Women faculty in science, engineering rises over 800% in 33 years

William Atkins
Tuesday, 15 July 2008 19:39

Science - Biology

The concentration of women at the science and engineering doctoral level, according to NSF, remains primarily in the life science, social sciences, and psychology. Lower numbers of women continue to be in the physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences.

For more information, please read the NSF chapter “Women in the Academic Doctoral S&E Workforce,” within the article “Chapter 5. Academic Research and Development: Doctoral Scientists and Engineers in Academia.”

Research and development in the United States (as it is in any country of the world), especially within its universities and colleges, is very important.

The educating of students in the sciences and engineering will help to provide a bright and prosperous future for the United States (and for all countries in the world).

The continuing employment of doctoral scientists and engineers in academia, especially in colleges and universities, is important to the continuing advancement of research and development (R&D) throughout the world.

And, the continuing entrance of women into the field of R&D will help to create a better educated and more knowledgeable world.

According to the website of the National Science Foundation (NSF), it is "... an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 'to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…' With an annual budget of about $6.06 billion, [the NSF is] the funding source for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities. In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing."