women in physics

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility

Women in Physics

Latifa Elouadrhiri

Jefferson Lab


High School Graduates

NSF, S&E

Indicators, 2008


NSF, S&E

Indicators, 2008

High School Graduates


NSF, S&E

Indicators, 2008


Women in Physics

Ivie & Ray 2005


Leaky PipelineLeaky Pipeline

• Pipeline is a conceptual picture with multiple stages –

• Stage 1 -- high school

• Stage 2 -- undergraduate

• Stage 3 -- graduate school

• Stage 4 -- post-doctoral

• Stage 5 -- career researcher (University, National Lab, etc.)

• The biggest leak in the pipeline is in the college years following high school.

• 50% of high school physics majors are women

• <25% of bachelor’s degrees are awarded to women


HopeHope

• From educators who administer undergraduate research

• The retention rate of male and female students is almost identical nearly 80% for students in undergraduate research programs. (from NSF’s recent workshop)

• However, fewer females take these opportunities

Probable reasons for retention?

• Getting hooked on research?

• The sites that administers the program are aware of the ‘leak’ and may make special effort

Recruit graduating high school majors for summer research


Factors Contributing to RetentionFactors Contributing to Retention

• Diversity

• University faculty, Lab’s Scientific Staff

• Mentoring

• Has to happen at every stage

• Collegial

• Seeking and valuing student input in research work

• Interesting work

• Course work as well as research work

• Family friendly policies

• can be made gender neutral

• e.g. Supporting young children’s travel with the parent to conferences


Factors Contributing to RetentionFactors Contributing to Retention

• Building Confidence

• Why can’t a woman be more like a man?

Student should not have to make that type of choice

• Understanding and eliminating conscious and unconscious biases

• Commitment to creating the right environment


SummarySummary

For Students • Create an environment to keep students engaged

• Start early in the career

• Provide Research opportunities

• Discussion/Seminar groups

• Giving responsibility with authority

• e.g. Organizing undergraduate seminars

• Provide mentors/role models

Explore funding opportunities for ‘rising freshman’ (i.e. students who have graduated from high school) to do summer research

.


SummarySummary

For Scientists

• Reach students early

• As early as high school

• In order to reduce dropout rate, encourage students at every step of their careers (reducing the pipeline leak)

• Value their intellectual input to your research

Not surprisingly, a number of these measures work for male students as well

This is not free.Institutions must support these efforts

women in physics

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