Alexandria, VA – The American Geosciences Institute has released Geoscience Currents 60, which examines female enrollments and degrees in the geosciences over time. In 2011, the Current concludes, female participation in U.S. geoscience degree programs remained generally steady. After decades of steady growth in the rate of female participation, there has been little change since 2005. Several interesting trends are also noted, including declines in doctorates awarded following economic downturns, and that women appear to have slightly higher degree completion rates than men at the Bachelor's and Master's levels.
Geoscience Currents 60 can be found online and downloaded from http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/currents.html.
Geoscience Currents are quick snapshots of data released by AGI on the status of the geoscience workforce. The Currents also represent data collaborations with other societies, employers and professionals. Topics for these reports are inspired by inquiries from geoscience community leaders. Interested in participating in AGI's Geoscience Currents? Go online to http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/currents.html, and register to receive free email updates of all new Geoscience Currents.
The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 250,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.