When one thinks of women in science and engineering in America the first school that comes to mind for me is Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Perhaps that is because when I wasn't rowing for or in class at Simmons College I was hanging out with Tim at MIT's Sloan School. Today, however, one of the other great Boston schools across the Charles River is striving to give great science schools like MIT a further run for their money and reputation.

On May 16th 2005, Harvard University announced plans to spend $50 million on efforts to help women succeed in sciences and engineering.

It was a "wise" move influenced in part by Harvard's Task Force on Women Faculty and on Women in Science and Engineering (WISE).

WISE is one of two task forces created to develop concrete proposals to reduce barriers to the advancement of women faculty at Harvard and in academic careers more broadly. The other group is led by the school's Task Force on Women Faculty.

This infusion of financial capital into the school came with a commitment made by Harvard University President Lawrence H. Summers.

Summers said:

The University is currently embarking on a number of important large-scale initiatives in the sciences. For these endeavors to succeed, Harvard must attract the best scientific talent and leadership. The actions recommended in these reports will help to ensure that Harvard is attractive to the best talent in all fields.

He said the recommendations made by WISE and The Task Force on Women Faculty have the power to make Harvard not only more welcoming and diverse, but a stronger and more excellent university overall.

Harvard's largest faculty group is women.

Radcliffe Institute Dean Drew Gilpin Faust, Professor of the History of Science and of African and African-American Studies Evelynn Hammonds, and Higgins Professor of Natural Sciences and Dean of Science at the Radcliffe Institute Barbara J. Grosz - Photo by Kris Snibbe

Summers was inspired to make this significant investment in women after Radcliffe Institute Dean Drew Gilpin Faust, Professor of the History of Science and of African and African-American Studies Evelynn Hammonds, and Higgins Professor of Natural Sciences and Dean of Science at the Radcliffe Institute Barbara J. Grosz led a taskforce which resulted in a number of recommendations.

A portion of the $50 million investment will go to:

1) hiring a Senior Vice Provost for Diversity and Faculty Development;
2) preparing a leadership development program focusing on issues of diversity for the summer retreat of the President, Provost, and Deans;
3) planning for study centers for students in undergraduate science courses and the Summer Undergraduate Research Program; and
4) preparing for the launch of the "COACHE" climate survey for junior faculty, developed by a research team in our Graduate School of Education, to be administered in the Fall, 2005.

Radcliffe Institute Dean Drew Gilpin Faust, who was asked by President Lawrence H. Summers to join with Provost Steven E. Hyman in leading the Task Force efforts said:

At the outset of this effort, I stated that this was a moment of great opportunity for Harvard.

The Task Forces have produced recommendations that promise to transform not only opportunities for women and underrepresented minorities at Harvard, but also the culture of the entire University community.

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