SWE - Winter 2008 - (Page 20)

The SWE Retention Study and recommendations from the Beyond Bias and Barriers report form the backbone of congressional briefing. Science and Engineering Pipeline: HOW Can We Retain More Women in Academia and Industry? BY ANNE M. PERUSEK, SWE DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATIONS T he leaky pipeline problem and Human Services and current presiin science and engineering dent of the University of Miami. is receiving greater recogniIn addition, results of the SWE tion due in large measure to Retention Survey were released, showongoing public policy and ing how women in industry experience awareness efforts by SWE problems similar to women and similar-minded groups. in academia. Lisa Frehill, The Society’s most recent Ph.D., executive director of effort took place in midthe Commission on October, at a SWE-led conProfessionals in Science and gressional briefing held in Technology, presented the conjunction with the House findings. Diversity and Innovation “Women leave earlier and Caucus. Moderated by SWE at a more rapid rate than Director of External Affairs men,” Dr. Frehill stated, Semahat Demir, Ph.D., the pointing out that one in four House Diversity and briefing was co-sponsored women entering the engiInnovation Caucus leader neering profession leaves by 11 engineering and Rep. Silvestre Reyes is women’s organizations. after the age of 30, while one of the caucus’ origiThere, the Honorable only one in ten of their male nal co-chairs. Donna Shalala addressed counterparts does. the progress made in the Exacerbating the problem year since the National is the fact that baby boomers Academies released its reare heading toward retireport, “Beyond Bias and ment. “We are facing a Barriers: Fulfilling the major retention problem Potential of Women in and losing some of our best Academic Science and and brightest at a time of Engineering” (National critical need,” she said. Academies Press, 2006). Dr. (Note: The third installment Shalala chaired the commitof Dr. Frehill’s series on the tee that wrote the report. She retention study results is on is the former secretary of the Dr. Demir, SWE’s director page 24 of this issue.) of external affairs, moderU.S. Department of Health ated the briefing. A Matter of Timing The briefing was timed to follow the House Science and Technology Committee’s hearing on gender bias in the sciences, held the previous day. Dr. Shalala testified at that hearing, also outlining the findings and recommendations from the Beyond Bias and Barriers report, discussing challenges and solutions, and ending with a call to action. “The fact that women are capable of contributing to the nation’s scientific and engineering enterprise, but are impeded from doing so because of gender and racial/ethnic bias and outmoded ‘rules’ governing academic success is deeply troubling and embarrassing,” she stated. “All of us — faculty, university leaders, professional and scientific societies, federal agencies and the federal government — must unite to ensure that all our nation’s people are welcomed and encouraged to excel in science and engineering in our research universities. Our nation’s future depends on it,” Dr. Shalala concluded. The full text of Dr. Shalala’s remarks can be found at: http://science.house.gov/publications /Testimony.aspx?TID=8895 Capitalizing on this momentum, the message from the SWE-led briefing was clear: Women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields 20 SWE WINTER 2008 http://science.house.gov/publications/Testimony.aspx?TID=8895

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SWE - Winter 2008

SWE - Winter 2008 Heritage Club President’s Note View from the Executive Suite Editor’s Page Readers’ Forum EWeek 2008 New Faces of Engineering The Leaky Science and Engineering Pipeline Why Do Women Leave the Engineering Work Force? A Greener America = New Growth Fields for Engineers The Off-On Ramp Revolution Recognizing the Historic Contributions of African-Americans Membership Information & Calendar A&B Women in Tune with Technology: SWE 2007 Conference Overview Keynote Address Achievement Award Region, Section, and Collegiate Awards SME Bowl and SWE Anniversaries Engineering World: Point of View: Why I Blog Career Toolbox Book Review SWE Smiles Opportunity Index SWE Scrapbook

SWE - Winter 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.