Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Core Ideas Female faculty in agricultural sciences has increased from 12 to 23% in the last 10 yr. Higher leadership positions within academia, industry, and government research positions are primarily held by men. The proportion of women with Ph.D. degrees in agricultural sciences is still higher than those with careers and leadership positions. Representation of women in agricultural science was 5% in 1979, increasing to 12% by 2005. The near equal numbers of women and men receiving Ph.D. degrees in agricultural science in 2012 (44 to 56%, respectively) would suggest an upward trend of women scientists above 12% should be occurring over time. To monitor possible trends in the representation of women in agricultural science, we quantified the numbers of women at land grant institutions at the faculty and higher administration level and in leadership positions within scientific societies, industry boards, and government research positions. The survey results showed that female faculty in the agricultural sciences increased from 12% in 2005 to 23% in 2014; however, female representation in leadership positions in academia were low, with department chairs (18%), society leadership (18–36% ranging across societies), and deans of colleges of agriculture (9 out of 50) lagging behind men. Similarly, the number of women on the executive boards of agricultural industries (11%) and at the USDA‐ARS (26%) are still lower than the proportion of women with Ph.D.'s in agricultural sciences. These results suggest progress toward gender representation that reflects the number of qualified women at the faculty level, but it seems that representation is limited after the graduate training level, at the faculty level and beyond. We must be diligent in crop and soil sciences in mentoring female students and young faculty to ensure progress of female scientists to all levels of leadership in academia and the private and public sector.
Source: Agronomy Journal
Institution: University of Florida
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $1,800
Funders: North Dakota State University, Purdue University, Clemson University, Utah State University, Ohio State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Oklahoma State University, University of Missouri, Colorado State University, University of Minnesota, Mississippi State University, Auburn University, Washington State University, North Carolina State University, Michigan State University, University of Connecticut, University of Wyoming, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, South Dakota State University, Louisiana State University, Iowa State University, West Virginia University, Montana State University, New Mexico State University, Oregon State University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Engineering, Michigan State University
OpenAlex ID: W2560255223