The Educational Pipeline for Women in Biology: No Longer Leaking?

Describing the past 30 years of progress toward gender equity in science, one observer wrote: "Although optimistic about future prospects, I must also point out some daunting toads and serpents lurking in the gardens of science. These challenge the rising generation of young scientists to be no less intrepid that past activists who catalyzed change" (Herschbach 1999, p. 66). The failure of the sciences to attract and retain women has meant a loss of diversity, as well as a loss of talent and creativity, that impoverishes research viewpoints and limits effective communication of science with diverse sectors of society.