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
3. Engineers and scientists pollute the atmosphere
4. Engineering and science is for men only
Characteristics Associated with Engineers and
Scientists
Engineers %
Scientists %
2003
14
82
1998
6
65
2003
28
61
1998
47
57
2003
37
51
1998
24
46
Saves lives
Sensitive to societal
concerns
Cares about the
community
Ranking of Professions According to “Very Great
Prestige” in 2006
Firefighter
Doctor
63%
58
Nurse
Scientists
Teacher
55
54
52
Military Officer
Police Officer
Farmer
51
43
36
Engineer
Memb. Of Congress
Lawyer
34
28
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
Margaret Wilcox
Tabitha Babbit
Elizabeth Hawk
Randi Altschul
Marion Donovan
Laurene O’Donnell
Ida Forbes
Mary Walton
Anna Connelly
Stephanie Kwolek
Maria Beaseley
Bette Nesmith Graham
Mary Walton
Josephine Cochran
Florence Parpart
Frances Gabe
Mary Anderson
1893
1812
1867
1999
1946
1985
1917
1881
1887
1964
1882
1980
1879
1914
No patent yet
1903
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210181/images/timeline.htm
The Changing Domestic Talent Pool
1980
Native American, 0.6%
Native American, 0.9%
Asian,
1.5%
Asian,
3.6%
Hispanic,
6.4%
Black,
non-Hispanic,
11.7%
2000
Hispanic,
12.5%
White, nonHispanic, 83.1%
Black,
non-Hispanic,
12.1%
White, nonHispanic, 69.1%
Source: CPST, data derived from U.S. Census Bureau
© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org
Developed by WEPAN for member use only.
Women Increasing Their Share of
Some STEM Bachelor’s Degree Fields
70,000
60,000
50,000
W omen
Men
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
Computer Science
Mathematics
Physical Sciences
2004
1995
1985
2004
1995
1985
2004
1995
1985
2004
1995
1985
0
Biological
Sciences
Source: CPST, data derived from the National Science Foundation
© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org
Developed by WEPAN for member use only.
The Decline of Women in Engineering
Evident for all Races/Ethnicities
Enrollments of Women in Engineering by Race/Ethnicity
40.0
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
Total
African American
Latina
Native American
0.0
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Source: CPST, data derived from Engineering Workforce Commission
© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org
Developed by WEPAN for member use only.
Underrepresented minority share of S&E graduate students, by field:
1996 and 2006
Percent
20
1996
2006
15
10
5
0
Engineering
Physical
sciences
Mathematics
Computer
science
Agricultural
and biological
sciences
Social and
behavioral
sciences
S&E
Source: NSF/SRS, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering. Data are for U.S.
9
citizens and permanent residents.
Women as a Percentage of
Selected Occupations, 2007
Mechanical Engineers
0.073
Electrical Engineers
0.086
Civil Engineers
0.115
Chemical Engineers
0.212
Chief Executives
0.256
Dentists
0.282
Physicians/Surgeons
0.3
Lawyers
0.326
Marketing & Sales Mgrs.
0.388
Chemists
0.408
Biological Scientists
0.426
Postsecondary Teachers
0.462
Accountants/Auditors
0.619
0.644
Psychologists
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Source: CPST, data derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics
(W omen in the Labor Force: Databook, 2007)
© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org
Developed by WEPAN for member use only.
Minorities as a Percentage of
Selected Occupations, 2007
Biological Scientists
Mechanical Engineers
Chief Executives
Psychologists
Black
Dentists
Hispanic
Civil Engineers
Lawyers
Postsecondary Teachers
Physicians/Surgeons
Marketing & Sales Mgrs.
Electrical Engineers
Chemists
Chemical Engineers
Accountants/Auditors
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
Source: CPST, data derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (from the CPS, 2007)
© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org
Developed by WEPAN for member use only.
An International Comparison of
Engineering Degree Production
International Degree Production in Engineering, 2004
(or most recent year)
China
Russia (2006)
Japan (2005)
South Korea
United States
Taiw an (2005)
France
Spain
India (1990)
Brazil (2002)
Germany
United Kingdom
Canada
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
© 2009 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org
Developed by WEPAN for member use only.
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.org
Developed 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 WEPAN
By
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.