The number of people entering STEM is decreasing in total, and the number of women entering STEM fields is particularly concerning. Women make up less than a third of the world’s researchers and still face barriers to long-term success, especially in higher level positions. Women are simply less likely to enter STEM careers in the first place, and those who do are more likely to leave than their male counterparts. If we expect to see a change in these trends, we must address the challenges head on and my insight is that active mentoring is a powerful tool that results in women succeeding and persevering in STEM over time. My talk will explore this topic and offer advice I have learned, received and given along the way. Mentoring, enabling mentoring, and rewarding mentoring can really change a culture. The pioneers that went before me truly did blaze trails. There was so much I later learned happened to them that I never experienced. Remember we are ALL pioneers in some way. Cultivating every scientist’s and engineer’s passion leads to growing and retaining the best scientific and engineering talent, and enables us to tip the gender scale in STEM in a sustainable way.

Tipping the gender scale in STEM: The power of mentoring

2019 Spring National Meeting

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