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Making Science Make Sense

Bayer Facts of Science Education Survey

Bayer Facts Of Science Eduction XII

New Survey Reveals CEOs of 100 of the Fastest Growing U.S. Science and Technology Companies Fear Rising International Competition for Scientific and Technical Talent

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction and Methodology

The drumbeats of recent national reports and commissions have warned that the U.S. is in danger of relinquishing its role as global leader in science and technology due to a growing shortfall of American scientists and engineers, coupled with increasing competition for these professionals from other countries that are now engaged in their own scientific pursuits.

At the same time, the U.S. has a disappointing track record when it comes to attracting women, African-Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanic Americans — so-called underrepresented minorities — to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM. Recent data published by the Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology show that women comprise only 25 percent of the STEM workforce and minorities have made even fewer gains.

In addition, the country's research universities have come under the microscope recently for lack of diversity among their teaching faculties. In 1999 MIT did its own self-analysis ("A Study on the Status of Women Faculty in Science at MIT") and found significant differences between male and female faculty in terms of salary, distribution of resources, presence in the administration, and general quality of life. In 2003, Dr. Donna Nelson's assessment of the science and engineering faculty at the top 50 research universities found few tenured and tenure-track women faculty in these departments, with the percentage of female full professors ranging from 3 to 15 percent. Dr. Nelson's report, "A National Analysis of Diversity in Science and Engineering Faculty at Research Universities," also found that underrepresented minority women are virtually nonexistent on these faculties.

Some, including the National Science Board, the governing body of the National Science Foundation, argue that if the U.S. could attract more women and minorities to STEM fields and approach parity among these groups, we could resolve the growing talent pool problem and global competitiveness issues simultaneously.

The 2005 Bayer Facts of Science Education survey looked at the issue of diversity in STEM from the parents' perspective. The survey polled a national sample of White, African-American, Hispanic Americans, and Native American parents of school-age boys and girls to measure their awareness of this longstanding workforce underrepresentation, gauge their attitudes about STEM and science literacy, and explore their opinions about the challenges and opportunities for their children in STEM fields.

This year's Bayer Facts survey examines the diversity issue from the point of view of those executives who are leading emerging STEM companies whose vitality and viability depend on a robust and diverse workforce.

Results are based on a telephone poll of 100 CEOs and other C-Level executives of some of the fastest growing U.S. science and technology companies. Each year, Deloitte & Touche, the accounting/consulting firm, ranks the fastest growing technology companies in North America based on revenue growth over five years. The Deloitte & Touche listings from 2001 through 2005 were used to create a master list of U.S. companies, and survey respondents were drawn from this list. ICR also looked up phone numbers for any company that did not have one provided. Prior to being called, CEOs received a letter from Bayer Corporation President and CEO Attila Molnar. The purpose of the letter was to increase the participation rate.

The following summarizes the profile of all CEOs/Executives (n=100) interviewed.
  • Nearly three-quarters (73%) of those surveyed are CEOs/Presidents, while the remaining quarter (27%) are other C-Level executives, including Chief Financial Officers and Chief Technology Officers, among others.

  • Four out of five of those surveyed are male (81%) or Caucasian (78%).

  • The average age of the executives surveyed is 48 years old.

  • Seven in ten (70%) have a graduate degree, while nearly three in five (58%) have a degree in a STEM field.

    The statistical reliability achieved conducting the 100 interviews is a maximum +/- 9.8% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.
The following summarizes the profile of all CEOs/Executives' companies workforce composition.
  • The average number of employees is 160.

  • The average number of employees with STEM experience is 60.

  • The percentage of employees with STEM experience is 60% (average).

  • The percentage of STEM employees who are women is 21% (average).

  • The percentage of STEM employees who are African-American, Native American, or Hispanic American is 10% (average).

  • The percentage of STEM employees who are Asian, including Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Korean, etc. is 13% (average).

  • The average 2005 Total Revenue is $59.8 million.



Sidebar: CEOs on U.S. Science Education, Girls and Minorities
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