News
By Joseph Liss
|
September 30, 2011
The National Science Foundation announced this week the introduction of an initiative intended to help women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields balance their work and family.
The new initiative "will allow researchers to delay or suspend their grants for up to one year in order to care for a newborn or newly adopted child or fulfill other family obligations," among other new programs, according to a White House press release.
The new initiative comes as part of a broader move by the Obama Administration to open careers to men and women with families.
"The White House has also been committed to making the government a model employer in the area of workplace flexibility," the White House press release said.
The NSF is especially working to increase the number of women in STEM fields.
"It is timely, therefore, to provide incentives that will affect change in institutions that result in gender-neutral policies and practices that lead to the increased participation and advancement of women scientists and engineers in the scientific enterprise," NSF Director Dr. Subra Suresh said on the foundation's website.
Pamela Norris, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and chair of the President's Women's Leadership Council at the University, pointed out some of the major hurdles for women in STEM fields.
"By the time you enter the [research] profession as a faculty member, many women are seeking to start families themselves," Norris said.