2. Women in Physics and Astronomy Contact: Rachel Ivie Statistical Research Center American Institute of Physics rivie@aip.org

3. Data Sources Statistical Research Center, AIP –Arnell Ephraim –Garrett Anderson –Michael Neuschatz –Raymond Chu –Roman Czujko –Patrick Mulvey –Mark McFarling –Judith Mulvey Supported by Alfred P. Sloan Foundation National Science Foundation National Center for Education Statistics (caspar.nsf.gov)

4. In US, women earn · >55% of all bachelor's degrees · >45% of all PhDs In Astronomy (2005), women earned · 40% of bachelor's degrees · 33% of PhDs In Physics (2005), women earned · 21% of bachelor's degrees · 14% of PhDs Sources: National Science Foundation, National Center for Education Statistics, AIP Statistical Research Center.

5. Source: AIP High School Physics Teacher Surveys Girls as a percentage of high school physics students

7. Percent of Degrees Earned by Women in Astronomy, 1972-2005 Bachelors PhD

8. Percent of Bachelor’s Degrees Earned by Women in Selected Fields, 1966-2004. Source: National Center for Education Statistics. Data for Academic Year 1999 were not available. Compiled by AIP Statistical Research Center.

11. Teachers and Faculty (2005-2006) 31% of high school physics teachers are women. 17% of astronomy faculty are women. 13% of physics faculty are women. 11% of physics department chairs are women. Source: AIP Statistical Research Center.

12. 13 10 8 OVERALL 19 1411 Bachelor’s 16 13 9 Master’s 107 6 PhD Type of Department 12 1513 Other ranks 19 16 N/A Instructor/Adjunct 17 16 17 Assistant Prof. 14 11 10 Associate Prof. 6 5 3 Full Professor Academic Rank 2006 20021998 AIP Statistical Research Center, 2006 Academic Workforce Survey. Percent of faculty positions in physics held by women.

13. Percent of astronomy faculty positions held by women. Academic Rank20032006 Full professor1011 Associate professor2324 Assistant professor2328 Instructor/Adjunct15 Other Ranks1521 Overall1417 Source: AIP Statistical Research Center. Stand-alone astronomy departments only.

14. Percent of physics departments with women faculty in professorial ranks, 2006 AIP Statistical Research Center, 2006 Academic Workforce Survey.

16. Most current statistics: About 50% of high school physics students are girls. Percent Women PhysicsAstronomy Bachelor’s2140 PhDs1433 Faculty1317 …Leaky pipeline?

17. High school to undergraduate In 2001, 46% of high school physics students were female. In 2005, women earned 21% of bachelor's degrees in physics. In 2005, women earned 40% of bachelor’s degrees in astronomy. Source: AIP Statistical Research Center.

18. Undergraduate to Graduate In 2004-05, women earned 21% of bachelor’s degrees in physics. In Fall 2005, 23% of entering physics graduate students were women. In academic years ending 2004 and 2005 (combined), women earned 39% of bachelor’s degrees in astronomy. In Fall 2004 and 2005 (combined), 39% of entering astronomy grad students were women. Source: AIP Statistical Research Center

19. Graduate School In 1998 &1999, 19% of entering physics graduate students were women. In 2005, women earned 14% of of physics PhDs. In 1998 & 1999, 28% of entering astronomy graduate students were women. In 2005, women earned 33% of astronomy PhDs. Source: AIP Statistical Research Center.

20. Representation of women physics faculty compared to percentage earning PhDs 17131994-2000 Asst. Professor 14101985-1993 Assoc. Professor 641969-1983 Full Professor % Women Faculty, 2006 Average % PhDs to Women Dates of PhD Dates of PhD are for middle 50% of faculty respondents to the 2004 AIP Membership Survey. Source: AIP Statistical Research Center.

21. Representation of women astronomy faculty compared to percentage earning PhDs 28211996-1999 Asst. Professor 24131984-1993 Assoc. Professor 1181971-1984 Full Professor % Women Faculty, 2006 Average % PhDs to Women Dates of PhD Dates of PhD are for middle 50% of faculty respondents to the 2004 AIP Membership Survey. Source: AIP Statistical Research Center.

22. Hispanic and African-American women receiving physics bachelor’s degrees National Center for Education Statistics. Data for academic year 1999 not available. Compiled by AIP Statistical Research Center. Number Hispanic-American African- American

25. Why more women in astronomy than physics? No one knows for sure Hypotheses –Climate is better in astronomy than in physics –Critical mass: sociologists have theory that underrepresented groups have to reach a certain threshold before newcomers see field as viable option