Page - 35 - in Critical Issues in Science, Technology and Society Studies - Conference Proceedings of the 17th STS Conference Graz 2018

researchers is seen as a valuable resource for the younger researchers to develop their careers in academia. Experienced mentors support the younger academics by sharing their experiences and describing their career paths. Fig. 8. Personal and professional benefits of mentees through mentoring program, n=121 The survey results demonstrate the high satisfaction of mentees. 87,6% of them mentioned that they could benefit personally and 63,8% benefited professionally though participation in the program. With much consideration of special issues and requirements of early-stage female researchers, mentoring offers a hierarchy-free space for the casual exchange of the insider knowledge between experienced mentors and developing mentees. Through communication with more experienced mentors and with the peers from other disciplines, mentees managed to expand their existing networks and to get a chance to exchange knowledge between different disciplines and professional groups. Fig. 9. Through mentoring mentees were able to... Through mentoring the mentees were able to reflect on career development (61% of mentees mentioned it), build up key skills and competencies (60%) and evaluate their own skills in a more realistic and objective way (58%). Besides the mentees learned to plan their career strategically (54%) and to improve professional/ personal appearance (51%). 37% of mentees got a deeper insight into scientific structures. 12% of them learned to develop a better compatibility of family and career. 35