FIRST FRIDAY FORUM: Few Women in Science and Technology (Free Lecture)

When it comes to jobs in the Science,Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, women are not fairing well.  According to a report by the U.S. Department of Commerce entitled Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation, "Although women fill close to half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, they hold less than 25% of STEM jobs."  This percentage has remained steady over the past decade, "even as women's share of the college-educated workforce has increased." 

Why is this this case, and what can be done about it—or, should anything be done about it?  This question will be the focus of the Friday Forum lecture on September 16th, 12 noon at the University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright Street on the University of Illinois campus.

Ruth Sweetser, Director of Corporate Relations at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and former AAUW President at both the state and national levels, will be speaking about women in the STEM fields and discussing the latest research on this topic, including AAUW's 2010 in-depth report, "Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics."  AAUW is a nationwide network of individuals, branches, and college/institution partners that advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.  <The Champaign-Urbana Branch of AAUW is one of several co-sponsors of this lecture.>

This presentation is part of the University YMCA Friday Forum fall lecture series entitled, "The Future of Learning: Is Public Education Under Siege?"  Friday Forum lectures occur each Friday at noon at the University YMCA.  All forums are radio broadcast at 6:00 p.m. on WEFT 90.1 the Monday following the lecture. If you have any questions, please contact Program Director, Kasey Umland, at kasey@universityymca.org or (217) 337-1514.

Spring 2008 Friday Forum Series, "Unravelling Spin and Uncovering Truths" begins this Friday, January 25th!

Spring 2008 Friday Forum Lecture Series Set to Begin on Friday, January 25th. “Unraveling Spin and Uncovering Truths”

Champaign, IL – The Spring 2008 Friday Forum lecture series will begin at noon, on Friday, January 25th, with a lecture entitled “School Accountability and Performance in the Era of No Child Left Behind” by Lizanne DeStefano, Director of the Bureau of Educational Research at the University of Illinois. After six years of implementation we can begin to see the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act on our nations’ schools. Is it working? Can it be strengthened? In this talk, University of Illinois professor and Director of the Bureau for Educational Research, Lizanne DeStefano, will examine the changes in policies, practices and outcomes associated with NCLB.

The series runs every Friday from January 25 to April 4 at 12:00/noon in Latzer Hall at the University YMCA.

Friday Forum, which has been continuously running at the University YMCA since 1927, has a distinguished history of examining topics in-depth from a variety of perspectives. Lectures run from 12:15 -12:55 p.m. each Friday during the semester, with a questions and answer period from 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. Individuals from both the campus and the wider community are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion with the speakers.

Lunch is available through the Y Thai Eatery. Individual meals may be reserved in advance through noon the Thursday before the lecture by calling 337-1500.

If you would like an electronic copy of this brochure, please e-mail Kasey Umland, University YMCA Program Director, at kasey@universityymca.org.