Why is MentorNet focused on diversity in engineering, related sciences and technologies, and mathematics?
Women remain severely underrepresented in some of the fastest growing and most lucrative fields in the current economy, such as computer science and engineering. Women represent less than 15% of engineers and only 32% of scientists in today’s work force. Even in fields where women are not underrepresented at the undergraduate level, such as biology, they are underrepresented in graduate programs, academic positions and in the workforce. And, unfortunately, many women in all fields still face cultural and environmental pressures that suppress their academic and career opportunities. For certain racial/ethnic groups, the picture is even more discouraging. Blacks and Hispanics (each) represent about 3% of all scientists and engineers, while other ethnic groups (non Asian/Pacific Islander) comprise less than 0.5%. What we can say about the engineering and science climate and MentorNet is that if we can get more women and minorities in the fields, then the culture will change. We do not mea
