Where are the women geoscientist professors?

Abstract

Nearly 50 geo‐ and social scientists recently gathered in Washington, D.C., for a workshop on women in the geosciences. The two‐fold purpose was to compile data on the status of women in the geosciences and to arrive at a consensus on strategies to increase the proportion of women and their diversity in the field. Participants spanned 4 decades of experience, including both genders, and represented many types of academic institutions, from high school to private, bachelors degree‐granting colleges to public and private Research I institutions. Two social scientists who specialize in women‐in‐science issues also participated.

Obstacles to the recruitment of minorities into the geosciences: A call to action

“…With little pre-college exposure, what attracts anyone to the geosciences? Holmes and O'Connell (2005) identify three main attractors, accounting for 80% of geoscientists: (1) positive undergraduate experiences, (2) love of the outdoors, and (3) family influences. Here we examine why these attractors may not be working as well for underrepresented minority students and suggest ways geoscientists can be more proactive in their efforts to recruit a representative student body.…”

Women of the Academy and the Sea

“…None of the Ph.D. proportions distinguish between students earning their bachelor's degrees at a U.S. institution or abroad before entering a U.S. graduate program. Source: NSF (2004) and Holmes and O'Connell (2004).…”

“…The AGI data are self-reported. The 2002 (Claudy, 2002) shows that for the geo- Claudy (2002) and Holmes and O'Connell (2004). Oceanography is the third most popular area for women in Ph.D.-granting geoscience departments.…”

“…Th e actual number of oceanographers is likely to be underrepresented because women in some fi elds, especially biological oceanography, are unlikely to be represented in these data. Claudy (2002) and Holmes and O'Connell (2004).…”

“…Women in oceanography are better represented at all ranks, except department head, than the geosciences as a whole. Data from Claudy (2002) and Holmes and O'Connell (2004). There has been much speculation about the reasons for this low number of women at the assistant professor level, including family responsibilities (Wilson, 2003;deWet et al, 2001;Holmes and O'Connell, 2004), aptitude (Healy and Rimer, 2005), and climate (Holmes et al, 2003;Holmes and O'Connell, 2004).…”