Report: More Effort From NSF Needed For Science and Engineering Diversity
ARLINGTON, Va.
In a newly released report, “Broadening the Participation in America’s Science and Engineering Workforce,” the National Science Foundation has acknowledged that efforts to recruit more minorities and people with disabilities into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields has proved “slow and uneven.”
The report calls upon the NSF to “continue to use policy levers to focus the attention of researchers and institutions on the need to broaden STEM participation.”
The report was prepared by the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering (CEOSE), which is composed of NSF advising officials from corporations and schools such as Carnegie Mellon University.
“The report documents the leadership role NSF has played for the past quarter of a century in broadening pathways for participation in the nation’s STEM enterprise,” says CEOSE chairman, Robert Lichter. “It also illustrates that bold, innovative, long-term initiatives are still needed, especially at the institutional level.”
The report calls for NSF to increase social-science research on the factors that influence progress and impose barriers for under-represented individuals in STEM at all levels. It also suggests conducting systematic and objective evaluation of its broadening participation policies and engaging more American Indians in STEM fields by enhancing research capacity and opportunities at tribal colleges.
The report is available online at <www.nsf.gov/od/oia/activities/ceose/>.
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
