Women as key actors in agricultural research: A 30-year scientometric analysis of Pesquisa Agropecuária Gaúcha
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36812/pag2026321132-143Keywords:
Agricultural research, Gender, Scientific collaboration, Scientometrics, Social Network AnalysisAbstract
Pesquisa Agropecuária Gaúcha (PAG) has served as a primary vehicle for the dissemination of agricultural research in southern Brazil over three decades, yet gender dimensions within this scientific journal remain largely unexplored. This study examines women's contributions to PAG throughout its history, evaluating publication productivity, structural positions in the co-authorship network, and institutional affiliations. All 578 articles published since the journal's inception were analyzed, and the gender of 1,376 authors was identified using IBGE's National Gender Information System. Women account for 33.21% of PAG authorship and hold structurally central positions within the collaboration network. The 30 most productive female authors were identified, with many displaying high degree, betweenness centrality, and PageRank values, highlighting their roles as key connectors and influential actors in the scientific community. The majority are affiliated with public research institutions, particularly the Secretariat of Agriculture of Rio Grande do Sul (SEAPI-RS) and associated units, underscoring the importance of state structures in supporting female participation in agricultural science. The results demonstrate significant contributions by women to regional agricultural research and their essential role in sustaining and shaping PAG's collaborative ecosystem.
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