Why haven’t more women and minorities entered the fields of science and engineering?
Macagno: When we talk about this issue, let’s keep in mind that we’re talking about this country and not the rest of the world. In many other countries, what we here call “minorities” are in the majority, and many women take up physics, mathematics, and engineering and have successful careers. Why we have failed to attract women and minorities to science in America is of serious concern, as we are falling behind our competitors in training a sufficient scientific and technological workforce to remain at the vanguard for much longer. The lack of role models has been a significant problem, but I think that currently a very significant problem is the absence of parental advice to children to pursue careers in science and technology, particularly among some growing groups within our society. Parents are missing a sense of the opportunities their children will find in science, technology, and innovation, as opposed to the clearer path to financial success offered by medicine, law, and busin
