Early this year, Harvard University President Lawrence Summers made his now-famous remarks speculating that female scientists may have difficulty winning tenured faculty positions because of differences in "intrinsic aptitude."
Jong-on Hahm, who directs the Committee on Women in Science and Engineering at the National Research Council, says the furor these comments engendered has actually had positive effects on the debate about discrimination against women in academic science. "A lot of people would actually like to drink a toast to him for making the issue so visible," Hahm says. "The subject used not to be discussed much except within certain circles. Now it's out there."
In the aftermath of the remarks, a number of universities, including Harvard, have taken steps to improve the climate for female scientists and other women on their campuses. Harvard formed task forces on women faculty and on women in science and engineering in February. They released ...
