The underrepresentation of women in almost all science and engineering fields is a well-documented statistic. The National Academies have issued four significant reports since 2001 examining the status and challenges of women in academic science and engineering and offering recommendations to broaden the participation and advancement of women in…

This paper examines the relation between situated cognition theory in science education, and feminist standpoint theory in philosophy of science. It shows that situated cognition is an idea borrowed from a long since discredited philosophy of science. It argues that feminist standpoint theory ought not be indulged as it is a failed challenge to…

In this article, the author shares the difficulties she faced as she tried to reach a balance between her career as a scientist and her role as a mother. She speaks of how she often found problems in putting her children into day care centers. She also relates that the confidence mothers have in their academic careers is correlated to the quality…

What was Larry Summers thinking? The Harvard president, as well known for his brilliance as for his tactlessness, must enjoy the taste of shoe leather, given the frequency he puts his foot in his mouth. Some "off the record" remarks he made at a research meeting of the National Bureau of Economic Research got him excoriated in the electronic and…

Presents issues discussed at the International Conference of Women in Physics held at UNESCO in Paris. Points out the disproportionate attrition of females going into graduate studies in physics and differences between developed and developing countries. (Author/YDS)

The use of hybridity today suggests a less coherent, unified and directed process than that found in the Enlightenment science's cultural imperialism, but regardless of this neither concept exists outside power and inequality. Hence, hybridity raises the question of the terms of the mixture and the conditions of mixing. Cultural hybridity produced…

Explains the use of the Web as an advanced calculator using numeric, graphic, and symbolic mathematics interactively with the development of XML-standard MathML. Suggests that the problem of decreasing achievement in mathematics courses can be solved using interactive and personalized documents on the Web and improve the understanding of…

The disappointingly small number of girls studying science was highlighted in this journal 20 years ago. Looks at progress in bringing girls into science education and women into science-based employment. (Author/ASK)

Barriers to women's career advancement, although they are more subtle, still exist. Focuses on how those barriers can be removed and how young women can be encouraged to enter the sciences and become successful science professionals. (ASK)

The authors advocate for a shift from the outcry sparked by Harvard University's president that women are innately less qualified than men to succeed in math and science careers to an overdue discourse about educating women to be leaders in their chosen fields, especially in areas like the sciences and engineering. With an economy increasingly…

Discusses the responsibilities of scientists on the issue of gender equity in the sciences. Explains the necessary steps to increase female involvement in the sciences and achieve gender equity. (Contains 12 references.) (YDS)

Reviews the work and perspectives of Sheila Tobias. Focuses on her conviction that an understanding of history and historical contexts can prevent repetition of past mistakes as they pertain to females and society. (DDR)

Examines Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) discourse and explains why WISE has had limited success. It argues the WISE discourse limits the space women have to speak of the conflicts and contradictions they experience, and suggests the need for a greater understanding of how subjective experiences of gender and sexuality impinge upon work…

The paper discusses the process and logistical experiences of developing science, technology and mathematics (SMT) curricula materials at the primary and secondary school levels in Uganda. The author developed the approach as part of the Female Education in Mathematics and Science in Africa (FEMSA) project. FEMSA is an Africa regional project that…