Methods to attract women to the sciences?

Question

What are some methods to attract more women to the sciences? I need at least 4.

Answer 1

Ahhh...a marketing plan. lol  If women want to be in a science related field they shouldn't have to be lured and baited.

Answer 2

offer to buy her a new pair of shoes.

Answer 3

You've just asked a question that no one really seems to have a good answer to yet.  Anything you can pull out of the following?

The main thing that needs to be done is to figure out why girls quit being interested in and doing well in math/science in about junior high. . . seems to be related to those young males around them, but I've not heard a terribly in-depth analysis of the mechanics of this yet. . . and then figure out how to counteract it.

Some people think that separate-gender education is the answer, although I don't personally support it.  Some of us still get through somehow to hang around with the big boys, so why doesn't everyone else?  (The outside world isn't segregated like that, either.)  And, no, it's not just the "unfeminine" type -- some classmates I've had will play dress-up with the best of them when they feel like it.

Science generally tends to be pretty cold and concrete, at least when you're starting out.  I think that's a turn-off for a lot of girls, and it also is something they're going to have to go head-to-head with the guys on to really succeed since it's not often subjective.  That kind of competition isn't something that's generally encouraged in girls like it is in boys.

EDIT:  Oh, and myth #5 from the website on betty jennings' edit is also very good.  At the college level, there are still several weed-out classes there that would seem to do just that.  I know that the girls left in my class during my BS by about a year or two were generally only the top students, while several guys were still hanging around and not freaking out too much over having a 2.5 except that last semester when it came time to find jobs.

Answer 4

1) $2500 US

2) Louis Vuitton Accessory

3) Chanel Handbag

4) Prada

Answer 5

Just read some research about why women are leaving the sciences and strategies for dealing with it:

http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/index.p...

Here's a couple of ideas from their article:

-"The University of Southern California has set up a support network for women in science and engineering,

-Carleton College has developed a professor mentoring program that encourages female students into science Ph.D. programs"

The National Science Foundation (NSF) performed a study of women and their managers concerning their "Career Advancement in Chemical Companies"

http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cn...

What were some of the NSF study findings?

http://www.education.umd.edu/EDCP/enhanc...

"-Women with greater opportunities for professional networking are more successful

-Women who report existing company initiatives related to equality in promotion and recognition are more successful (in salary and position) than women who do not report such initiatives.

-Mentoring is very important to women and their managers-but managers think a lot more mentoring is going on"

What actions were performed after the NSF study? According to the article: "Career development workshops were planned for women in undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral positions to help them prepare and learn from the findings. The report was sent to senior managers at more than 50 companies.

The MIT Faculty wrote an article about the progress they made to keep senior female faculty members in science:

http://web.mit.edu/fnl/women/women.html#...

Edit: I knew I'd seen this too-here's an article about a study the NSF did about the top 5 myths about why girls don't like math and science (and what can be done about it): http://www.livescience.com/health/070827...

Answer 6

Is there any particular reason why more women should be attracted to the sciences?  What is the advantage of that?

Answer 7

1.) give away a free pair of  jimmy choos with every doctoral degree.

Answer 8

I have degrees in Agronomy and Horticulture. I worked in research and my supervisor was a women with no degree and no experience in anything. Oh, she did have big b***s and sported nice low cut tank tops. I loved my work, but had to leave in 8 months; could not take the stupidly supervisor. If you need four women for science, they are not hard too find.

Answer 9

I knew three girls when I was in high school who came from a Magnet School.  Their school was completely centered around Math and Science.  These girls were brilliant.  One girl I remember would take her alarm clock apart and have it put back together in time to wake her up in the morning.  The point is these girls had the opportunity to be immersed in Math and Science at a critical time in their lives, the time when the girls and boys are generally separeted by society into their respective educational slots; boys-Math and Science, Girls-Language Arts.  There is also a critcal time period for girls in Middle School as well.  Girls seem to be brave and daring then they change, this is when we need to change the curriculum and how we teach our girls.

Answer 10

First provide a reason why social engineers should interfere with any individual girl's interest in her life pursuits.

Answer 11

Schools and parents should raise girls from an early age not to back away from math and science classes.  Be vigilant about this especially when they're  in middle school and high school.  Encourage them to stay with it even when it's difficult.  Encourage them to be independent thinkers and not fall into lock step with others who may discourage them.  Last but not least, connect girls with mentors who respect their intelligence and contributions.

Answer 12

I've been watching Richard Dawkins Natural selection/intelligent design Lectures. It’s so interesting, anyone wanting to learn about biology should definitely watch some of his lectures. Really puts things into perspective. Also reading about secular humanism.

George Orwell got me into science (I know that sounds corny) but after reading 1984 and animal farm (more politics with animal farm though) I was hooked. 1980's sci fi movies like blade runner and altered states; really gets the mind working in overtime. The network is a brilliant piece of cinematic art also (bit off topic.)

I became really interested in botany after reading about Alice Eastwood’s workings. I think for anyone who really has an intrest in science all they have to do is listen, learn and experiment; but I guess that just goes with life in general huh?

I guess you just have to get a person interested that’s all, everyone has different taste.

Answer 13

You know, I just had this conversation at work today...here are a couple to get you started:

List careers that require a science background  - many people pre-judge science careers to be all about R& D, when there are so many other applications.



Promote protection of the environment --and the science behind it.

Answer 14

To the first poster. Provide a reason why social engineers already discourage girls from entering those fields or encourage them to go into areas like medicine instead of the type of science they were attracted to in the first place.