Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering Ruthanne D. Thomas, Chair Department of Chemistry University of North Texas

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering Women in Science and Engineering receive mixed signals Different individuals react differently to those signals

s s Women as a percentage of the U.S. labor force and of the science and engineering labor force, by field of science and engineering: 1995

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering Percentage of bachelor’s degrees earned by women by field of study Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering Women are now the majority of all students at the undergraduate level Women reached parity with men in undergraduate enrollment in 1980 Women made up 56% of undergraduates in 1996 Women are projected to be 58% of undergraduates by 2010 Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics 1998 (NCES ).

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering As of 1996, women have made significant gains in undergraduate enrollment…. Women earn almost half of the bachelors degrees in mathematics (46%) {Texas - 47%, 1998} Women earn half (50.2%) of the bachelors degrees in the biological/agricultural sciences {54%, 1998} Women have made significant increases in other areaswhere overall percentages remain low –physical sciences: 14% (1966) to 37% (1996) –engineering: 0.4% (1966) to 18% (1996) {20%, 1998}

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering …..but still lag significantly behind in some areas Percentage of female bachelors degrees remain low in many fields, such as physics and engineering Percentage of female bachelors degrees in Computer Science has dropped from a high of 37% (1984) to 28% (1996) {Texas - 21%, 1998}

Bachelor's degrees in computer science, by sex: 1979–96 Number Year

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering As of 1997, the percentage of females receiving doctoral degrees had reached new highs Female doctoral degrees in all S&E fields increased from 8% (1966) to 33% (1997) Psychology - 67% {Texas - 64%, 1998} Biology/agricultural sciences - 41% {31%, 1998} Engineering increased from 0.3% (1966) to 12% (1997) {10%, 1998}

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering Full-time doctoral scientists and engineers at 4-year colleges and universities (1997) WomenMen Total39, %139, % Professor 6, , Associate Prof 9, , Assistant Prof12, , Instructor 1, , Lecturer ,

Percentage of full-time ranked doctoral scientists and engineers in 4-year colleges or universities who are full professors, by sex and years since doctorate: 1997 Years since doctorate Percent

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering What are the underlying issues? What can be/should be done?

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering What are the underlying issues? Difference model (differences in the outlook and goals of women and men) Deficit model (barriers to women’s progress) –G. Sonnert and G. Holton, Who Succeeds in Science? The Gender Dimension, New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, –G. Sonnert and G. Holton, Gender Differences in Science Careers, The Project Access Study, New Brunswick, N. J.: Rutgers University Press, –V. Valian, Why So Slow? The Advancement of Women, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1998.

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering What can be/should be done? Implement suggestions, e.g. combating the chilly climate in the classroom/improving job interviews Find successful programs to emulate Explore whether features of deficit/difference models apply Learn to say no Avoid becoming isolated

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering Explore whether features of deficit/difference models apply Deficit model –Overt gender discrimination –Opinions ignored or receive less respect during meetings? –Less access to social networks/clique of power brokers? Difference model –Publications - Quality vs Quantity? »Personal response/institutional response –Niche research vs hot area?

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering Implement suggestions, e.g. combating the chilly climate in the classroom/improving job interviews –Classroom: provide students with your academic credentials smile factor types of questions/who you call on in class –Job Interviews ask meaningful, open-ended questions vs those seeking factual information

Workshop on Women in Science and Engineering Need/Opportunities for Female Faculty 50% of all faculty in Texas public universities are currently  50 years old i.e. 50% of all faculty in Texas public universities will reach retirement age within 15 years Percentage appears to be higher for science departments (expansion of science in 60’s and 70’s) Significant need for new faculty in next 15 years Significant opportunity to hire female faculty, if qualified individuals are available