Characteristics of the U.S. workforce have changed substantially in recent decades. Yet, certain groups remain underrepresented in the fields of science and engineering. In particular, percentages of women, persons with disabilities, African Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians or Alaska Natives receiving degrees and obtaining employment in these fields are not proportional to their makeup in the U.S. population.

According to the National Science Foundation's recent 2015 report Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering (http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2015/nsf15311/digest/nsf15311-digest.pdf), there are some encouraging trends. More women enroll in college than men and undergraduate students are more and more diverse. Unfortunately, for many women and minorities, the challenges of continuing a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) often come later in life. The bottleneck, where representation and diversity in science and engineering decline, occurs after the days of undergraduate and graduate schooling are over.

UNT Geography's Dr. Lisa Nagaoka examines the challenges that women in STEM face, the trials and successes, in her new book Breaking In. Breaking In (Stylus Publishing) provides a personal look at the challenges of women PhDs in STEM disciplines through the stories of eight women scientists who have achieved successful careers in the academy, industry and government. Research on women in science is reviewed to provide context for the issues illustrated in the women's stories.

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