Latest from IEEE Students Newsletter.

From the September 2005 issue:

1. STUDY SHOWS MORE OPTIONS DON'T MEAN MORE WOMEN IN MATH, SCIENCE
A twenty-one-nation study of the percentage of women in mathematics and science careers found that women did not enter those careers despite more opportunities to study those subjects, even if they came from societies that supported women's entry into male-dominated fields. However, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, and Western Washington University say that countries with the highest number of women in computer science all have governments that control which fields students must study, and require substantial math and science coursework. The researchers concluded that educational systems should insist on more math and science for all students to increase the number of women in traditionally male-dominated fields. Read more:
<http://www.computing.co.uk/vnunet/news/2141200/why-girls-geeks>


2. EARLY EDUCATION AND MENTORS KEYS TO INCREASING WOMEN IN SCIENCE
According to a professor of physics and education at Augsburg College, girls appear to lose interest in science and mathematics by the time they reach their early teens, making it harder for them to prepare for careers in those fields. Speaking with the Minnesota Women's Press, Professor Jeanine Gregoire says those early years are critical, because if students do not prepare to take advanced math and science in high school, they are at a disadvantage in college. Likewise, girls need mentors who have succeeded in math and science careers, according to a University of
Minnesota researcher, not merely to know what careers exist, but to understand that there are a number of different paths into a given field. Read more:
<http://www.womenspress.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=2012&TM=32010.58>


3. IEEE MEMBERS STEERING STUDENTS TOWARD SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
When it comes to reaching out to teenage students and talking up careers in engineering and science, IEEE members around the world are deeply involved. Just ask Costas Stasopoulos, past chair of the IEEE Cyprus Section. Many members of his section participate in pre-university educational activities, because, he says, they realize the importance of these activities to the engineering profession. Their efforts are directed mainly toward high school students, especially those who have not decided what to study in university. In particular, Cyprus Section members attend career fairs, where they can reach students and their parents. Read more:
<http://www.theinstitute.ieee.org/portal/pages/tionline/legacy/inst2005/sep05/9w.steering.html>