Efforts to Boost Diversity Face Persistent Problems

More groups are going to bat for underrepresented minorities in science and engineering, the most recent being a Sloan Foundation pretenure faculty fellowship program, a National Academy of Engineering summit on women in engineering, and a new federal Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering and Technology. But can they do better than past efforts to make a difference? Although in some areas, gains have been substantial, they are still not enough to achieve parity anytime soon.