Making Science Make Sense for Women/Minorities

A survey commissioned by Bayer Corporation as part of its Making Science Make Sense® initiative says the current American pre-college education system is failing to engage girls and minorities to pursue STEM careers. In the latest Bayer Facts of Science Education Survey, senior executives leading some of the country's largest chemical, pharmaceutical, aerospace, semiconductor and other STEM industry companies were polled about a host of issues related to diversity and underrepresentation of women, African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics in STEM fields and their impact on U.S. competitiveness.

Almost all of the Fortune 1000 STEM executives (95 percent) are concerned that the U.S. is in danger of losing its global leadership position in science and technology due to a shortage of STEM talent, with more than half (55 percent) reporting their companies are already experiencing such a shortage. Not surprisingly, almost all the senior executives (98 percent) say it is important for girls and minorities to receive a strong science and math education beginning in elementary school in order to reduce their underrepresentation in STEM fields. However, they believe the U.S. education system is falling short. Not one of the executives surveyed graded the U.S. an "A" when asked how good a job the U.S. pre-college system is doing in engaging and nurturing girls and minorities to pursue STEM careers. In fact, almost six-in-10 (55 percent) assigned it a failing grade of D or F. Recruiting women and minorities can be challenging and frustrating, according to the executives. Four-in-five executives (80 percent) report their companies face challenges in hiring adequate numbers of women and minorities for STEM positions. Of those, half (50 percent) say they are frustrated by their companies' inability to hire adequate numbers of women and minority STEM workers.