The purpose of this project is to hold a Symposium on Graduate Study in the Sciences for female science undergraduates from the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington) to provide them with the information and encouragement needed to consider graduate study. The number of women receiving Ph.D. degrees in the sciences is far smaller than the number of men who receive this degree, and the fraction of female undergraduates who opt for graduate study is smaller than the fraction of males who opt for graduate study in all scientific disciplines. Those who attend this symposium will learn about graduate education in general and about specific aspects of their chosen field. They will also be involved in discussions about choosing a graduate school, financial aid, life as a graduate student, preparation for graduate study, career opportunities, and special concerns of female students. Sixty undergraduate participants (representing physics, chemistry, mathematics, earth sciences, and the biological sciences) from approximately 30 colleges and universities in Oregon and Washington will attend the symposium. Symposium organizers will remain in contact with the participants throughout their remaining undergraduate years and chart their progress towards graduate study.
