To reach the stars, you need to aim high

BGSU AIMS to Spark Interest in Careers in Math, Science

BY RYAN E. SMITH
BLADE STAFF WRITER

BOWLING GREEN- Dr. T. Carter Gilmer knows how unusual it is to be a black scientist.

The numbers roll quickly off his tongue: Nationally, there were 17 new black PhD chemists in 1990.  There were 46 new PhDs in 1999, less than one per state.  But he knows it can be done- he received his doctorate in chemistry in 1971- and he has a message for today’s students.

“I did it.  This is a feasible route,” he says.  “This is a doable route.  Let’s do it together.”

Dr. Gilmer is the director of a new program at Bowling Green State University that encourages women and minority students to pursue degrees and careers in math and science.  Called AIMS, or Academic Investment in Math and Science, the initiative offers a mix of intensive summer classes, mentoring, and scholarships to women and students of color who have shown ability in math, computer science, and the natural sciences.  It is modeled on a successful program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Dr. Gilmer said.

Ten students- eight women and two men- are taking part in the first phase of AIMS, a five-week summer program on campus that ends Aug. 11.  The incoming freshmen, who had a minimum high school grade point average of 3.0, study math and science, allowing them to add to their knowledge, meet faculty, and hopefully pass introductory classes.  The students also visit local professionals who have made careers out of the subjects.  Yesterday, they toured the BASF Corp. plant in Whitehouse, which develops automotive refinishing paint.

“It’s intense,” said Ashley Stephens, 18, of Toledo.  “I’ll be ahead of most freshmen.” 

“It was a chance to get a head start,” added Aiesha Minor, 17, of Cleveland.

Once fall semester classes begin, the AIMS program will include mentoring, as well as yearly scholarships of $1,500 that may be renewed.  Participants who complete the summer sessions will receive a $500 stipend as well.

The challenge of graduating women and minorities in math and science is a national one.  In 1995, women accounted for 51 percent of the U.S. population by only 22 percent of scientist and engineers in the workforce, according to Bill Noxon, a spokesman for the National Science Foundation in Virginia.  Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans made up 23 percent of the workforce, but only 6 percent of scientists and engineers, he said.

“We lose a lot of women in the mentoring process,” Mr. Noxon said.  “We don’t mentor them well.  We don’t encourage them.  You could say it’s also true for minorities to some extent,’ he said.

At BGSU, 58 percent of the student body is female, but women account for only 33 percent of undergraduate degrees in math and science.  Minorities constitute 6 percent of graduates in those areas but are almost 9 percent of the student population.

“Our program is aimed at increasing those numbers,” Dr. Gilmer said.  “It’s hard work, but it’s fun work.”

Toledo Blade- 8/2/01
Section 2. Page 1

For additional information contact: T. Carter Gilmer, Ph.D. Director of AIMS Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 cgilmer@bgnet.bgsu.edu (419) 372-0471

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Last update - June 28, 2006