Fixing Engineering's Gender Gap

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IMBUING CONFIDENCE

Duke University Dean of Engineering Kristina Johnson is one of the increasing number of women who have succeeded in spite of the obstacles. She credits this to her upbringing. Her father and grandfather were engineers and acted as role models and mentors. She says that she was never told she couldn't be a scientist or engineer; to the contrary, she was led to believe she could be one.

Both Johnson and Jenkins believe that fixing this problem will require a concerted effort from parents, schools, government, and business. Here are some of their recommendations:

Parents should encourage their daughters, not just their sons, to fix a broken appliance or learn about technology. They should help girls make the connection between working on a project and making a difference (as opposed to just getting turned on by bits and bytes), and encourage them to study math and science. Younger girls start with a strong sense of confidence in these areas that fades as they succumb to cultural pressures.

NATIONAL PRIORITY

Universities must hire more women and set proactive targets. They should invest not only in the infrastructure for supporting science and engineering, but also in hands-on learning opportunities outside of the classroom. They should actively promote programs that align engineering with solving humanitarian issues.

Government must make math, science, and engineering education a national priority, and create programs for children that provide hands-on experience with science and math concepts and help them understand the alignment of engineering careers with social issues. We need programs that parallel the Title IX legislation, which led to a tenfold increase in participation of girls in sports. We should increase research spending.

Corporations must realize that it's not just about child care, flex schedules, and maternity and paternity leave. Business leaders should be aware of the sense of isolation that some women feel in heavily male-dominated fields. They should build a critical mass of women, encourage women to have a voice, and eliminate all forms of discrimination.

These solutions aren't easy, but they're not expensive either. We don't have to spend tens of billions of dollars to stay ahead. America can maintain its competitive edge by better utilizing its most valuable resource -- its people.

Wadhwa, the founder of two software companies, is an Executive-in-Residence/Adjunct Professor at Duke University. He is also the co-founder of TiE Carolinas, a networking and mentoring group.