Abstract Detail

Broadening Participation - Recruiting and Retaining Outstanding Scientists in the Botanical Science

Skog, Judith [1], Skog, Jeremy [2].

Biodiversity, Bioinformatics, Bias, and Beyone.

The "Field of Bachelor's Degree in the United States: American Community Survey Reports" from the U.S. Census Bureau notes that out of 56 million people with bachelor's degrees, 20 million are in STEM fields. However, there are great differences within these 20 million people for field of study according to ethnicity or gender, and only about 1 million of them hold degrees in interdisciplinary areas. Additional data provide information on other science degrees and workforce. A new report from NSF on "Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering" shows mixed results for several areas of increasing participation in the sciences of underrepresented groups. More students from these groups are showing interest in a career in science areas, but not all fields of study are showing similar gains and interest is mixed across the various ethnic groups, along with differences in preferences by gender. Discrepancies increase, according to both these reports, as the recipients enter and move through the workforce. Some of the examples and data from these reports will be presented and examined in this discussion in the light of increasing opportunities for integration of biology and informatics and the availability of big data for furthering research analysis. New opportunities will require examining old views, creating new ways of attracting those groups now underrepresented to take up challenges, improving mentoring and the mentors, and ameliorating implicit bias in training, hiring, promoting and rewarding in academia and beyond. Documented approaches and support for proven methods need to be more fully embraced and disseminated through societies and institutions to fully prepare a diverse student population capable of meeting the challenges of integrated research.

Broader Impacts:

Related Links:
American Community Survey report
NSF Report on Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering

1 - GEORGE MASON UNIV, Environ. Sci. And Policy, 611 ROBERTS DRIVE NW, VIENNA, VA, 22180, USA, 703/993-1026
2 - U.S. Dept. Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Social, Economic and Housing Statistics Division, Suitland, MD, USA

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: SY03
Location: Versailles Ballroom/Riverside Hilton
Date: Tuesday, July 30th, 2013
Time: 8:15 AM
Number: SY03002
Abstract ID:190
Candidate for Awards:None