Launching Tomorrow's Leaders: Women of STEM

Dr. France Córdova

TitleNational Defense Education Act

“…to ensure the long-term prosperity of our Nation, we must renew our collective commitment to excellence in education and the development of scientific talent. The Nation needs ‘STEM innovators’…”

Changing Demographics

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Millions

2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050

Projected Population Aged 65 and Over for the United States: 2010 to 2050

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008

88.5 M

40.2 M

China U.S.0

200000

400000

600000

800000

Bachelor's degrees awarded in 2008

China U.S.05

101520253035

STEM degrees by percent

Global Competition on the Rise

Public Law 110–69110th Congress An ActTo invest in innovation through research and development, and to improve thecompetitiveness of the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.This Act may be cited as the ‘‘America COMPETES Act’’ or the ‘‘America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act’’.SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.The table of contents of this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title.Sec. 2. Table of contents.TITLE I—OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY; GOVERNMENT- WIDE SCIENCESec. 1001. National Science and Technology Summit. Sec. 1002. Study on barriers to innovation.

America COMPETES Act

B1. Communication Skills

B2. Teamwork Skills

B3. Prof/Ethical Responsibility

B4. Contemporary Issues

B5. Life-long Learning

C1. Leadership

C2. Global Engineering Skills

C3. Innovation

C4. Entrepreneurship

A1. Engineering Fundamentals

A2. Analytical Skills

A3. Experimental Skills

A4. Modern Engineering Tools

A5. Design Skills

A6. Impact of Engineering Solutions

The Three Pillars of the Purdue Engineering Undergraduate Education

Professional Skills Emerging SkillsEngr Foundational Skills

Program Outcomes for Purdue’s Engineer of 2020

• Nearly half the women left the engineering field because of:

• Working conditions• Too much travel• Lack of advancement• Lower salary.

• One-in-three women left because they did not like the workplace climate, their boss or the culture

Key Findings for Why Women Leave

Key Factors for Selecting Engineering:1. Work that is enjoyable2. Offers good working environment3. Makes a difference4. Provides a good income5. Offers flexibility

Purdue College of Engineering • Increased enrollment of first-year

women by 30%– Highest number of 1st-yr women– Highest level women engineering

undergraduates in Purdue history

Ideas-to-Innovation Learning Lab

Success through Learning Communities• 25% of entering class is

involved in 65 programs • Retention rate nearly 5%

higher than for non-participants

• Purdue EPICS has become an international model• Now operates at 20 universities, and 50 high schools

with 23 international affiliates

C-olombiaI-ndonesiaV-ietnamE-gyptT-urkeyS-outh Africa

Thank you!

Launching Tomorrow's Leaders: Women of STEM