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Pan-Organizational Summit on the U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce Meeting Summary (2003) / Chapter Skim
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The Underrepresentation of Women in Engineering and Related Science: Pursuing Two Complementary Paths to Parity
Pages 119-126

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From page 119...
... During 2001-02, more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate women studying engineering and related sciences at more than 100 colleges and universities across the U.S., and in several other nations, were matched in structured, one-on-one, email-based mentoring relationships with male and female scientific and technical professionals working in industry and government.
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From page 120...
... Since the social changes of the women's movement and legislation removing barriers and addressing gender equity changed the landscape for women's opportunities 30 years ago, women have made considerable progress in participation in a variety of professional fields. National Science Foundation data put the percentage of women receiving bachelor's degrees in science and engineering combined at 50 percent of the total in 2000.
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From page 121...
... The remaining area of gender difference as students prepare to enter college appears to be interest, with girls even less interested than boys in pursuing engineering and science in college and beyond. Women, to a somewhat greater extent than men, are apt to choose fields of study they believe will contribute to the social good, and engineering and related sciences are not widely perceived as professions making such contributions.
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From page 122...
... They are prompted by a social fabric that pervades our society, represented not only within our educational systems but also in homes, within families, and in popular culture, which, by and large, stereotypes engineering and scientific fields as "geeky" and particularly inappropriate for girls and women. Targeted programs frequently attract only a portion of the students who could benefit from them, due to stigmas attached to participation, including peer backlash and harassment of those who participate.
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From page 123...
... In this model, attention is paid to mitigating that deficit, typically by providing programs summer camps, internships, remedial courses, special study groups, mentoring programs, social opportunities, seminars, evening programs, etc. Program evaluation suggests that well-designed intervention programs can definitely make a difference in increasing the numbers of women in science and engineering, at least for some portion of the population in some environments.
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From page 124...
... In another example, faculty sponsoring research internships may have their erroneous assumptions about women students' abilities or other stereotypes dispelled. There are already many strong programs in place, innovative as well as "tried and true," local, regional, and national, that help spark interest among young women; help to mentor students and emerging professionals at every level; provide "hands on" opportunities to explore the fun, challenge, and excitement of engineering and science; and offer role models and communities of support.
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From page 125...
... Research-based program design, continuous improvement and feedback loops, and clever adaptation of technology-supported solutions have enabled an electronic mentoring program linking students with professionals in industry that is both scalable and cost-effective. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS · Disaggregate data by sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status to ensure that program and change design will be influenced by data appropriate for all within the targeted population.
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From page 126...
... . · Use research and practice to inform the development of effective mentoring programs for specific learning objectives for individuals and to support systemic change, measuring results against objectives.
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Key Terms

  • technical fields
  • socioeconomic status
  • related sciences
  • educational practice
  • engineering workforce

  • effective mentoring
  • faculty development
  • degrees majored
  • scientific fields
  • mentoring program

  • role models
  • learning process
  • program intervention
  • social change
  • gender differences

  • mentoring programs
  • learning objectives
  • intervention programs
  • women earning
  • powerful learning

  • positive social
  • everyday educational
  • engineering combined
  • pursuing engineering
  • nearly half

  • scientists serve
  • program evaluation
  • mitigating differential
  • data appropriate
  • academic performance


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