Hybrid Vigor: Strengthening the Hybrid Vigor: Strengthening the Science and Engineering Workforces Science and Engineering Workforces

with Women and Minoritieswith Women and Minorities

Anne C Petersen, PhDW K Kellogg Foundation

Presentation at the Conference on Diversifying the Science & Engineering Workforce: Women,

Underrepresented Minorities, and Their S&E CareersHarvard University, January 14, 2005

““Education offers the best opportunity Education offers the best opportunity for truly improving one generation over for truly improving one generation over another.” W. K. Kellogganother.” W. K. Kellogg

3 Critical Components in Creating a 3 Critical Components in Creating a Strong WorkforceStrong Workforce

• The importance of valuing difference• The need to start early in reaching all

of our youth• The role of community-based

approaches

Diversity meansDiversity means

• Increasing “the diversity of imagination, methods, and experience available to the scientific workforce so it can find new and more powerful ways to address critical environmental, health, and energy problems.” Native Science, Tapestry Institute, 2004

75.1%

12.3%3.8%

0.9%

12.5%2.4% 5.5%

0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%

White Black orAfrican

American

Asian &Pacif icIslander

AmericanIndian orAlaskaNative

Hispanic Tw o ormoreraces

SomeOtherRace

U.S. Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2000

Source: Census 2000Source: CPST, data derived from Census 2000

U.S. demographics are changingU.S. demographics are changing

Hispanics will contribute the greatest change in the U.S. population. It is

projected that they will be 44% of the population growth from 2000 to 2020, and

62% from 2020 to 2050. (U.S. Bureau of Census)

Gap Between School-age Population and Gap Between School-age Population and STEM WorkforceSTEM Workforce

• About 1/3 of the school-age population are underrepresented minorities, but only 11% of the working population in STEM.

• Women are ½ of school-age population, but only ¼ of STEM workforce.

Minority = Black/African American, Hispanic, and American Indian

Source: Joan Burrelli, NSF, based on 1999 Common Core of Data, U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES); NCES, 1998 IPEDS Fall Enrollment Survey; UCLA Higher Education Research Institute,1998 American Freshman Survey (estimate); and NCES, 1998 IPEDS Completions Survey

Cradleboard’s CD-ROM Science: Cradleboard’s CD-ROM Science: Through Native American EyesThrough Native American Eyes

• Principles of sound• Principles of friction• The science found in the

construction of Native American lodges

“ “ A lot of the work we’ve done is to A lot of the work we’ve done is to change people’s perceptions of the change people’s perceptions of the potential of the students.” potential of the students.” ---Robin Casselman at UC Irvine and member of Santa Ana Partnership---Robin Casselman at UC Irvine and member of Santa Ana Partnership

Requirements for Successful Requirements for Successful Community-based ApproachesCommunity-based Approaches

• Systemic community-driven change.• Development of community

leadership.• A commitment to diversity at all

levels of the educational/career pipeline – not just the junior levels.

• Resources needed for sustained efforts.