Nature of the Beast?

The National Academy of Sciences inducted 72 new members and 18 foreign associates earlier this month "in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research," it said at the time. Inside Higher Ed points out that only nine of the new members are women. "Advocates for women in science have long complained about the relatively small number of women elected," Inside Higher Ed says, pointing to the Association for Women in Science, "while others have said that this reflects the overall pool of scientists, especially at the senior level." Over at its Web site, the association presents a series of charts to show the ratio of men and women elected to the NAS annually since 1994, and how, based on the number of doctorates awarded to women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, for the most part, far fewer women have been elected to the academy than would have been expected.