Ellen Kullman became the CEO of DuPont on 1 January, making her the first female CEO of a major chemical company. Kullman, who was the first female executive at DuPont,  was named a rising star by Fortune in 2006 and has been with the company for 20 years. She can now count herself as one of only six female CEOs of the Fortune 100 companies. While her appointment should be lauded as a step forward for women in science, it also provides an opportunity to take a broader look at women in the sciences, both in industry and academia.

According to an August C&E News article, the 42 publicly traded chemical companies have 405 directors—12.1% of whom are women. Additionally, only 8.1% of people holding an executive title are women. The Catalyst, an organization devoted to women in business, argues that the position of women in corporate America is stagnant. In 2003 C&E News reported similar data regarding director positions at public chemical companies—only 12.8% were female. Stagnant, indeed.

Between 1985 and 2005 the percentage of women in nonacademic science and engineering positions more than doubled to 26%. The percentage of women earning chemistry degrees is increasing compared with the percentage of men. In 1985 women earned 20% of chemistry Ph.D.s, whereas in 2005 they earned 34%. A huge increase, but still not close to parity.

Unfortunately there is still a deficiency in the percentage of female professors. Donna J. Nelson, a chemistry professor at the University of Oklahoma, conducted survey work that focused on the numbers of female and underrepresented minority professors in chemistry as well as other physical sciences. Despite what universities claim, the numbers do not correspond to fair hiring practices.  The most recent C&E News survey found that only 14 of the top 50 chemistry departments in the country have reached the critical mass of 20% female faculty members. Female students see that, consciously or subconsciously. 

Two recent books, Motherhood, the Elephant in the Laboratory and Who’s Afraid of Marie Curie, detail women’s experiences in the physical sciences. The books provide insight into what real women in a variety of science and engineering fields face. Likewise, in the summer of 2008 CHF began a video oral history program specifically focusing on women in chemistry, exploring the origins of interviewees’ interest and education in science, any obstacles they may have faced, influential figures, inspirational moments, and the ways in which these experiences have shaped their careers.

It is the beginning of a new year, and we have a choice in front of us regarding what we tell young girls and women. Do we tell them statistics about the low numbers of female professors in chemistry? Do we tell them stories of women who struggle in this field yet have found ways to persevere? Or do we tell them of Ellen Kullman, the new CEO of DuPont, and that they too can grow up to be the head of a Fortune 100 chemical giant?

Image courtesy of DuPont.