Geoscience Diversity in 2008: New Challenges

The proportions of women, blacks, and Hispanics in S&E occupations have continued to grow over time, but are still less than their proportions of the population (NSF, 2006). Blacks and Hispanics each constituted 3 to 4 percent of doctoral scientists and 2 to 3 percent of doctoral engineers. American Indians/Alaska Natives were 0.6 percent of doctoral scientists and 0.4 percent of doctoral engineers in 2003.

However, “globalization” is impacting the development pathways, possibly reshaping the characteristics that define a marketable geology graduate. How can academic leaders respond in order to manage the impact of these global shifts on their curricula to the benefit of all?

The United States remains the predominant destination for foreign students, accounting for 40 percent of internationally mobile students in 2004. The number of S&E graduate students on temporary visas more than doubled between 1983 and 2003, rising from 19 percent to 27 percent of all graduate S&E students over that period (NSF, 2006). Historically, half or more of students on temporary visas have stayed in the United States immediately after degree conferral; however, this percentage has risen in recent years.

International S&E labor force data are unavailable, however, the number of people with postsecondary education has grown over two decades from about 73 million in 1980 to 194 million in 2000. Over the period 1980-2000, the US share of the total fell from 31 percent to 27 percent. China's and India's shares doubled to 10 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Among all doctorate holders resident in the United States in 2003, a majority in computer science and several engineering fields were foreign born.