JUNE 14, 2018
Statement from Janet Bandows Koster, Executive Director and CEO, Association for Women in Science (AWIS) in Response to National Academies of Science Sexual Harassment Report
“Female scientists, engineers and mathematicians have had to function in environments that favor—sometimes deliberately but often inadvertently—the men who have traditionally dominated science and engineering. Each year the STEM community loses creative, energetic, highly educated women who could design better vaccines, create innovative materials, invent smarter technologies and make the world we share a better place. They leave workplace environments which tolerate gender discrimination and sexual harassment. While the new report released by the National Academies of Science confirms the depth to which sexual harassment continues to be pervasive it shrinks from addressing real systemic issues along the entire STEM career pathway including peer review, publishing, and how science is funded. Only when we shine a light on and tackle these outdated norms will we be able to truly achieve diverse and inclusive STEM workplaces. AWIS is uniquely positioned as a resource to support both individuals and organizations as our work crosses all disciplines and employment sectors.”
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About AWIS: Founded in 1971, AWIS has been the leading advocate for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to achieve business growth, social change, and innovation. We are dedicated to driving excellence in STEM by achieving equity and full participation of women in all disciplines and across all employment sectors. In addition to scholarships, AWIS provides career resources, professional development, as well as networking, mentoring, and volunteer opportunities to build leadership skills. To learn more, visit awis.org and @AWISNational.
Contact:
Maria Ibañez
202-588-8175, ext. 215
Ibanez@awis.org