers to are statements made in in the ¡°Working Life¡± section of the journal. It reads: ¡°I worked 16 to 17 hours a day, not just to make progress on the technology but also to publish our results in high-impact journals. How did I manage it? My wife ¨C also a Ph.D. scientist ¨C worked far less than I did; she took on the bulk of the domestic responsibilities.¡±

These statements upheld ¡°sexist stereotypes¡± about gendered career roles, the letter says.

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Next, the letter addresses that was published in June, and suggested a postdoctoral researcher should tolerate her supervisor looking down her shirt. ¡°His attention on your chest may be unwelcome, but you need his attention on your science and his best advice,¡± it stated. The article was later retracted. ?

Furthermore, the letter also that Science ran for their Aids/HIV special issue last July, which presented a head-cropped photograph of transgender sex workers in Jakarta, Indonesia. The cover affected ¡°three underrepresented communities ¨C women, people of color and the transgender community ¨C along with its general harmful representation of disembodied female bodies¡±, the letter adds.

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The cover resulted in reactions in and a surge of social media messages from academics. But a tweet from the @SciCareersEditor Twitter account made matters worse, according to the letter; by stating ¡°am I the only one who finds moral indignation really boring?¡±

Marcia McNutt, the editor-in-chief of Science, has since by the cover. Some academics have, however, noted that the cover was at one point removed from Science¡¯s website, but is now .

¡°As a leading and respected scientific journal with a diverse readership, what is published in Science and its related communications can strongly, either positively or negatively, influence stereotypes,¡± say the letter¡¯s authors. ¡°We feel that AAAS has a responsibility to the academic community and can take simple steps to ensure that their actions are in line with their stated mission of fostering diversity.¡±

Some of the articles in question are opinion or comment pieces, notes Stephen Curry, a structural biologist from Imperial College London and a signatory to the letter. ¡°People have different opinions about what is and is not tolerable in terms of sexual harassment in the workplace.¡± But, he adds, the institution should be ¡°more careful¡± to filter out controversial comments.

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¡°Science and Science Careers in particular have had a couple of missteps, which we regret,¡± said Dr McNutt. ¡°We¡¯ve been rethinking our strategy and are in the process of changing oversight for Science Careers, but not fast enough.¡±?

Dr McNutt went further to point out that the journal¡¯s first person accounts are being mistaken as advice columns, and says that such future accounts will be paired with alternative commentary or perspective.

¡°AAAS as an organisation has always been, and will continue to be strongly focused on promoting ,¡± she said. ¡°More than half of our senior management positions [are] held by women.¡±

Over 300 academics have so far signed the letter, which is due to be sent to the AAAS early next week.

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