In Science, Women Look for Better Career Chemistry

By Marsha Walton

WeNews correspondent

Monday, August 9, 2010

Women and minorities remain substantially under-represented in the fields of chemistry and chemical engineering. A survey by Bayer looks at the barriers and attitudes that stifle diversity and some possible fixes.

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Like most scientists of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds, Kubanek was mesmerized by science as a kid.

"My friends were nerdy like me in high school. But I do remember peer influences about what girls should be," said Kubanek. Fortunately, she said, she had very supportive parents.

While some of her undergraduate classes were about a third women, others were 80 percent male. She earned her doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of British Columbia, Canada, in 1998.

Kubanek's career, specializing in chemical ecology, has soared. In 2004, she was recognized with a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, a top honor for research scientists.

But as an adviser to female graduate students, she still sees roadblocks during critical periods of their training.

"Female Ph.D.s really feel burned out," said Kubanek.

They often decide to get out of academics.

"I've heard them say, 'I'm just going to take a job; just a job, so I can have a family and a life. I'll gladly hand over the better opportunity to my spouse,'" said Kubanek. "They decide to do something more personally predictable, but less satisfying."

A Search for Solutions

Many government research grants that universities rely on don't provide sick days or maternity leave. Kubanek has successfully worked with female grad students to find some solutions, such as other sources of funding so that women who need a short leave don't have to quit the programs they are in.

Kubanek said some older male scientists still carry prejudice toward women, but that is harder to get away with.

"Male colleagues who exhibit hostility are increasingly isolated or marginalized. Their hostility is not accepted by the mainstream anymore," she said.

Mary Frank Fox has been working on issues of gender and science since 1993, also at Georgia Tech. Whether in an academic or corporate environment, she said there are plenty of ways to recruit, retain and promote women in science.

"If they want to make it happen, it can happen. It takes an organizational will and organizational means," said Fox, a sociology professor in the School of Public Policy and co-director of the Center for the Study of Women, Science and Technology.

Fox said the number of doctoral degrees awarded to women in physical sciences is improving. It was 15 percent from 1980-1989, 21 percent from 1990-1999 and 26 percent from 2000-2005.

"In degrees awarded to women at the highest level, there are indicators of notable progress," said Fox. Yet, the proportion of female full professors in those fields is still less than 7 percent.

Bales, who is now a vice president at NeuroPhage Pharmaceuticals, based in Cambridge, Mass., said that in the corporate world, equal opportunity is a mindset that must come from the top.

She spent 10 years as a senior director in regulatory affairs for Genentech, a pioneering company in biotechnology.

"When I was there they really went out of their way to make sure people were getting mentored," she said. Their policy, she added, was that it was not wise to tolerate sexism.

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Marsha Walton covers science, technology, environment and space issues. She was a producer for CNN's science and tech unit for more than 10 years. Her work has also appeared on Mother Nature Network, Appalachian Voices, and the National Science Foundation.