Demographics Studies -> pragmatic approach Institutional Studies: MIT -> many others

1. Women In Physics & AstronomyMoving beyond "the woman problem" - changing science culture and institutionsFran BagenalUniversity of Colorado, Boulder Demographics Studies -> pragmatic approach Institutional Studies: MIT -> many others Affirmative Action Title IX Some good books Some great speakers { Studies { Sticks { With help from Margy Kivelson, UCLA Suggestions

2. Women In Physics & Astronomy • Demographics • statistical studies by professional organizations • decline in degrees • workforce pressures • -> pragmatic approach • “how to help these poor women” • “how to train/hire/retain the talent we need to do the job”

3. The small number problem is critical on faculties, especially in Physical Sciences and Engineering. • We find that many physical science undergraduate students complete their majors without ever having taken a course from a female professor. • http://www.clipartconnection.com/gives free downloads of clipart. • Search for “Professor” • One image is returned. • Surprised? From Margy Kivelson (UCLA)

4. Percent of PhDs Earned by Women - Historical Perspective (1920-1998) Percent of Physics BS Degrees and PhDs Earned by Women (1971-1998) % % Post-war grimness “Just wait, all will be great” There can be steps backwards

5. The Leaky Pipeline

6. Pipeline? exciting different career Top Brass management/teaching/industry college faculty / scientist grad school post-doc family WHY do people choose different paths? Worker Bees

7. The Scissors Diagram Rachel Ivie (AIP Statistics Division)

8. The Leaky Pipeline - Another Take Yes - graduate school is differentially leaky for women

9. Grad School Surveys • Shiela Widnall’s AAAS President 1988 Address • (in Science v.241, pp. 1740-5) • Surveys at MIT and Stanford in late 80s - results still valid • Hundreds of responses • Women underestimate their abilities, worry about career & family, feel “imposters”, get frustrated & discouraged, lack support, drop out, etc;

10. Solutions • Don’t blame the women! Telling women to become more like men is not the solution. • Change the institutional environment • Excessively aggressive, confrontational style is not necessary, not productive, not fun • Hire more women - non-linear phenomenon! • Leadership - from the very top - is critical

11. Some good news!

12. Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy 2003 Survey The good news is very patchy....

13. Where’s the Workforce? TOTAL NUMBERS OF DEGREES

14. First Year Graduate Students in Physics and Astronomy US must diversify to meet workforce needs

15. “Hart-Rudman Report” - 2001 Education as a National Security Imperative “The harsh fact is that the US need for the highest quality human capital in science, mathematics, and engineering is not being met.” Recommendation “… fund a comprehensive program to produce the needed numbers of science and engineering professionals as well as qualified teachers in science and math.”

16. Women In Science:Recent Activity in the US • Institutional Studies - Status of Women at MIT -> many others • Caltech, U. California, Michigan, Stanford, Wisconsin, Space Telescope Science Institute, Princeton, etc. • Pay, space, awards, responsibilities, etc. often unequal • But it is as much CULTURE that drives women away • - Women are less content with their work environment • - 2-body problems, family issues • - But also hostile environment - many subtle obstacles • - Not just older generation who just can’t change - “new generation of arrogant and overly entitled young men who apparently can’t credit young women with intelligence, dedication or a future in science.”

17. Women In Astronomy 2003 - Recommendations DATA Gather & post data on UG and graduate programs, Advertise where there are women faculty & women post-docs follow “the 60% cohort” - in 2002 60% of 18-23 year-old members are women - how will their careers evolve? HIRING - 2-body policies, pro-active recruitment FAMILIES - need flexibility in hours, careers, tenure INNOVATIVE CAREER PATHS - advertise, train, take pride MENTORING - describe what it is, give examples INSTITUTIONAL LEADERS MUST BE ACTIVE ON GENDER ISSUES - hiring, mentorship, career development BEST PRACTICES - Spread the word

18. Women In Science:Recent Activity in the US • “Speak softly and carry a big stick” • Obligations of institutions that receive federal funds • Affirmative Action - “good faith” effort, significant impact at undergraduate admissions level, less at higher levels • Title IX - Show hiring/funding consistent with demographics for educational institutions to get federal research funds • e.g. Top schools not hiring women faculty in proportion to their own women PhDs • Debra Rolison articles/talks • Congress very interested

19. Women In Science:Recent Activity in the US • Some great speakers • Virgina Valian • Sheila Tobias • Denice Denton • Elaine Seymour • Susan Estrich • Debra Rolison • Some good books • .... and lots and lots of websites....

20. Ask for more...

21. So what have we learned? • Many women succeed and contribute as effective professionals in scientific and other areas of knowledge, but obstacles exist. They may be hard to eliminate but they can be minimized. • A society that puts generous resources into educating women should make a major effort to benefit from the investment, a thought that has been largely ignored. • Institutions can contribute to retaining women by becoming more family friendly. This would help men as well as women. • It is essential to remind colleagues and administrators that diversity issues require continual attention, at least until we have a gender/minority distribution that approaches that of the society at large. From Margy Kivelson (UCLA)

22. Women In Physics & AstronomyConclusions Good news -women are getting faculty jobs - nationally But there are strong local variations Grad school is differentially leaky for women -> improve climate The supply to the pipeline is declining -> improve UG physics programs

23. Web Sites - 1 www.aip.org/statistics/index.htm American Institute of Physics Statistics Group cheminfo.chem.ou.edu/faculty/djn/diversity/top50.html Diversity statistics at univ. science depts. www.serve.com/awis/ Association of Women in Science www.aps.org/educ/cswp/ Comm. on the Status of Women in Physics, American Physical Society www.aas.org/~cswa/ Comm. on the Status of Women, American Astronomical Society www.physics.wm.edu/dualcareer.html The 2-body problem / dual-careers www.wisc.edu/provost/hiring/hirinit.html U. Wisconsin spousal hiring policy

24. Web Sites - 2 www.aps.org/apsnews/0503/050312.html Applying Title IX to science depts. web.mit.edu/fnl/women/women.html MIT study on the status of women www.ucop.edu/pressummit/reports.html U. California reports on gender equity diversity.caltech.edu/ Caltech study on the status of women www.aura-astronomy.org/nv/nuresult.asp?nuid=52 Status of Women at Space Telescope Science Institute www.engr.washington.edu/advance/ ADVANCE program at U. Washington women in academia www.hunter.cuny.edu/genderequity/ Gender Equity Program for women in academia www.nssg.gov/ Hart-Rudman Commission crux.astr.ua.edu/4000WS/4000WS.html 4000 years of women in science

25. Percent of BS Degrees Earned by Women in Several Sciences (1975-1997) %

26. Degrees Granted - 1955-2000