The United States is hurting its competitiveness in science and technology because of obstacles depriving women of jobs and promotions at research universities, according to a new report by the National Academies.

“Women are capable of contributing more to the nation’s science and engineering research enterprise, but bias and outmoded practices governing academic success impede their progress almost every step of the way,” said Donna Shalala, chair of the committee that wrote the report, in a statement. “Fundamental changes in the culture and opportunities at America’s research universities are urgently needed,” said Shalala, president of the University of Miami and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The report recommends:

Better leadership from trustees, university presidents, and provosts to create change.

Academic departments look widely to fill new or open positions.

Schools support better programs for faculty members who need childcare to maintain their careers.

Universities form a joint body that would push standards for faculty recruitment and hiring.

The report says the percentage of women making up the scientific and technical workforce in the United States has jumped from 3% to about 20% over the past 40 years. Women's representation on faculties of higher education doesn’t reflect such gains, however, with four times as many men with science and engineering Ph.Ds holding full-time faculty positions.

The study was sponsored by the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health, Eli Lilly and Co., National Science Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the National Academies, which is composed of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council.

Check out Network World’s Alpha Doggs blog for the latest in networking research at universities and other labs.

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