Bits and Bytes

Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering
Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering is a report that provides information about the participation of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in science and engineering education and employment. Information on the site is organized by topic and group. Links to additional data sources and reports are provided.

NIH's National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) announces the release of a special, evolutionary-themed issue of Findings, a student-oriented magazine that puts a face on science.

This issue celebrates the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his book On the Origin of Species by featuring the exciting work of two evolutionary biologists and short articles that highlight the role of evolution in medical research. This magazine is an excellent classroom resource for showcasing innovative, creative, and interesting scientists and is offered at no cost to you and your students.

Find even more on Findings Online.

This special evolution issue of Findings will be available in late February. If you are a subscriber you will automatically get a copy. If not, subscribe for free now to ensure that you receive the issue (single copies or class sets available). You can also order a free, new full-color poster for your classroom!

If you do not want to subscribe at this time but would like to receive just this issue of Findings, please send an e-mail to info@nigms.nih.gov with the subject line 'Request for February 2009 Issue of Findings: MentorNet' and your name and address in the body of the message.

For questions or help contact Alison Davis, Findings editor, at alison.davis@nih.gov.

Recommended Reading:

Swimming Against the Tide
Many educators worry that the ability of the United States to produce enough scientists will fall short unless a more diverse group of students are recruited to science study – and thrive. Despite the odds, some black females do succeed in science. Swimming Against the Tide: African American Girls and Science Education (Temple University Press) looks at why some students succeed, and the roadblocks they face along the way. The book is based on a combination of statistics, surveys and interviews.

In 'Geek Chic' and Obama, New Hope for Lifting Women in Science
Some scientists say that now is the time to tackle the problem of attracting more women into the fold, and keeping them once they are there.

A Quest to Keep Kids Engaged
Perhaps because they don't see how engineering and science are used in real life, kids often become disenchanted with those subjects at an early age, which can severely limit their career options as an adult.

Needed: Women and Minorities as Physical Scientists
The United States cannot maintain its position as a technological leader without increased participation of women and minorities, says Stanford University's Arthur Bienenstock, a physicist, professor and 2008 president of the American Physical Society.