Minorities In Science Essay Research Paper The

Minorities In Science Essay, Research Paper

The Issues of Minorities and Science

There are many issues in today.s scientific world. Some of these issues involve dealing with saving the world from global disaster, or even finding a cure for cancer. However, not many people have taken time to look at the scientists making these discoveries. White male scientists consistently have higher paying, more prestigious jobs than most minorities in their field. Science is a field that is ruled primarily by white males, and it requires careful attention paid to issues dealing with finding a way to balance the problem.

When dealing with the concern of minorities in science, one has to look back at the education of the individual involved. For example, from 1992 to 1997, the enrollment of African-Americans in American colleges and universities dropped approximately 17 percent (Campbell .Issues. 21). Advanced degree programs have also been declining. The enrollment rate for African-Americans in these programs dropped an astounding 21.8 percent in 1996 (Campbell .Issues. 21). There was also a 19.3 percent drop in the enrollment of Latinos in these advanced degree programs (Campbell .Issues. 21).

Now the question that must be answered is, .Why is there such a drop in enrollment.. Campbell believes one reason is due to lack of financial funding (.Issues. 22). Campbell also stated that the Task Force on Minority Participation in Engineering called for a minimum of $36.1 million a year to help create parity, but only produced 40 percent of that projected funding (.Issues. 22). Another reason for the decline in the number of minorities entering science-related fields is the fact that only a small percentage of entering freshmen obtain a degree in the major they choose. For example, it is estimated that only 36 percent of entering freshman majoring in engineering will actually earn a degree in the proclaimed area (Campbell .Issues. 22). This is astonishing when reviewing the economic prospects students have after obtaining a degree in the engineering field. It is estimated that an electrical engineer makes approximately $43,000 a year (Hansen 7). Chemical engineers are even better off, earning approximately $45,000 a year (Hansen 7). It is important to realize that these starting salaries are higher than the starting salaries of most other graduates, but the number of minorities exiting colleges and universities with a degree in the engineering field continues to decline.

Lack of encouragement is another reason minorities do not pursue degrees in science, or in some cases, even pursue a college degree. In the case of Tillie, a character in Paul Zindel.s The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, she was faced with harassment from her classmates and sister (15). Add to this the strong lack of encouragement from Tillie.s mother, and it is a wonder how Tillie could even keep her goals in line (Zindel 9).

The story of Tillie begins with Beatrice (Tillie.s mother) speaking to Mr. Goodman, Tillie.s science teacher (Zindel 3). Tillie.s mother has had all of her hopes crushed, but she does have some .fight. left in her, much of which is spent on wreaking vengeance on everyone around her (Oliver 409). Mr. Goodman is concerned with Tillie.s attendance (Zindel 3). Tillie is often absent from school, primarily due to Beatrice keeping her from attending. Mr. Goodman wants to know if there are any problems (Zindel 6). Tillie.s mother yells at Tillie, stating she is attempting to embarrass her (Zindel 7). As the story progresses, Tillie and her teacher do an experiment by exposing man-in-the-moon marigolds to gamma rays. Tillie brings the marigolds home to chart their growth for a science fair project (Zindel 24). Tillie.s experiment takes her to the finals of her school.s science fair competition, yet as the evening approaches, Tillie.s mother decides not to attend (Zindel 89). Tillie goes on to win the science fair without the support of her mother (Zindel 99).

What needs to be taken from this story. Tillie, a girl who loves science, never has the support she should be receiving from her family. If minorities are going to thrive in the field of science, student support is necessary. Family members, as well as teachers and other education faculty must be encouraging.

Bertolt Brecht wrote the play, Galileo. The play is set in the seventeenth century, a time when the concept of women in science was unheard of. The play began with Galileo in his lab having a discussion about the planets with the son of his housekeeper (Brecht 47). Galileo then moved on to involve the curator of the local college paying a visit (Brecht 50). Galileo wanted more funding, but the curator refused (Brecht 53). As a result, Galileo had to tutor students to make ends meet (Brecht 52). As the play developed further, Galileo and his student made discoveries of the heavens and took these findings to the church (Brecht 59). Galileo was confronted by much questioning, which mainly involved the question of why he would go against the Bible and make such accusations (Brecht 79). Eventually, Galileo was placed under permanent house arrest for consistently defying the church (Brecht 116). However, his findings did not remain locked up by the church. In the end, Galileo rewrote his discoveries, and gave them to a student to introduce in Amsterdam where scientists were allowed