Reflections: XX and science

by Tara Smith     Department: Science & Society

As Clifford reflects on some great science stories of 2007, I thought I'd add another perspective that ScienceWoman blogged about a few days ago. They include notable events both large and small--online courses hosted by female bloggers; girls sweeping the national science fair awards; microbiologists Rita Colwell's receipt of the National Medal of Science, and the publication of a number of books for and about women in science and math.

While all of the accomplishments are, of course, steps forward, at the same time it's a bit depressing to realize just how far women still have to come to be considered equals. As Abel Pharmboy points out in the comments, it was only this past year that a woman was appointed as a dean at a top 10 U.S. medical school--a story so newsworthy it was even covered in the New England Journal of Medicine. And while ScienceWoman includes the appointment of female scientists as presidents of major universities (including my employer, the University of Iowa), the fact that these stories are still all so newsworthy highlights just how far we still have to go to achieve equality. Here's to 2008 edging closer to that equality.

Tags: Women and science

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