| Women
and minorities in science and engineering
Posted: 22 May 2003
ExxonMobil announces financial support for Women and Minority
Education Initiatives
ExxonMobil Foundation, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and
SECME (formerly the Southeastern Consortium of Minority Engineers)
co-hosted a roundtable discussion entitled, "Advancing Women
and Minorities in Science and Engineering - What Remains to be Done?"
in Washington, DC.
The roundtable — moderated by Jacqueline Thomas, Chairman
of the National Press Foundation — featured a panel of distinguished
members of the United States government and members of organisations
that have played important roles in advancing educational excellence
for women and minorities in science and engineering.
The panel addressed the fact that the number of women and minority
engineers has remained predominantly low.
In addition, ExxonMobil announced its continuing support of SECME
and SWE initiatives, including three-year grants to each of the
organisations.
ExxonMobil is one of the largest corporate supporters of SECME
and SWE and its funding helps enable these organisations to offer
ongoing education, training and professional leadership sources
for women and minorities. "Research states that women, African-Americans,
Hispanics and Native Americans are under-represented in the fields
of science, technology, engineering and mathematics," said
Ed Ahnert, President of the ExxonMobil Foundation. "As a company
dedicated to the advancement of these subjects, ExxonMobil Foundation
recognises the need to sustain and strengthen interest in these
areas and supports programs that have positively influenced and
impacted thousands of students and teachers nationwide."
Distinguished Panelists Tackle Key Issues
Statistics indicate that women constitute 46 percent of the work
force in the United States but only 23 percent of scientists and
engineers.
(1) Studies have also found that African Americans and Hispanics
comprise almost 21 percent of the workforce, but account for only
6 percent of the science, engineering and technology jobs.
(2) Tackling these issues during today's panel were influential
minds in the areas of science and math education for women and minorities.
Distinguished panelists included the following:
- Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
- Representative Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX)
- Dr. Yvonne Freeman, Executive Director, SECME
- Betty Shanahan, Executive Director and CEO, Society of Women
Engineers
About SECME and ExxonMobil Foundation
ExxonMobil Foundation's latest three-year grants (2002-2004) help
underwrite SECME's Summer Institute, Leadership Academy and SECME
State Scholarships, awarded each year to 17 graduating seniors.
An annual senior survey shows that 85-90 percent of SECME high
school graduates go on to a four-year college or university; and
nearly 60 percent of them plan to pursue majors in science, mathematics,
engineering or technology.
SECME is a minority outreach consortium that focuses on increasing
the number of under-represented students who will be prepared to
complete college-level studies in science, math, engineering and
technology.
The consortium consists of more than 100 school districts, 40 university
engineering programs, and 70 government and industry partners.
About SWE and ExxonMobil Foundation
ExxonMobil Foundation is SWE's largest corporate donor for outreach
programs and has provided more than $1 million in contribution commitments
since 1998.
ExxonMobil Foundation's latest three-year grants (2002 - 2004)
will help fund SWE's "Girls Do Science, Engineering and Technology."
This program involves K-12 teachers in programs and will be developing
curricula to help teachers train young women for careers in the
sciences. In addition, mini-grants are provided to SWE professional
and university sections to conduct outreach initiatives.
SWE is an educational and scientific society that educates girls
and young women in order to increase the number of women who enter
the science, engineering and technology professions.
SWE has been in existence for 51 years and its goal for the 21st
century is to be the recognised authority on, and advocate for,
women in engineering and technology.
ExxonMobil Foundation
ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon
Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation engages in
a broad range of philanthropic activities focusing on the communities
where Exxon Mobil Corporation has significant operations. In addition,
the Foundation supports research and dissemination on selected topics
of national interest to the energy industry. Focus areas include
education, health and environment. In 2002, ExxonMobil Foundation,
Exxon Mobil Corporation, and its divisions and affiliates provided
$98 million in contributions worldwide.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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