Science

There's good news and bad news in a new report released Wednesday by the Commerce Department about women in science, technology, engineering and math - also known as STEM -- fields.

The good news is that the wage gap between what women and men earn is less when it comes to STEM jobs. The bad news is that the number of women choosing STEM jobs has not increased even as the number of women with college degrees has risen in recent years.

The new report, based on statistics from the Census Bureau's 2009 American Community Survey, notes that even as the number of STEM jobs has grown, the share of women in STEM jobs has remained steady at about 25 percent, compared with 48 percent of all other types of employment. This even though STEM jobs are projected to grow by 17 percent by 2018 -- nearly twice as much as other fields -- and that women in STEM jobs earn 33 percent more on average than women in other jobs.

At the same time, the gap that exists among all jobs between what men and women earn, is smaller in STEM fields. Women in STEM jobs earn 14 percent less than men in those jobs, compared with 21 percent less in other fields.

"The evidence is clear. We have an unacceptable STEM gender gap," acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank said in a call with reporters. "We're challenged to change the current trajectory by encouraging and supporting women to be more involved and interested in STEM jobs."

There are many possible reasons for why more women are not seeking STEM jobs such as "a lack of female role models, gender stereotyping, and less family-friendly flexibility in the STEM fields," the report said.

In examining specific STEM fields, the report found that the proportion of women in computer and math jobs actually fell between 2000 and 2009 from 30 percent to 27 percent. Life and physical science is the one STEM area that has shown the most growth, with the proportion of women increasing from 36 percent in 2000 to 40 percent in 2009.

As students prepare for annual science fairs staged in school gymnasiums and auditoriums around the country, Google is launching its first-ever online science fair, opening a global science competition to students from around the world.

In partnership with CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research), LEGO, National Geographic and Scientific American, Google announced Tuesday that it would accept entries from students 13 to 18 years old until April 4.

Students have the chance to win a grand prize that includes a $50,000 scholarship, a trip to the Galapagos Islands, and other prizes from the competition's sponsors.

"(Google's founders) were fortunate to be able to get their idea in front of lots of people," says the company's announcement. "But how many ideas are lost because people don't have the right forum for their talents to be discovered? We believe that science can change the world--and one way to encourage that is to celebrate and champion young scientific talent as we do athletes and pop idols."

This online contest joins other international science competitions sponsored by companies such as Siemens and Intel.

In December, Congress voted to reauthorize the America COMPETES Act, which authorizes funding for basic research, programs aimed at boosting science, technology, engineering and math education and other measures aimed at promoting U.S. innovation, and President Obama has repeatedly called for more focus on science education to help Americans compete in the global market.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was among those shot at a supermarket Saturday in Arizona. Giffords has worked on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and served as chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. Giffords is linked closely to NASA through her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, as well. In the wake of the shooting, lawmakers, administrators and industry leaders released their reactions.

• From NASA Administrator Charles Bolden:

"We at NASA are deeply shocked and saddened by the senseless shooting of Representative Giffords and others at Saturday's public event in Tucson. As a long-time supporter of NASA, Representative Giffords not only has made lasting contributions to our country, but is a strong advocate for the nation's space program and a member of the NASA family. She also is a personal friend with whom I have had the great honor of working. We at NASA mourn this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers go out to Congresswoman Giffords, her husband Mark Kelly, their family, and the families and friends of all who perished or were injured in this terrible tragedy."

• From Rep. Ralph M. Hall, R-Texas, chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee:

"I am shocked and saddened by this terrible news, and my prayers are with Gabrielle, her husband Astronaut Mark Kelly, her family, her staff, and all those who were injured and lost their lives and their families. Gabrielle has so many friends in Congress and is an outstanding Congresswoman for her district and for the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. I have been to her district with her to support solar energy and to the Cape with her to support the Shuttle flights. She is a wonderful person, and our prayers are with her, Captain Kelly, and the families of all the victims of this tragedy."

• From the Aerospace Industries Association:

"The Aerospace Industries Association is deeply saddened by the senseless attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) at a constituent event outside Tucson, Arizona today."

"Rep. Gabrielle Giffords serves her constituents and her country with passion and with genuine enthusiasm," said AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey. "Our prayers are with her family and her staff as they get through this difficult situation."

"Rep. Giffords most recently served as Chair of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee of the House Science and Technology Committee where she has been tireless champion of the nation's space program. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Giffords has also demonstrated a deep understanding of the national security, economic and technological benefits of a strong U.S. space program and aerospace industry."

President Obama has signed into law a measure that would reauthorize the America COMPETES Act, as well as legislation aimed at expanding low-power radio.

The two bills were among three dozen measures Obama signed into law Tuesday. The America COMPETES bill reauthorizes the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology and the research programs in the Energy Department's Office of Science. In addition to reauthorizing science, technology, engineering and math education programs, it also would establish an interagency STEM education coordination committee.

To help firms bring innovations to market, the bill calls for the creation of a Commerce Department program to provide loan guarantees to small and medium-sized manufacturers for the use or production of innovative technologies.

Obama also signed into law legislation that will allow the Federal Communications Commission to issue more licenses to low-power FM radio stations. To address concerns raised by broadcasters, stricter protections were added to the bill to help avoid interference with established radio stations.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said his agency would move quickly to implement the law. "Low-power FM stations are small, but they make a giant contribution to local community programming," Genachowski said in a statement. "This important law eliminates the unnecessary restrictions that kept these local stations off the air in cities and towns across the country."

The House cleared legislation Tuesday that would reauthorize the America COMPETES Act, which authorizes basic research, programs aimed at boosting science, technology, engineering and math education and other measures aimed at promoting U.S. innovation.

The legislation will head to President Obama's desk after the House voted 228-130 to adopt the Senate's changes to the House bill. The bill faced an unexpectedly rocky road to congressional passage after the House rejected the measure twice before finally passing it in May.

The bill would reauthorize the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology and the research programs in the Energy Department's Office of Science. In addition to reauthorizing STEM education programs, it also would establish an interagency STEM education coordination committee. To help firms bring innovations to market, the bill would create a Commerce Department program to provide loan guarantees to small and medium-sized manufacturers for the use or production of innovative technologies.

"If we are to reverse the trend of the last 20 years, during which our country's technological edge in the world has diminished, we must make the investments necessary today," House Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., who has been the bill's leading champion in Congress, said in a statement. The bill was a top priority for Gordon who is retiring at the end of the 111th Congress.

Several industry groups praised the bill, saying it will help boost U.S. competiveness and help American students better compete in the global economy.

"The investments that the America COMPETES Act makes in math and science education will go a long way to helping ensure America has the highly skilled workforce it needs to compete in the global economy," Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, co-executive director of the industry coalition Compete America, said in a statement.

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation President Robert Atkinson highlighted several key provisions in the bill, including language offered by Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., that would direct the Obama administration to develop a national competitiveness and innovation strategy.

"It is welcome news that this critical legislation is finally on its way to the President's desk," Atkinson said in a news release. "In one of the final votes of the 111th Congress, lawmakers affirmed that innovation is not a partisan issue."

The Senate voted to reauthorize the America COMPETES Act Friday, leaving approval of the plan for science and technology research programs to the House.

The legislation authorizes research and education programs at federal science agencies in an effort to boost U.S. competitiveness.

In May, the House passed a similar version of the COMPETES Act, which was originally enacted in 2007.

Left out of the Senate's bill? Any additional funding for the slew of programs designed to increase education and research in the STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. On Thursday, the Senate scuttled a 2011 spending bill that would have given agencies more money to develop the programs.

Despite the lack of new funding, supporters hailed the bill's passage as an investment in "math and science education that will help our nation build such a qualified and highly educated workforce, and we applaud the Senate for its action today."

Retiring House Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., championed the bill in the House and hailed its passage in the Senate.

"While there have been concessions made, the Senate's amendments preserve the intent of the [U.S. National Academies'] Rising Above the Gathering Storm report and the original COMPETES," he said. "It keeps our basic research agencies on a doubling path, it continues to invest in high-risk, high-reward energy technology development, it will help improve STEM education, and it will help unleash American innovation."

Gordon said he hopes the House will vote to approve the bill this week.

Although the Senate passed the COMPETES Act by unanimous consent, House Republicans continued to criticize the measure for costing too much money.

"While I am glad we were finally able to reauthorize many of the important research and education programs in this bill, the bill that passed today spends too much money, authorizes duplicative programs, and shifts focus away from the bill's original intent," said Texas GOP Rep. Ralph Hall, ranking member of the House Science and Technology Committee.

The House Democratic Caucus announced ranking members for a dozen committees Thursday, including two panels with a lot of sway over technology issues on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas was tapped for the top Democratic post on the House Science and Technology Committee while Michigan Rep. John Conyers will lead the minority party on the House Judiciary Committee.

"Our Democratic ranking members stand ready to continue creating jobs and fighting for the middle class in the 112th Congress," said outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "Each of these distinguished members brings to the table extensive experience and great intellect to work with the new Republican committee chairmen on behalf of the American people."

Retiring Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon, D- Tenn., also congratulated Johnson as she joins fellow Texan, Republican Rep. Ralph Hall, the GOP's pick to become the next chairman, in leading the committee.

"I know [Johnson is] looking forward to working with incoming Chairman Ralph Hall," Gordon said in a statement. "I know he'll be a good chairman, and I hope that they will work well together and continue the committee's record of being able to work across the aisle to advance science, foster innovation, and support STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics] education."

Harry Potter's "invisibility cloak" may be one step closer to becoming reality than fans of the popular book and movie series may have imagined.

The European Commission said Tuesday that research funded by the commission has made breakthroughs in tailoring the flow of light using nanotechnology that could lead to its use in lenses and optical circuitry as well as in making some objects invisible. While Harry Potter's invisibility cloak makes anything draped in it invisible, the German, Greek, Turkish and UK scientists have only managed to cloak objects of the "sub millimeter size."

The PHOME project has up until now only been able to make "invisibility cloaks" that work in two dimensions, which meant a hidden object was invisible when the observer attempted to look at it head on, but became visible when viewed from the side, the commission said. "This study is the first to result in the creation of a device that renders an object invisible in all three dimensions," the commission added in a statement.

"This project has achieved in real life what we knew only from special effects in the cinema. Such cutting-edge research is crucial to laying the foundations for new technologies essential for Europe's competitiveness," European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes said.

Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill, announced Monday that he will not pursue the ranking member position on the House Science and Technology Committee during the 112th Congress.

"I am deeply committed to my work on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee," Costello said in a statement. A lot of significant legislation may come up next year including the FAA Reauthorization bill, a new highway bill, and the Water Resources Development Act, noted Costello.

"I want to maintain my focus on these issues in which I have invested so much time and attention, and which should be a major part of our continued efforts to improve the economy,"he added.

Costello, currently ranking member on the Science and Technology panel, leaves the spot open to Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, who follows Costello in seniority.

A broad coalition of academic, industry and professional groups wrote Senate leadership Friday urging the upper chamber to pass the COMPETES Act this session of Congress.

The COMPETES act would fund a host of research programs and bolster science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Championed by outgoing Rep. Bart Gordon, D- Tenn., the bill cleared the House last spring and is now waiting for action in the Senate. Gordon is retiring.

The letter calls on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his counterpart, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, to "pass the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act in time to work with the House to make it possible for the president to sign this important legislation into law before the end of this Congress."

The original bill passed in 2007 with strong bi-partisan support and "was meant to be the first three-year installment of a longer-term commitment toward," fostering innovation and competition in America, according to the letter.

Making the case for spending money in tough economic times, the signatories noted that, "strong funding of basic research and STEM education programs will help ensure the economic growth needed to restore long-term fiscal strength and national prosperity."

Paul Otellini, CEO and president of Intel; William Green, an executive at Accenture; and Jared Cohon, president of Carnegie Mellon University, signed the letter, among others. Nearly 250 groups endorsed the letter.