Beyond Bias and Barriers : Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering

The United States Economy Relies On The Productivity, Entrepreneurship, And Creativity Of Its People. To Maintain Its Scientific And Engineering Leadership Amid Increasing Economic And Educational Globalization, The United States Must Aggressively Pursue The Innovative Capacity Of All Of Its People--women And Men. Women Make Up An Increasing Proportion Of Science And Engineering Majors At All Institutions, Including Top Programs Such As Those At The Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Where Women Make Up 51% Of Its Science Undergraduates And 35% Of Its Engineering Undergraduates. For Women To Participate To Their Full Potential Across All Science And Engineering Fields, They Must See A Career Path That Allows Them To Reach Their Full Intellectual Potential. Much Remains To Be Done To Achieve That Goal--summary, P. 1. 1. Introduction -- 2. Learning And Performance -- 3. Examining Persistence And Attrition -- 4. Success And Its Evaluation In Science And Engineering -- 5. Institutional Constraints -- 6. Fulfilling The Potential Of Women In Academic Science And Engineering. Committee On Maximizing The Potential Of Women In Academic Science And Engineering ; Committee On Science, Engineering, And Public Policy ; National Academy Of Sciences, National Academy Of Engineering, And Institute Of Medicine Of The National Academies. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 275-299) And Index. The United States economy relies on the productivity, entrepreneurship, and creativity of its people. To maintain its scientific and engineering leadership amid increasing economic and educational globalization, the United States must aggressively pursue the innovative capacity of all its people&#8212women and men. However, women face barriers to success in every field of science and engineering; obstacles that deprive the country of an important source of talent. Without a transformation of academic institutions to tackle such barriers, the future vitality of the U.S. research base and economy are in jeopardy.

Beyond Bias and Barriers explains that eliminating gender bias in academia requires immediate overarching reform, including decisive action by university administrators, professional societies, federal funding agencies and foundations, government agencies, and Congress. If implemented and coordinated across public, private, and government sectors, the recommended actions will help to improve workplace environments for all employees while strengthening the foundations of America&#39s competitiveness.

The United States economy relies on the productivity, entrepreneurship, and creativity of its people. To maintain its scientific and engineering leadership amid increasing economic and educational globalization, the United States must aggressively pursue the innovative capacity of all its people—women and men. However, women face barriers to success in every field of science and engineering; obstacles that deprive the country of an important source of talent. Without a transformation of academic institutions to tackle such barriers, the future vitality of the U.S. research base and economy are in jeopardy.

Beyond Bias and Barriers explains that eliminating gender bias in academia requires immediate overarching reform, including decisive action by university administrators, professional societies, federal funding agencies and foundations, government agencies, and Congress. If implemented and coordinated across public, private, and government sectors, the recommended actions will help to improve workplace environments for all employees while strengthening the foundations of America's competitiveness.

The United States economy relies on the productivity, entrepreneurship, and creativity of its people. To maintain its scientific and engineering leadership amid increasing economic and educational globalization, the United States must aggressively pursue the innovative capacity of all its people - women and men. However, women face barriers to success in every field of science and engineering; obstacles that deprive the country of an important source of talent. Without a transformation of academic institutions to tackle such barriers, the future vitality of the U.S. research base and economy are in jeopardy. "Beyond Bias and Barriers" explains that eliminating gender bias in academia requires immediate overarching reform, including decisive action by university administrators, professional societies, federal funding agencies and foundations, government agencies, and Congress. If implemented and coordinated across public, private, and government sectors, the recommended actions will help to improve workplace environments for all employees while strengthening the foundations of America's competitiveness. The United States economy relies on the productivity, entrepreneurship, and creativity of its people. To maintain its scientific and engineering leadership amid increasing economic and educational globalization, the United States must aggressively pursue the innovative capacity of all of its people--women and men. Women make up an increasing proportion of science and engineering majors at all institutions, including top programs such as those at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where women make up 51% of its science undergraduates and 35% of its engineering undergraduates. For women to participate to their full potential across all science and engineering fields, they must see a career path that allows them to reach their full intellectual potential. Much remains to be done to achieve that goal--Summary, p. S-1 United States economy relies on the productivity, entrepreneurship, and creativity of its people. To maintain its scientific and engineering leadership amid increasing economic and educational globalization, the United States must aggressively pursue the innovative capacity of all of its people--women and men. Women make up an increasing proportion of science and engineering majors at all institutions, including top programs such as those at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where women make up 51% of its science undergraduates and 35% of its engineering undergraduates. For women to participate to their full potential across all science and engineering fields, they must see a career path that allows them to reach their full intellectual potential. Much remains to be done to achieve that goal--Summary, page S-1