National Science Foundation & women.

With a projected shortage of people to help the National Science Foundation reach its goal "to promote the progress of science" in the United States, the agency is looking at new strategies to carry out its mission.

Dr. Rita R. Colwell, director of the agency since 1998, discussed how the agency uses its $5 billion budget to meet new challenges of a global, security-conscious, yet competitive society. The information below is based on her interview with Frank Matthews, editor of Black Issues in Higher Education, in its March 13, 2003 issue.

Dr. Colwell said getting more women in science is important, and the agency has established a National Science Foundation Academy to help competent scientists develop a career path. There they develop skills in accounting, computers, management and other areas so they can run a program, division or agency. She hopes industry will also establish such an academy.

Formal mentoring is absolutely essential, she said, especially programs that assign mentors, not just rely on informal relationships.

Community colleges are a "wonderful human resource," which the NSF has discovered to be a great source of women and minorities, she said. The agency is planning to increase funding for community colleges because they are a great resource for serving these underrepresented groups.

In addition, the NSF is encouraging four-year colleges to link with community colleges because they are great sources of very talented students ...