Previous poster hits the nail on the head when she says, "If we want more female mathematicians and scientists, perhaps we should encourage women's colleges to place more emphasis on those fields." Instead, they spend most of their time and effort promoting women's lib, women's literature, women's history, gender equity, blah, blah, blah. Stop the bitching, and get to work!

Actually, as both a scientist and a graduate of a women's college I think they are doing a pretty good job. In fact, more women who have received their PhD's in the sciences (and chemistry specifically) did their undergraduate work at the college I went to than any other college regardless of size.

A big issue with women and getting PhD's in the sciences is a lack of role models and the fact that universities (due to tenure) tend to tolerate truly horrible and disrespectful treatment of women graduate students by male professors. I know that I experienced that and have known plenty of other women scientists who did too. Once I entered industry, I was treated equally to my male collegues and with respect. The kinds of attitudes I expereinced in graduate school are not tolerated industry (at least at most large corporations).