Throughout history, women have made momentous contributions to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In the physical sciences, which are generally dominated by men, some of the most well-known STEM-aligned women in history include Sally Ride, an American physicist, who became a NASA astronaut and Marie Curie, a famous Polish chemist, who transformed the world with her research on radioactivity. Every year, the number of women working in STEM fields grows. This includes women in STEM majors at universities, as well as women on boards of directors and in C-suite positions in STEM firms. Yet there is still a need for employing more women in technical fields, such as manufacturing and construction.
By the Numbers
- Women make up 28% of the STEM workforce and 52% of the workforce with a college diploma.
- In 2020, 19.2 percent of board posts in STEM-related sectors were held by women, up 18.3 percent from the previous year.
- Only 3% of CEOs in the STEM business are women.
- Women make up 29.3 percent of all researchers worldwide.
- Women account up 8% of all industrial, construction, and engineering students worldwide.
- Women make up 5% of all math and statistics students worldwide.
- In 2016, women made up 25% of the adults featured in scientific education materials.
Throughout their education, girls and women are systematically steered away from science and math, limiting their access, preparation, and opportunity to pursue these disciplines as adults. In technology, science, math and engineering, women make up only a quarter of the workforce, and men greatly outnumber women studying in most STEM subjects in college. Gender inequality is especially pronounced in some of the future’s fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs, such as computer science and engineering. Engineering and computer science, two of the most profitable STEM areas, are still overwhelmingly dominated by men. Women make up only 21% of engineering majors and 19% of computer science majors. Providing women equal opportunity to excel in STEM occupations helps close the gender wage gap, assure a diverse and competent STEM workforce, and avoid biases in these disciplines.
According to Pew Research Center, a typical STEM worker makes two-thirds more than those in other industries. Women make up the smallest percentage of workers in some of the highest-paying STEM fields, such as computer science and engineering.
Women are considerably underrepresented in STEM majors by the time they enter college – only around 21% of engineering majors are female, and only around 19% of computer and information science majors are female. Women make up about 80% of the healthcare workforce, but just about a third of doctors and only about 21% of healthcare executives and board members are female. Women are also overrepresented in lower-paying areas, including home health care, nursing, and lower-paying specializations like pediatrics.
How to Support Women in STEM
- Work to increase the number of women in STEM majors and disciplines at colleges and universities through attracting, recruiting, and retaining them.
- Change the climate and procedures in STEM fields to make them more welcoming to women.
- Prioritize workplaces that are varied, inclusive, and respectful, as well as strong, diverse leadership.
- Between trainees and faculty, there are a variety of hierarchical and dependent connections, as well as shifting power dynamics.
- Improve the hiring, retention, and promotion processes, as well as create inclusive workplaces. More women should be recruited, and efforts should be made to retain and promote them throughout their careers, with solid promotion pipelines and ongoing professional development and leadership training.
- Encourage inviting work environments by providing flexibility, robust family and medical leave policies, inclusion and anti-bias training, mentorship, networking, and strict anti-discrimination and anti-harassment rules.
“It is an effort we at Tallan are very proud of, particularly as a local employer of those with STEM degrees. The Women in STEM movement continues to grow in reputation and importance, and we are thrilled to play even a small part.”
tallan.com/tallan-scholarship
Tallan’s STEM Scholarship
Since its inception in 2018, Tallan’s scholarship has been awarded to a local female high school student, enrolled and pursuing a college degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) field. In 2020 Tallan hosted students from across the state, for the first time, at their headquarters in Glastonbury, CT. The winner received an Enterprise-grade developer laptop, the same style the consultants at the firm use.
Now in 2022, The Tallan Women in STEM Scholarship is back for it’s 4th year, and open to the entire state of Connecticut.
To apply:
- Talk with your computer science teacher to confirm your eligibility.
- Download the Powerpoint Instruction Deck and come up with your idea.
- Complete this application.
- Send everything in via email by 5pm on 6/03/2022.
This year’s scholarship presentations and award will be completed remotely via Microsoft Teams in an effort to ensure the safety of everyone involved. To learn more, or to apply for the Tallan STEM Scholarship, click here.
Women in STEM Virtual Presentation
March 31st, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. (Online)
Join one of Tallan’s Senior User Experience for a presentation to highlight her career, and how she took her interest and aptitude for art and turned it into a modern, lucrative career! This event will offer plenty of time for Q&A and is meant to promote Tallan’s Scholarship program. Click here to register!