Public Lecture: Gender gap in STEM
The gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields has been pervasive in higher education and the workforce.
However, an understanding of women’s representation in these fields must account for variations among the STEM disciplines.
Women have made significant progress in the life sciences, while their representation remains stagnant in engineering and computer science, comprising fewer than 20% of bachelor’s degrees earned in these fields.
The persistent underrepresentation of women in these fields comes at a time of growing career opportunities for students with engineering and computing degrees, thus raising larger concerns about equity beyond the college years.
In this lecture, Professor Linda Sax will discuss women’s representation in STEM fields broadly speaking, and will then focus on the unique case of computer science and current efforts in the United States to remedy this longstanding gender gap.
Linda Sax is Professor of Higher Education in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
She is visiting UON as part of the Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education's (CEEHE) Visiting Scholars program.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.