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

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Women in Science and Engineering

Anne K. CamperAssociate Professor, Civil EngineeringAssociate Dean, College of EngineeringMontana 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



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!!



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



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



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



Employee Issues – Duke Study

Again, demands of family vs career

Lack of personal and professional respect

Professional development opportunities


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


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)



Women in Academia

Publish less frequently, but may be in higher quality journals

Tend to take jobs at teaching vs research institutions



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



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



Women Undergrads in Engineering - Retention

Persistence correlated with self-confidence

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



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



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



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



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



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”



Other engineering statistics

20% B.S. engineering degrees to females

10% of engineering workforce female



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



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



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



Aspirations of an institution

Summary from Duke Survey, relevant to their school

Has meaning for entire educational system



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”)



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


http://www.duke.edu/doc/Womens_Initiative_Report

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

Documents

biofilm engineering

engineering anne

engineering retention

duke studies msu center

men msu center

faculty issues duke

chair of committee msu

sophomore year msu center