Women Scientists in the 21st Century -- A Congressional Panel Speaks

On September 23, 2010, L'Oreal USA and Discover magazine convened a panel for a Congressional briefing on Women in Science. The panel: For Women in Science: 21st Century Policy & Politics covered issues faced by women in science and explored public policies that might address the challenges facing the advancement of female scientists.

The panel was sponsored by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas and included:

Sheril Kirshenbaum, Research Associate at University of Texas at Austin’s Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy, author, and blogger for Discovermagazine.com (Moderator)

Russlynn Ali, Assistant Secretary, Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education

Dr. Shirley Malcom, Head of Education and Human Resources, American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Dr. Joan Steitz, Sterling Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale, and

Dr. Sara Seager, Professor of Planetary Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

A thought-provoking overview of the provocative discussions that took place at the panel is provided by Alison Fairbrother who writes:

And perhaps not surprisingly, results of a recent survey of 1,300 female and male scientists suggest that female scientists might be making significant personal sacrifices to achieve professional goals. The survey, commissioned by L'Oreal, in partnership with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), revealed that 61 percent of female respondents were struggling to balance their personal lives and their careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (the so-called "STEM" fields).

Speaking from a personal experience that took place just this week, I had been part of a proposed panel for the upcoming AAAS meeting in DC and had contributed to the writing of the proposal, only to be told by the organizer of the panel (a male) this week in an email message that, for some unclear reason, I was now "cut" from the panel. Maybe it is my plumbing.

No problem, I am back to work on an invited paper and since the "let-down" above have gotten several invitations to speak in other countries (I go to Washington DC often enough).

We Need More Women in Science and Technical Fields

In a wonderful article in The New York Times, entitled, Risk and Opportunity in the 21st Century, it is stated that: In the years to come, the people who master the sciences will change the world — and most likely command the big paychecks.

The article goes on to discuss what are possible risks and opportunities in science with a focus on females. The article talks about the challenges facing females in science and that the number of females in computer science programs, mathematics, and branches of engineering has declined (a very sad state of affairs).

I very much appreciated the following quote in the article: Women need science and science needs women, said Béatrice Dautresme, chief executive of L’Oréal Foundation and architect of the L’Oréal-Unesco for Women in Science awards. The L'Oreal-Unesco awards recognize five scientists each year from across the world. Dautresme was also quoted as saying: If women can make it in science, they can make it anywhere.

Of course, science, as any field, requires hard work, excellence, and true dedication, if one wishes to succeed in it. There continue to be barriers to women in science and programs that recognize excellence and support researchers need to be nurtured. We also need more female role models and to show young females still in school the beauty and relevance of science (and engineering and even technical areas of business).

My areas of research and teaching include management science / operations research, which are quite technical and mathematical, but the applications are so fascinating that breaking barriers yields personal satisfaction and, sometimes, even rewards. But one must do the work for the love of research and discovery. If we don't generate interest in science and technical fields in all, irrespective of gender, we, as a nation, will lose in the 21st century. This is potentially a very frightening and sad scenario unless we act collaboratively now to generate interest and passion for science in the youth of America. We can't be outsourcing knowledge creation and innovation.