Girls and Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Nationally nearly 60% of both males and females graduate high school adequately prepared to pursue further study in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). However, females typically make up around 15% of college freshmen STEM majors. Nationally, women make up around 10% of computer science majors.

Working to increase the success of educational systems to support girls and women in STEM fields, Iowa was recently selected as one of two states to join the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity's STEM Equity Pipeline Project.

In 2005, females made up 17% of participating students in Project Lead the Way courses, Iowa's primary pre-engineering curriculum in high schools. In 2006, the number of sites where Project Lead the Way was offered expanded, but the percentage of participating females decreased to 15.1%. Women make up 57% of Iowa's college and university enrollments, and have a higher educational attainment then men. Women comprise 51% of Iowa's population.

The 2006 American Community Survey, shows the following differences between the annual salaries of men and women working full-time in Iowa in the following occupations:

Iowa Resources on Girls and/or Women in STEM Fields

Female Responsive Green Energy Unit for middle school teachers

Women in Science and Engineering at University of Iowa

Program for Women in Science and Engineering at Iowa State University

Society of Women Engineers- East Central Iowa

Women and Minorities in STEM Programs at Iowa's Public University and in the High School Program Project Lead the Way

STEM Organizations at Iowa's Community Colleges (Vision 2020)

National Resources on Girls and/or Women in STEM Fields

The National Girls Collaborative Project

Girl Scouts and STEM

Girl Scouts and IT

Women in Engineering Proactive Network

Women of Wind Energy