What is keeping American girls out of laboratories?
A study by the US Chamber of Commerce in 2011 found that women are vastly underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math – the fields known as STEM. Women make up half the workforce, yet they hold less than a quarter of STEM jobs – and women with a STEM degree are more likely to work in education and healthcare – not research. Yet women in STEM earned 33 percent more than comparable women in jobs outside the science and math fields.
Sara McConnell has a report that looks at the issue from a number of angles.
That story comes to us courtesy ofWith Good Reason. If you missed it, WAMC did a series on women in STEM, that is archived on our website.
In her role with the Chemical Security Engagement program of the U.S. Department of State, Nancy Jackson travels throughout Asia and the Middle East, and she is seeing a big change happening: women chemists are thriving. In most parts of the Middle East, she says, there are more women studying chemistry than men. She talks about this increasing role women are playing in science internationally.
That interview comes to us courtesy of the Chemical Heritage Foundation and producer Mia Lobel.
Sharon Haynie, principal investigator at DuPont, received a B.S. in biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She shares the advice the helped her make the most of her experiences.
Now, lets hear from a younger, but equally determined role model. Hakima is a 13-year old Ugandan girl and a volunteer of the child rights organization Plan International. She is leading child rights initiatives in her school and her community. Hakima attended this year's session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women where she was interviewed by UN Radio.
Hakima, a 13 year old child rights advocate was interviewed by UN Radio.
Finally, as many stereotypes as there are for scientists, there are an equal number for mathematicians. Math geeks, human calculators – nerds. But commentator Tracy Wu has an essay on why it's important to embrace your inner nerd – and follow your interests.
That’s our show for this week. Thanks to Katie Britton for production assistance. Our theme music is by Kevin Bartlett. This show is a national production of Northeast Public Radio. Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock.