This course is aimed at sophomore science or economics students who are interested in the underrepresentation of women in scientific and quantitative fields. The first portion of the course will involve reading and discussing research literature about the representation of women, and the possible reasons why women are not selecting these fields. Then students will assist in the design of a one-day conference for late elementary or middle school girls. The conference will focus on hands-on activities drawn from the various disciplines involved in the course, as well as interactions among the girls, women students from Macalester, and women faculty and alumni who work in these disciplines. Students in the class will research, design, and test the activities for the conference, perhaps in consulation with Macalester faculty or alumni friends, and will help to run the conference on a Saturday in late fall. Following the conference, students will write a summary paper reporting on the outcome of the conference, and their perceptions about its success or failure.
This is just a starting point for the moment: some sources I have found that might be useful. Much more would need to be done.
 | Athena Unbound: the Advancement of Women in Science and Technology, Etzkowitz, Kemelgor, and Uzzi|
 |
Unlocking the Clubhouse: Women in Computing, Margolis and Fisher This has been a very important book in the Computer Science community, and has generated a great deal of follow-up research and published articles that could be great resources, as well. |
 |
"Trends in
Educational Equity of Girls and Women: 2004", Report in
Education Statistics Quarterly, by the Institute of Education
Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of
Education This is an interesting, high-level report from the U.S. Department of Education. It includes a lot of statistical studies, and might really be just a jumping-off point for further, more narrowly-focused, readings of statistical studies. |
 |
A Guide to Gender Fair Education in Science and Mathematics This is a publication by Edvantia, a non-profit that originally focused on educational issues in Appalachia, but is moving to a more national view. They sponsor research projects in education, and had a project in the past funded by the NSF and focusing on outreach to girls. |
 | School/College
Partnerships: Inquiry-Based Science and Technology for All Students
and Teachers, Bruno and Chase, Eds. This describes the Hampshire College program, listed below, along with other ideas. |
 |
Girls'
Attitudes, Self-Expectations, and Performance in Math, Michelle Maraffi This is an annotated bibliography of articles about girls and mathematics. |
| Changing Roles of Men and Women: Educating for Equity in the
Workplace, Education Resources Information Center,
U.S. Department of Education This is a guide aimed at teachers who want to talk about gender equity, more broadly than just science. This site has a number of interesting resources, perhaps more for faculty than students. | |
| Journal of Research in Science Teaching This journal had a dozen recent articles relating to girls and women in various science fields. I couldn't begin to pick just one article. | |
| WISE Choices? Understanding Occupational Decision-making in a Climate of Equal Opportunities for Women in Science and Technology A journal article that might be a bit controversial, but seems interesting | |
| "Pool Halls, Chips, and War Games: Women in the Culture of Computing", SIGCSE Bulletin, Kiesler, 2002. |
A few projects and web sites of organizations that might have good ideas
 |
Math/Science Network -- Expanding Your Horizons Network This might be a great organization to hook into. They help to organize one-day conferences for girls all over the country, and have many resources that we could use to get things up and running. No one in Minnesota has yet to work with this group. (Note: the logo here comes from UW-Madison...) |
| Hampshire
College Girls Day in the Lab Hampshire College brings middle school girls to the college and has a group of fun workshops focusing on different scientific areas. They also have a separate program not targeting girls. |
 |
Girls and Women in
Science, at Beloit College Beloit sponsors a weekend workshop for sixth grade girls, their teachers, and parents. |
 |
STEPS:
Science Technology & Engineering Preview Summer Camp for Girls, at
Saint Thomas Saint Thomas runs one-week summer sessions to introduce science and engineering to 10th-grade girls. |
 |
SMART Girls, at Penn State's
College of Technology Yet another summer workshop for girls. There are many, many similar camps, workshops, conferences, to choose from. |
| InWIC 2006, Indiana Women in Computing conference, 2006 InWIC is one of a group of initiatives for Women in Computing, aimed at college women. |