Science in Popular Culture

Myths About Engineering and Science

1. You have to be brilliant to be an engineer or scientist

2. Engineers and scientists don’t work with people

4. Engineering and science is for men only

3. Engineers and scientists pollute the atmosphere

Characteristics Associated with Engineers and Scientists

Engineers % Scientists %

Saves lives

2003 14 82

1998 6 65

Sensitive to societal concerns

2003 28 61

1998 47 57

Cares about the community

2003 37 51

1998 24 46

Ranking of Professions According to “Very Great Prestige” in 2006

Firefighter 63%

Doctor 58

Nurse 55

Scientists 54

Teacher 52

Military Officer 51

Police Officer 43

Farmer 36

Engineer 34

Memb. Of Congress 28

Lawyer 21

• Car Heater• Circular Saw• Cooking Stove• Disposable Cell Phone• Disposable Diaper• Drinking Fountain Device• Electric Hot Water Heater• Elevated Railway• Fire Escape• Kevlar• Life Raft• Liquid Paper• Locomotive Chimney• Practical Dishwasher• Refrigerator • Self-Cleaning House• Wind Shield Wiper

1893181218671999194619851917188118871964188219801879

1914No patent yet1903

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210181/images/timeline.htm

Margaret WilcoxTabitha BabbitElizabeth HawkRandi AltschulMarion DonovanLaurene O’DonnellIda ForbesMary WaltonAnna ConnellyStephanie KwolekMaria BeaseleyBette Nesmith GrahamMary WaltonJosephine CochranFlorence ParpartFrances GabeMary Anderson

The Changing Domestic Talent Pool

Source: CPST, data derived from U.S. Census Bureau

© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.orgDeveloped by WEPAN for member use only.

1980

Native American, 0.6%

Asian, 1.5%

Hispanic, 6.4%

Black, non-Hispanic,

11.7%

White, non-Hispanic, 83.1%

2000

White, non-Hispanic, 69.1%Black,

non-Hispanic,12.1%

Hispanic, 12.5%

Asian, 3.6%

Native American, 0.9%

Women Increasing Their Share of Some STEM Bachelor’s Degree Fields

© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.orgDeveloped by WEPAN for member use only.

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,0001

98

5

19

95

20

04

19

85

19

95

20

04

19

85

19

95

20

04

19

85

19

95

20

04

Women

Men

Source: CPST, data derived from the National Science Foundation

Computer Science Mathematics Physical Sciences Biological Sciences

The Decline of Women in Engineering Evident for all Races/Ethnicities

© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.orgDeveloped by WEPAN for member use only.

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Total

African American

Latina

Native American

Source: CPST, data derived from Engineering Workforce Commission

Enrollments of Women in Engineering by Race/ Ethnicity

Underrepresented minority share of S&E graduate students, by field: 1996 and 2006

0

5

10

15

20

Engineering Physicalsciences

Mathematics Computerscience

Agriculturaland biological

sciences

Social andbehavioralsciences

S&E

Percent

1996 2006

Source: NSF/SRS, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering. Data are for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. 9

Women as a Percentage of Selected Occupations, 2007

© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.orgDeveloped by WEPAN for member use only.

0.3

0.073

0.086

0.115

0.212

0.256

0.282

0.326

0.388

0.408

0.426

0.462

0.619

0.644

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Psychologists

Accountants/Auditors

Postsecondary Teachers

Biological Scientists

Chemists

Marketing & Sales Mgrs.

Lawyers

Physicians/Surgeons

Dentists

Chief Executives

Chemical Engineers

Civil Engineers

Electrical Engineers

Mechanical Engineers

Source: CPST, data derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (Women in the Labor Force: Databook, 2007)

Minorities as a Percentage of Selected Occupations, 2007

© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org

Developed by WEPAN for member use only.

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18%

Accountants/Auditors

Chemical Engineers

Chemists

Electrical Engineers

Marketing & Sales Mgrs.

Physicians/Surgeons

Postsecondary Teachers

Lawyers

Civil Engineers

Dentists

Psychologists

Chief Executives

Mechanical Engineers

Biological Scientists

Black

Hispanic

Source: CPST, data derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (from the CPS, 2007)

An International Comparison of Engineering Degree Production

© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.orgDeveloped by WEPAN for member use only.

0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000

Canada

United Kingdom

Germany

Brazil (2002)

India (1990)

Spain

France

Taiwan (2005)

United States

South Korea

Japan (2005)

Russia (2006)

China

International Degree Production in Engineering, 2004 (or most recent year)

Why is Diversity Important in Engineering?

• To Remain Globally Competitive• To Provide for America’s National Security• To Provide for America’s Future Economic

Security• Because it is an Asset• To Account for a Changing Domestic Talent

Pool• Because It’s the Right Thing to Do

© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.orgDeveloped by WEPAN for member use only.

Who Does Science?

Who Will Do Science?

Engaging America’s Intellectual Talent: The Status of Women and Minorities in Engineering

Prepared for WEPANBy

Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology (CPST), http://www.cpst.org

© 2009 WEPAN, http://www.wepan.org. Developed by WEPAN for member use only.