Description: This is
a VOA Special English Education Report.
See text below
Text:
Two new studies have investigated why fewer females,
compared to males, study and work in the
so called STEM subjects in the United States. Those
subjects are science, technology, engineering
and mathematics. The American Association of
University Women examined existing research.
Its report, called Why So Few?, also suggested ways
to interest more girls and women in the STEM fields.
The researchers found that
cultural and environmental
factors make a difference.
Researcher Christianne Corbett says more boys than
girls score very high on math tests in most
countries. She says Iceland and Thailand
are exceptions. In those countries, more girls than
boys scored above the ninety-ninth percentile in
math.
The other study was carried out by the Campos
company for the Bayer Corporation in the United
States. It asked more than one thousand women and
minority members of the American Chemical Society
about their experiences. Seventy-seven percent said
not enough women and minorities are working in STEM
professions today. This is because they were not
identified or urged to study those subjects in
school. Bayer USA Executive Director Rebecca Lucore
says its study produced results similar to the
AAUW research. She says the
survey showed there is still
a lot of work to be done.
Rebecca Lucore notes that students say their
interest in science begins before the age of eleven.
So it is important to have science programs for
students in elementary school.
Why is it so important for girls and women to be
involved in science? Christianne Corbett has one
answer.
She says increasing diversity in professions leads
to better products, and better science. Expanding
and developing this science and engineering
workforce is important for the nations productivity
and competitiveness.
Rebecca Lucore says scientific professions need more
and
better workers. She says all citizens should
understand science. And she says it is important for
everyone in the workforce to be
able to think creatively,
work in teams and adapt to change.
And thats the VOA Special English Education Report.
Is science a popular field of study for girls in
your country?
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voaspecialenglish.com.
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Hi. I
personally reviewed this video and found it appropriate for
the news section of English Global Group. This
is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
topic in Special English. I would appreciate some feedback from both
students and teachers about this video. You can comment in
the window below using any of a number of different services
including Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail.
