American Physical Society Sites|APS|Journals|PhysicsCentral|Physics

Session G9: Invited Session: Broadening Participation in Physics and Other STEM Fields

11:15 AM–2:15 PM, Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Room: 308

Sponsoring Unit: FEd
Chair: Paul Cottle, Florida State University

Abstract ID: BAPS.2013.MAR.G9.4

Abstract: G9.00004 : Drawing Women In: Engaging in Science and Engineering Disciplines

1:03 PM–1:39 PM

Preview Abstract      Abstract  

Author:

Senta Greene
(Vanderbilt University)

Recent data on the participation of women in the scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) disciplines shows a landscape that is somewhat different from our expectations in the past. For example, women who earn bachelors' degrees in physics go on to earn PhDs, be hired to faculty positions, and achieve promotions at the same rate as their male counterparts. However, such gains do not foretell equal participation of women in physics since, although girls make up about half of high school physics classes, the fraction of bachelor's degrees earned by women has been flat at around 20{\%} for about a decade. This remains true even with significantly increased awareness of the need to attract more women to STEM fields and despite various interventions to attract and retain talented women. This talk will present an overview of data on women's participation in STEM disciplines, provide possible explanations for the continued failure to attract women to some STEM fields, and give a brief description of some current interventions.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2013.MAR.G9.4