Gender Gap in the Sciences Women and girls made significant progress in the sciences over the last two decades, particularly in medicine and the biological sciences. But women’s gains have stalled—and in some cases eroded—in engineering and computer sciences. These are among the findings of a report released by the National Council for Research on Women. The publication of Balancing the Equation: Where Are Women and Girls in Science, Engineering and Technology?, which notes the many reasons to advance women in the sciences and mentions MHC, was launched with a press conference July 17. The event included retired astronaut Sally Ride and Rita Colwell, director of the National Science Foundation and MHC 2001 honorary degree recipient, among other experts, speaking about the issues covered in the report. In a section that discusses challenges to affirmative action and the need to find new ways to address race and gender imbalance, the report says, “Criticism from affirmative action opponents has already led to a healthy de-emphasis of SAT scores at several institutions … Following the lead of Mount Holyoke and other small colleges, the president of the University of California recently proposed ending the use of SATs as a requirement altogether. ‘There has been a kind of reductionism in higher education, reducing students to numbers, reducing institutions to numbers,’ commented Mount Holyoke President Joanne V. Creighton.” The report calls for a national commitment to remove the persistent barriers and glass ceilings facing women and girls in the sciences. The Five College Women’s Studies Research Center is featured in the book’s resource guide.

In Memoriam Mary Higley Mills ’21 A memorial service for Mary Higley Mills ’21 (1898–2001), alumnae secretary of the Alumnae Association (1926–1966), will be held Friday, September 7, at noon in Abbey Chapel. A reception will follow at the Willits-Hallowell Center.

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