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

Data from AGI

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

Recommendations

Develop and scale up effective programs that support retention of students in the pipeline

Mobilize the Earth & Space Scientific community to be involved locally

Encourage rewards for outreach and service activities by academic faculty