An evaluation of the women in science and engineering summer employment program

There are many factors influencing the career choices of young women. At present the combination of personal and societal issues leads both men and women into largely gender-stereotypical occupations. The WISE Summer Employment Program is one initiative designed to encourage girls to consider careers in the fields of science and engineering. Those accepted to the Program are offered positions as research assistants to work side by side with scientists and engineers for eight weeks at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Positive results from a formal evaluation could be beneficial to the WISE Program in determining the strengths of the Program and finding reliable sources of future funding.;Since the Women In Science and Engineering Student Employment Program is designed to encourage young women to consider careers in science, engineering and related disciplines, the research questions to be addressed by this project were as follows: (1) to determine whether the program affected the career choices of young women, (2) to determine whether the program influenced the students' selection of courses in high school, and (3) to determine whether there had been a change in students' attitudes regarding careers in science, engineering and related fields and various issues related to the subject of women in science. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).