Women in Science and Engineering Anne K. Camper Associate Professor, Civil Engineering Associate Dean, College of Engineering Montana State University–Bozeman

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

Issues – Duke Study Reading from report, Nannerl O. Keohane, Chair of Committee MSU 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

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

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

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

Employee Issues – Duke Study Again, demands of family vs career Lack of personal and professional respect Professional development opportunities MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Percentage of 4 th, 8 th, and 12 th 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:

S&E graduate students, by sex:

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:

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

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

Women in Academia Earn less than male counterparts, gap decreasing Underrepresented at senior ranks more difficult to achieve tenure, promotion especially when young, one study linked with having children (not true for men) MSU 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

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

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

Women Undergrads in Engineering - Retention Persistence correlated with self-confidence Importance of support activities – social, study groups, research opportunities MSU 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

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

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

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

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

Other engineering statistics 20% B.S. engineering degrees to females 10% of engineering workforce female MSU 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

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

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

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

Aspirations of an institution Summary from Duke Survey, relevant to their school Has meaning for entire educational system MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Citations Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: NSF (Arlington, VA) Gender Differences in the Careers of Academic Scientists and Engineers: A Literature Review NSF , Project Officer, Alan I. Rapoport (Arlington, VA) (“Princeton report”) MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering

Citations Women’s Initiative, Duke University. Steering Committee Report, Where are All the Girls? Why Females Shy Away from Engineering. June Ann M. Ulvin, Senior Honors Thesis Final Report of the Women’s Experiences in College Engineering (WECE) Project Goodman Research Group, Inc. Cambridge, MA MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering