Geoscience Currents explores how female geoscience enrollments and degrees changed in the 2011-2012 academic year.
New data collected shows that female geoscience enrollments and degrees in the U.S. dropped sharply at both the Bachelor's and Master's levels, but increased slightly at the Doctoral level.
The percentage of women enrolled in undergraduate geoscience programs in 2011-2012 was at the lowest levels seen since the 1990s, and Master's participation rates fell below 40% for the first time since 2001. Alternatively, women's participation in geoscience Doctorate programs continued its steady growth, rising to 45% in 2012.
Although specific causes for the decline are unknown, Geoscience Currents #69 poses potential theories for drivers for these changes, including the possible end of programs that engage female participation in STEM fields, or perhaps the recent growth in the energy sector is attracting substantially more men than women to the field.