On May 1, 2012 4:08 PM, "Janet P Gunn" <jgunn6@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> But that leaves out all of us that started off in a different (technical) field (Math and OR in my case) and ended up here..
>
Furthermore, is rigorous academic STEM education highly correlated with whatever it is you are trying to measure ?
CB
> Janet
>
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>
>
>
> From: "James M. Polk" <jmpolk@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: IETF-Discussion list <ietf@xxxxxxxx>
> Date: 05/01/2012 04:40 PM
> Subject: Gender diversity in engineering
> Sent by: ietf-bounces@xxxxxxxx
> ________________________________
>
>
>
> There have been some good numbers floated on recent threads, but at
> least for me, they aren't enough to gain a complete (or nearly
> complete) picture of the issue.
>
> Having studied statistics, we need to know a starting point, and look
> for the reductions (or increases) from that point forward. Starting
> in high school is not sufficiently refined enough, as there are a lot
> that take advanced math (personally I'd start with trig - because
> that kicked my ass - but rarely is it its own class, so let's start
> with calculus 1) that don't go into engineering. Thus, high school is
> probably not a good place to measure from. Therefore, it needs to be college.
>
> We need to know
>
> % of class (based on year started) that is female in engineering
> (do we want to start with electrical and CS to
> be more applicable to our situation?)
>
> We'll call that percent 'X'
>
> then
>
> %X of drops from engineering (BS) (or just elec/CS?) over the college
> years before graduation?
>
> then
>
> %X that enter workforce after BS in Engineering (or just elec/CS?)
> into the engineering field?
>
> then
>
> %X that start graduate school (MS) in engineering (or just elec/CS)?
>
> %X that receive MS degree in engineering (or just elec/CS)?
>
> %X that enter workforce after MS in Engineering (or just elec/CS?)
> into the engineering field?
>
> then
>
> %X that start doctoral school (PhD.) in engineering (or just elec/CS)?
>
> %X that achieve PhD. in engineering (or just elec/CS)?
>
> then
>
> %X that enter workforce after PhD in Engineering (or just elec/CS?)
> into the engineering field?
>
> This will likely track those that are entering the engineering
> workforce, and with what level of education. From that point in the
> analysis - we can attempt to track at what point there are further
> drops out of the engineering workforce by women (i.e., after how many
> years). Or is it as simple as problems after childbirth to reenter
> the workforce (for whatever reason).
>
> As an example, if there is a significant difference from those that
> drop out after their BS from those that drop out MS, then maybe
> something should be done to encourage women to stay for the MS.
>
> comments or questions?
>
> James
>
>