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Increasing Diversity in the Earth & Space Sciences
Jill KarstenManager, Education & Career Services
American Geophysical Union
AGI Geoscience Leadership Forum19 May 2003
1. Why Is Diversity An Issue? Declining graduate enrollment in Earth & space sciences
Shrinking of the traditional pipeline
Aging scientific workforce
Increasing difficulty in filling void with non-US students
Continual growth of US minority populations
Throwing a wide net to catch the “best & brightest”
Diverse perspectives enhance the discovery process and prepare scientists for working in a global economy
Ages of full-time doctoral scientific and engineering faculty, including full, associate, and assistant professors and instructors. (Source: NSB 2000b, Table 6-25.) Vali et al., 2002
Number of Ph.D.s earned in earth-atmosphere-ocean sciences by citizenship status. Note logarithmic scale. (Source: NSF 2000b, Table 3; Vali et al., 2002)
2. Who is Underrepresented? In the General Population (BS - PhD degrees)
(1970 (1980) – 2000 – 2010)
• Women – ~50% (23%) - ~51% (37%)
• African-Americans – 11.1% (1.8%) - 12.9% (2.9%) - 13.3%
• Hispanics – 4.7% (0.4%) - 12.5% (2.9%) - 14.6%
• Native Americans – * - 0.8% (0.5%, includes Asian) - *
• Asian/Pacific Islander – * - ~4% - *
• Persons with Disabilities – 20% (10% significant disabilities)
Based on 2000 U.S. Census and 2002 AGI Data
Number of Graduate Students by Specialty
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Earth andatmosphericscience, Women
Ocean sciences,Women
Earth andatmosphericscience, Men
Ocean sciences,Men
Figure from RM Johnson; based on data from AGI and NSF
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
79
35
57
19
35
15
33
13
Number of male PhDs in the geosciences,Hispanic-Americans and African-Americans
within seven year intervals, 1973 to 2000
HispanicAmericans
AfricanAmericans
Source: AIP Statistical Research Center compiled from data collected by the National Science Foundation
1994 to 2000
1994 to 2000
1987 to 1993
1987 to 1993
1980 to 1986
1980 to 1986
1973 to 1979
1973 to 1979
Number of Male PhDs
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
32
16
22
6
5
1
0
2
Number of female PhDs in the geosciences,Hispanic-Americans and African-Americans
within seven year intervals, 1973 to 2000
HispanicAmericans
AfricanAmericans
Source: AIP Statistical Research Center compiled from data collected by the National Science Foundation
1994 to 2000
1994 to 2000
1987 to 1993
1987 to 1993
1980 to 1986
1980 to 1986
1973 to 1979
1973 to 1979
Number of Female PhDs
3. What Are the Key Issues?
Lack of exposure to geosciences Poor K-12 teacher preparation Different educational pathways Inadequate preparation Cultural barriers Poor image of scientists and the
profession
D.C.
States with highest concentration of African-Americans, 2000
Puerto Rico
20% or more African-American13% or more African-American
Source: AIP Statistical Research Center compiled from data collected by the US Census Bureau
D.C.
States with highest concentration of Hispanic-Americans, 2000
20% or more Hispanic-American15% or more Hispanic-American
Puerto Rico
Source: AIP Statistical Research Center compiled from data collected by the US Census Bureau
# of HBCU’s with Geoscience Departments is ~7.
Role of the 2-year college as the source of science.
Number of bachelor's awarded in major fields by race, class of 2000
African Hispanic Total American American Number % % Psychology 10.6 7.8 74,060 Computer Science 9.7 5.1 36,195 Business 9.2 5.8 257,709 Chemistry 8.5 6.9 10,390 Mathematics 8.3 5.2 12,070 Life Sciences 7.7 5.2 63,532 Education 7.1 4.5 108,168 Engineering 6.3 5.5 72,299 Physics 4.4 3.8 3,631 Geosciences 1.3 3.1 4,047 All fields 8.7 6.1 1,237,875
4. What Programs Work? Most successful programs involve
sustained interactions with students, mentoring by professionals, exposure to educational and research opportunities. Good examples:
Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) - Tom Windham, UCAR
Minorities At Sea Together (MAST) - Ben Cuker, Hampton University
5. What Can Societies Do? Mobilize and educate membership Use annual meetings & journals Offer society awards Sponsor students, student travel, and
speakers Enhance K-12 teacher preparation Link students with professional mentors
and role models Catalyze policy/attitude changes
AGI: Minority Participation Program (1972) Earth Science Week Activities
ASLO: Minorities in the Aquatic Sciences (MAS)
GSA: Several special funds and awards to support and honor women & minority research
AMS: DataStreme Atmosphere & Ocean Programs Online Weather Studies Diversity Program
SACNAS: Biography Project
AWG: Minority & Women Doctoral Directory Phillips-AWG Distinguished Lecture Program Educator & Distinguished Service Awards
NABGG: Promoting industry-student networking AAAS: Minority Scientist’s Network (NextWave)
American Geophysical UnionKey Goals of AGU Diversity Plan:
• Educate & involve the AGU membership in diversity issues
• Enhance and foster participation of scientists, Earth & space science educators, and students from underrepresented groups in AGU activities
• Increase visibility of the Earth & space sciences and foster awareness of career opportunities in these fields for underrepresented populations
• Promote changes in the academic culture that: (1) remove barriers & disincentives for increasing diversity in the student & faculty populations, and (2) develop rewards for those wishing to pursue these goals
Programs at AGU Meetings
Fall 2003: Special Atmospheric Sciences Session on Global Climate Modeling - Tribute to Dr. Warren Washington, plus reception
Fall 2003: Union-Wide Session “Who Will Conduct Geophysical Research in the Future?” and Special Education Sessions on Women in Geoscience and Geodiversity Programs that Work
Spring 2002: Special High School Student Symposium & Poster Session [GRAHEC & Gallaudet MSSD]
Ocean Sciences 2002: Special Brown-bag with local Hawaiian high school students and AGU scientists
6. What’s New?
Minorities Striving to Pursue Higher Degrees in Science (MS-PHDS)- Ashanti Johnson-Pyrtle, NASA
The National Coalition of Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Advocacy Groups in Engineering and Science (NCOURAGES)- NACME, GEM & Others
Joint Society Conference on Increasing Diversity in the Earth & Space Sciences - AGU, AGI, AIP & Others
Joint Society Conference on Increasing Diversity in the Earth & Space Sciences
Goals: Educate societies about the need for & issues
involved in increasing diversity Share resources and insights about successful
& unsuccessful strategies Identify opportunities to implement new (or
expand existing) programs that work Consider new strategies that can only be
realized through collaborative efforts Establish a vision for a joint society
collaboration on increasing diversity
Joint Society Conference on Increasing Diversity in the Earth & Space Sciences
When: 10 – 12 June 2003
Where: American Center for Physics, College Park, MD
Who: ~25 scientific organizations (60 invited)
Planning Committee: Jim Stith* (AIP), Claudia Alexander (AGU), Pranoti Asher (NAGT), Susan Avery (AMS), Frank Hall (AGU), Jack Hehn (AIP), Mary Leech (GSA), Cindy Martinez (AGI), Joaquin Ruiz (AGU), John Snow (AGU)
Sponsors: NASA, NOAA, NSF, DOE, USGS, [EPA?]
Point of Contact: Jill Karsten – jkarsten@agu.org
7. What Should We Do Next?
“..professional societies … have an important role to play at the national level … Their collaboration should focus on two main priorities:
Project a More Positive Public Image of Science, Engineering, and Technology
Mobilize at the Grass Roots”
- Shirley Ann Jackson The Quiet Crisis (BEST)
-
Recommendations
Organize a national marketing campaign on the role of the Earth & Space Sciences in daily life and careers
Begin aggressive efforts to increase required exposure to Earth & Space Science in high school
Catalyze efforts to improve K-16 Earth Science teaching, especially in settings that serve underrepresented groups
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