FULLERTON : Girls Told of Careers in Science and Math

For Iris Critchell, the task of the day Thursday was to convince the more than 500 young women seated in front of her that math and science were noble undertakings.

Critchell, 70, president of Bates Foundation for Aeronautical Education at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont and a former instructor there, was one of many speakers at a symposium to introduce careers in science and math to junior and senior high school students.

While the program was open to boys, most of the students at Cal State Fullerton’s McCarthy Hall were girls.

“We can’t exclude boys from this event,” said Jan Youngman, one of the event’s organizers. “But this symposium is really for the girls.

The students came from 23 high schools and junior highs in the Fullerton, Placentia, Yorba Linda, La Habra and Brea districts. The program was sponsored by Cal State Fullerton and the American Assn. of University Women.

Youngman said the purpose of the 7th annual forum was intended to show the young women the career possibilities that require math and science skills--and to break down what she called the “stigma” of those subjects.

“For a lot of girls, taking classes in math and science is not cool,” she said. “We want to show them that it is, and that they can make a career out of it.”

The numerous women at the session talked about their chosen professions, including archeology, chemistry, chemical engineering, computer science, microbiology, veterinary medicine and geology.

Critchell said she hoped the array of speakers would spark the interest of some.

“At an early age, the majority of women are not encouraged to look at mechanical things and understand how they work,” Critchell said. “It’s the boys who get the hammers and Erector sets. The girls get the dolls and dresses.”

Critchell sees a huge opening for women in careers in science and math, but few are entering.

Youngman said the disparity between men and women who work in the fields of math and science has grown so great that the National Science Foundation has begun to devote more of its funding priorities to programs that will increase the number of women and minorities in the sciences.

“It’s crucial that we get this pool of minds,” Critchell said. “There’s an incredible amount of talent out there. But we haven’t tapped in on it yet. With events like this, I’m hoping that these girls will see that there are a tremendous amount of opportunities for them. The earlier the age at which they realize this, the better.”