Center for Biofilm Engineering

Women in Science and Engineering

Anne K. CamperAssociate Professor, Civil EngineeringAssociate Dean, College of EngineeringMontana State University–Bozeman

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Inspiration

Ann Ulvin, engineering undergrad

Anna Quindlen, Newsweek, Oct. 20, 2003; “Still Needing the F Word”

Princeton and Duke studies

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Issues – Duke Study

Reading from report, Nannerl O. Keohane, Chair of Committee

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Undergrad Issues – Duke Study

Women feel intense pressure to conform to norms of femininity

Understate the work they do to achieve academic success

Need supportive mentoring – self confidence!!

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Alumni Issues – Duke Study

Need for mentoring and role models at University, more female faculty

Need to hear about work/life balancing

Preparation for entering male-dominated careers

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Grad/Professional Student Issues – Duke Study

Confidence decrease greater than for males at this stage

Realization that family issues will affect careers, women with larger burden

Need for faculty mentoring

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Faculty Issues – Duke Study

Not well represented, esp. at Full Professor rank

Longer time to tenure (6.3 vs 5 yrs)

Child care, partner hires, recognition of extraordinary service

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Employee Issues – Duke Study

Again, demands of family vs career

Lack of personal and professional respect

Professional development opportunities

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Percentage of 4th, 8th, and 12th graders agreeing with the statements “I like mathematics” and “I am

good at mathematics,” by sex: 2000

Bachelor’s degrees awarded in S&E and non-S&E fields, by sex: 1990-98

S&E graduate students, by sex: 1990-99

Proportion of S&E graduate students who are women,

by field: 1990 and 1999

Master’s degrees awarded in S&E and non-S&E fields, by sex: 1990-98

Doctoral degrees awarded in S&E and non-S&E fields, by sex: 1990-99

Percentage of employed scientists and engineers in S&E occupations, by sex, race/ethnicity, and

disability status: 1999

Spouse’s employment status of married scientists and engineers, by sex: 1999

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Women in Academia

Earn less than male counterparts, gap decreasing

Underrepresented at senior ranksmore difficult to achieve tenure,

promotion especially when young, one study linked with having children (not true for men)

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Women in Academia

Publish less frequently, but may be in higher quality journals

Tend to take jobs at teaching vs research institutions

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Women Undergrads in Engineering

Most undergrads from suburbia, with AP credits

Early interest in math, science, technology

40% considered changing majors, mostly in sophomore year

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Women Undergrads in Engineering - Retention

Leaving not always grade related

Parents critical for encouragement

Competition in class – first two years

Academic climate (environment, faculty (female) mentors) – most important later on

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Women Undergrads in Engineering - Retention

Persistence correlated with self-confidence

Importance of support activities – social, study groups, research opportunities

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Women Undergrads in Engineering Self Perceptions

Lower confidence than males (understanding concepts, problem solving, commitment to engineering)

Work better with people than males

Work harder than males on class work

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Women Undergrads in Engineering Self Perceptions

Lower confidence than males (understanding concepts, problem solving, commitment to engineering)

Work better with people than males

Work harder than males on class work

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Faculty at Institutions for Survey

Predominantly male, white, tenured, >50 yrs old, 14% Female

Advocate recruiting women students, no consensus on support programs

Male/female student skills similar, males >laboratory, female > study habits

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Female Faculty at Institutions for Survey

Perceived that academic climate favored males, reported more complaints of unfair treatment of females

Perceived difficulties in engineering workplace for females

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Female Faculty at Institutions for Survey

Personal accounts of gender-specific issues; committees, advisors/mentors for female students, “need to prove themselves as women engineers”

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Other engineering statistics

20% B.S. engineering degrees to females

10% of engineering workforce female

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Important issues in childhood

Problem solving related to self confidence

Parental expectations, mother’s employment

High achieving girls receive less attention in classroom

To be a woman must be feminine, to succeed, masculine MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Important issues in jr. high

Loss of self confidence, attribute success to luck, not ability

Importance of popularity, uncool to be smart

Loss of affinity for math, science

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Important issues in high school

Believe that they don’t “get” math and science

Take fewer classes, less prepared for college

Importance of support from family, counselors/teachers, role models

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Important issues in employment

Must “prove” themselves – work harder than male coworkers, are excluded from groups

Concept of reverse discrimination, perception of preferential treatment

Balance of family and career, flexibility, societal perception of working women

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Aspirations of an institution

Summary from Duke Survey, relevant to their school

Has meaning for entire educational system

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Citations

Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2002. NSF 03-312 (Arlington, VA) http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/nsf03312/start.htm

Gender Differences in the Careers of Academic Scientists and Engineers: A Literature Review NSF 03-322, Project Officer, Alan I. Rapoport (Arlington, VA) (“Princeton report”)

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Citations

Women’s Initiative, Duke University. Steering Committee Report, 2003. http://www.duke.edu/doc/Womens_Initiative_Report

Where are All the Girls? Why Females Shy Away from Engineering. June 2003. Ann M. Ulvin, Senior Honors Thesis

Final Report of the Women’s Experiences in College Engineering (WECE) Project. 2002. Goodman Research Group, Inc. Cambridge, MA

MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering