DIVERSITY STUDY OF "TOP 50" DEPARTMENTS

DIVERSITY        "For the times, they are a-changin'."  --Bob Dylan
 

 This page contains references and links to enable those interested to learn about very recent events and very important publications regarding the status of women and minorities in chemistry.

"At the end of this century, because white males will constitute only 10% of new entries into the workplace, we need to tap women and minorities in fields where they are underrepresented.  If they were proportionately represented in IT now, we would not have a critical skills shortage."  --Kenneth Disken, Vice President, Human Resources, Electronics Sector, Lockheed Martin Corporation, testimony before the Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering and Technology, July 20, 1999.

"We may soon face a situation in which sufficient numbers of engineers do not exist to support the nation's need for them.  We have an opportunity to address these issues now, and to start finding ways to ensure that the overall science and technology enterprise, which is dependent upon the scientists and engineers produced by our universities will be able to successfully negotiate the changes facing this enterprise."  --Dr. Vernon J. Ehlers, Vice Chairman, Committee on Science, US House of Representatives, National Science Policy Hearing, April 1, 1998.

"  . . . most universities have their heads stuck in the sand."  --F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., Chairman, Committee on Science, US House of Representatives, National Science Policy Hearing, April 1, 1998.
 

Recent events and publications:

• Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology, final recommendations, 7/2000. Includes links to testimony given throughout 1999-2000 and to the congressional hearings which proceeded the commission.
• Dr. Debra Rolison's C&EN article proposing the application of Title IX to Chemistry Departments, C&E NEWS March 13, 2000, p 5.
• Rebuttals to Rolison's article, C&E NEWS May 8, 2000, p 8, 10. Page 8 has the letter which contains the phrase "various abilities are not evenly distributed by gender."
• Rebuttals to the above rebuttals, C&E NEWS June 12, 2000, p 8, 9, 10. Page 10 says that the viewpoint "various abilities are not evenly distributed by gender" is "antiquated."
• Dr. Debra Rolison's presentation at the National Academy of Sciences, 5/2000
• The American Chemical Society (ACS) is the largest single-science-discipline organization in the world with about 160,000 members.   This organization is concerned about the number and status of women and minority chemists in academia.  Since you are budding scientists, and you will (hopefully) either be or work with a female or minority scientist, it may be beneficial to be aware of the concerns.  If you want to read three articles regarding this subject, that appeared in a recent issue (9/25/00) of the ACS magazine Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN), then select one of the links below.  Although these articles quote statistics on women, there are similar concerns for minorities. Article by C&EN Editor (page 1).  Article by ACS President (page 2 & page 3).  Story regarding women in chemistry departments (page 4 & page 5).

Important publications: --  this site lists links to publications from the original " The Chilly Climate" to the landmark
    "The MIT Study".  CLICK HERE  for the list.