The Bigger Questions - Science Careers
Prather says that as one of two minority female faculty members in her department, she is sought out by students from underrepresented groups. She frequently participates in programs aimed at reaching these students. Indeed, the opportunity to reach out to women and minority students--and teach them--was among the factors that drew her back to academia. "I really felt like, if it was just about research, I could do that at other places. But teaching ... Full Story »
Posted by Tamika Thompson
Being a software engineer, I am well aware of the lack of female and minority representation in the field. The linked survey sheds a little light on why this is. In many ways, it's circular; minority students see few others in the field, much less in faculty positions, so they shy away. Minority faculty members, similarly, feel isolated (few minority students and fellow faculty) and limited by office politics, meaning that few decide to progress. The bigger challenge is in finding out ways to help prospective students fight through these barriers and follow through on a career they will otherwise enjoy and thrive in.