 |
|
 |
 |
Women in Engineering:
Addressing the Bias Making use of technology is one of the most important ways for developing nations to get ahead. Before technology can truly help these countries, though, they must have a pool of trained engineers and scientists-both men and women. But a bias against women in engineering and science is especially hurting many countries in Africa, the Middle East, and even in the developed world, according to IEEE Member Clementina Saduwa. "Humanity will not realize its full potential without taking advantage of the salient pool of resources that women represent," said Saduwa at a United Nations workshop titled "Nurturing Science/Technology/Engineering/Math (STEM) Skills in Young Females in Developing and Developed Countries." Saduwa is the IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) coordinator for Region 8 (Africa, Europe, and the Middle East). She works as a product manager at Ericsson Nigeria, where she develops equipment for telecom systems operators and helps in closing business deals for the company. The workshop was part of the 59th Annual Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Conference on Unfinished Business. The workshop's focus was on "Effective Partnerships for Human Security and Sustainable Development." More than 2500 NGO representatives from 90 countries attended the conference, held 6 to 8 September at UN headquarters in New York City. In addition to the talk by Saduwa, representatives from the Society of Women Engineers; Global Action, Girl Scouts of the USA; and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts also gave presentations. Saduwa, who is from Lagos, Nigeria, graduated with a degree in electronic engineering in 2002 from the University of Nigeria, in Nsukka. At the workshop she talked about the problems, such as cultural barriers, that often face women entering engineering professions in developing nations. "As a woman in Africa, if you work in a male discipline, you are considered a tomboy and men believe you don't have the feminine qualities they want in a wife," she told the workshop audience. Because of this prejudice, African women are often discouraged from entering engineering. One of WIE's most successful science and technology programs aims to change that. The Student-Teacher and Research Engineer/Scientist (STAR) Program is a mentoring program aimed at female students 13 to 16 years of age. WIE affinity groups in Region 8 provide guidance and counseling to the students, as well as advise educators. "We ask high-school teachers to include examples of women engineers and scientists during their lectures," Saduwa told The Institute. "The teachers can use them as role models, and female students can relate to the examples." But the goal of eliminating bias against women in STEM fields can't be reached without global cooperation, she says. At the UN workshop, Saduwa called for WIE to partner with NGOs. She asked them to team up with WIE to create programs that encourage women to enter STEM fields, to spread awareness of the bias against women in academia and in the workplace, and to reinforce the need to put an end to the bias. Seeing "a lot of interest in cooperation" at the workshop, Saduwa says she's optimistic about the future of women in these fields, but she adds that there's much work ahead. BIAS STUDY The global movement will benefit all nations, because even developed countries, including the United States, still have a long way to go to eliminate bias against women in STEM fields, Saduwa told The Institute. She was referring to a report, released in September, on bias against women in technical fields in the United States. The study was conducted by an expert panel convened by the National Academy of Sciences. The report, "Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering," says there is overwhelming evidence that women in the United States are still hindered by prejudice in the academic world as well as in the workplace. The report offers several suggestions for helping to bridge the gender gap. These include asking educators to tell their students about the important contributions made by women in STEM fields; requesting that companies provide more financial support for working parents; and asking journals to withhold the identity of authors when an author's manuscript is submitted and editors have yet to decide if they will accept it for publication. For more information on the WIE STAR program, visit http://www.ieee.org/portal/pages/committee/women/star.html. To read the National Academy of Sciences report, visit http://www.nationalacademies.org.
|
 |
National Engineers Week Foundation
|