Opening more doors

ASEE Prism, Feb 2002 by Horrigan, Marie

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is working to create a "living laboratory" for gender equity in the areas of engineering and science. They aren't going to be growing women in petri dishes-but thanks to a new $3.75 million National Science Foundation grant, the College of Engineering will be able to create a Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute (WISELI).

This institute will be developed to "coordinate activities and research on getting more women recruited, retained, and advanced in academic science and engineering," said Molly Carnes, professor of medicine at UW and director of the UW Center for Women's Health.

Among the planned programs and services are leadership development for women faculty and staff, endowed professorships for women in science, and grants to help women manage junctures where careers and family conflict.

This program builds on an already innovative WISE program at UW. Their Women in Science and Engineering Residential Program, in its fifth year, provides housing as well as social and academic support for women studying science and engineering. Over 100 women currently participate in this program, which the university claims has led to a lower drop-out rate from science and engineering majors as well as higher average grade-point averages among participants.

Chancellor John Wiley expressed his pleasure at the opportunity before UW "WISELI represents a major step toward improving the campus climate:' Chancellor Wiley said. "With their grant, NSF is turning to us for leadership on the issue of women in science."