WAMC: The Best of Our Knowledge # 960 (2009-02-09)

The Best of Our Knowledge

The Best of Our Knowledge # 960

(2009-02-09)

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ALBANY, NY (WAMC) - BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL
"PERCEPTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN IN THEIR PURSUIT OF A PH.D. IN SCIENCE" -

Black History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in African American history. It's celebrated annually during February. Black History Month was only established in 1976 barely 30-years before Barack Obama became president. The month-long celebration grew out of Negro History Week, which was first recognized in 1926. Each year, TBOOK tries to uncover new and interesting education related topics to stimulate the discussion and inform listeners on this important subject.

This year, we highlight a recent report from the Council of Graduate Schools. It shows women and members of minority groups tend to take longer than other subsets of the population to complete doctoral programs.

The report, called "Ph.D. Completion and Attrition: Analysis of Baseline Demographic Data From the Ph.D. Completion Project", shows gaps between racial and ethnic groups in terms of how quickly they complete doctorates.

The Dean of Princeton University's Graduate School reacted to that study. He said a disproportionate share of minority students enter doctoral programs academically and, in some cases, culturally unprepared for the demands that will be placed upon them causing them to fall behind early on. Meanwhile, he continued, many women in such programs are starting families and have to juggle the demands placed on them by their campuses and in the home.

So, to get to the "root" of this data, TBOOK commissioned a broadcast story in Birmingham, Alabama. A doctoral candidate (at the time) at the University of Alabama was conducting her own research to understand African American undergraduate women's perceptions of a graduate degree in the sciences. The study was done at an HBCU. Her findings support the earlier study we just mentioned, and point to systemic failures in higher education that could be impacting students' feelings about pursuing advanced degrees.

In this TBOOK exclusive, Steve Chiotakis reports from Alabama. (14:01)

** A Story Footnote **
The researcher we featured in our story, Ramona Hart, has now graduated and received her degree. Dr. Hart remains at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

** Listeners and Program Directors please note. If you would like to hear this story again, or other stories like it, simply visit our website: www.womeninscience.org and click on The Sounds of Progress button.

Plus, for a limited time, FREE CDs of this National Science Foundation supported series are still available by going to our exclusive place on the web - Women in Science.org.

KNOWLEDGE DIVERSITY -

From Birmingham, Alabama we travel now to Kentucky as our recognition of diversity during this Black History Month continues.

Kentucky's school population is getting more and more varied. At last count, over 6,000 immigrant children were enrolled in public schools, speaking 96 native languages.

Change is welcomed by many administrators, teachers, and students but for others acceptance of students who are "different" is a challenge.

Ron Smith reports for TBOOK from Kentucky. (4:07)

**(Attention All TBOOK stations, programmers, and listeners. The complete listings of our five National Science Foundation series, are available to hear for free online by going to our dedicated website: www.womeninscience.org. At that same site, you may also download a podcast version for your own personal use.)**

** FREE CDs**
LISTENERS PLEASE NOTE. FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, FREE CD SETS OF OUR HIGHLY ACCLAIMED RECENT NSF SERIES, "THE SOUNDS OF PROGRESS", ARE NOW AVAILABLE BY CALLING NELL BRADY AT 800-323-9262, EXT. 169, OR EMAILING HER AT nbrady@wamc.org. GET THEM NOW BEFORE THEY RUN OUT.

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