Obama: New hope for women in science?
Subscriber Judi found this NYTimes article via E-School News. Thanks, Judi!
In ‘Geek Chic’ and Obama, New Hope for Lifting Women in Science
I’ve pulled two particularly interesting findings from the article, followed by one suggestion from the author.
“Researchers who have long promoted the cause of women in science view the incoming administration with a mix of optimism and we’ll-see-ism. On the one hand, they say, the new president’s apparent enthusiasm for science, and the rise of “geek chic” and “smart is the new cool” memes, can only redound to the benefit of all scientists, particularly if the enthusiasm is followed by additional research funds. On the other hand, they say, how about appointing a woman to the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology.”
“Surveying outcomes for 160,000 Ph.D. recipients across the United States, the researchers determined that 70 percent of male tenured professors were married with children, compared with only 44 percent of their tenured female colleagues. Twelve years or more after receiving their doctorates, tenured women were more than twice as likely as tenured men to be single and significantly more likely to be divorced.”
Suggestion: President Obama might be able to change things significantly for young women in science — and young men — by signing an executive order that would provide added family leave and parental benefits to the recipients of federal grants, a huge pool of people that includes many research scientists.
Tags: obama, women in science
January 24th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
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June 15th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
I have always wanted to get involved with science , but growing up in my generation, it took too much time. Now, all I have is time.
Can you send information on what is most need in the world today?
I am 51. Is it too late?