Blacks 



Background. 



Blacks comprise only 2 percent of 

 all employed scientists and engi- 

 neers, even though they are 12 

 percent of the general population. 

 They earn 5 percent of the bacca- 

 laureates and 1 percent of the 

 Ph.D.s in science and engineering. 

 In 1988 only 47 U.S. Blacks 

 earned science Ph.D.s; only 15 

 earned Ph.D.s in engineering. 

 Black participation in science and 

 engineering has risen since the 

 1970s, when minority engineering 

 programs were launched by sev- 

 eral institutions. Black women 

 earn more bachelors' degrees in 

 science than Black men, but only 

 a third as many bachelors' de- 

 grees in engineering. 



The Pipeline. 



Many Blacks turn away from 

 science and mathematics courses 

 early in life, partly because most 

 go to large city schools where 

 education is often poor. In 1986. 

 the 25 largest U.S. school districts 

 were 45 percent Black. Large 

 urban school districts must be 

 helped to prepare Black young 

 people for careers in science and 

 engineering. Financial limitations 

 also deter Blacks from pursuing 

 higher education as many avoid 

 the prospect of assuming college 

 loans which can equal their fami- 

 lies' entire incomes. Most who do 

 earn advanced degrees did their 

 undergraduate work at Histori- 

 cally Black Colleges and Universi- 

 ties. 



Scientists and Engineers Needed 



Bachelors' Degrees 



Received 

 1987 



Doctorate Degrees 



Received 

 1987 



3 f®t 



r- 



Needed Per Year 



(1990-2000) 



®tf* h A h A 



Needed Per Year 

 (1990-2000) 



' h = 



- 5000 Students 



J** = 100 Students 



20 



