Women in Physics in China Chinese Physical Society, Beijing, China

1. Women in Physics in China Chinese Physical Society, Beijing, China IUPAP International Conference on Women in PhysicsParis, France March 7-9, 2002

2. Since the early 20th century Chinese women physicists including Chien-Shiung Wu and Xi-De Xie have played a vital role in advancing the cause of physics throughout China and the world. In the last decades the number of women on the mainland choosing physics as a career has risen dramatically but is still behind the other sciences, and has also been affected by social and political factors. Although absolute numbers are high, the ratio compared to men, especially in higher ranking positions, is still low. Moreover, in recent years the ratio in research is even gradually decreasing. This contrasts with the ratio in physics teaching, which has remained more or less constant. There is still much that we should do to encourage girls to study physics, and to improve conditions for women to enter research and leading university positions.

3. Women 20.8% Men The Chinese Physical Society Membership in 2001 Associate Professor 17.8% Female membership Professor 5.1%

4. Chinese Academy of Sciences (1997) Total Female Personnel 23,073 / 68,292 ~33.8% Scientific and Technical Personnel 45,124   Senior level 16,618   Middle level 18,397   Junior level 10,109 Administrative Staff 7,597 Workers 15,571 Female Physics Full Prof. in research 100 / 1,377 Female Physics Full Prof. in administration 21 / 541

5. Ratio of Women Awarded NNSF Grants in Physics in 1986-2000 Number Age

6. The percentage of women is going down!

7. Physics Faculty in Shanghai Jiaotong University female assistant professors 5% male assistant professors 14% male professors 38% female associate professors 10% female professors 1% male associate professors 32%

8. Male Master Candidates Female Master Candidates Male Doctor Candidates Female Doctor Candidates Percentage of Female Graduate Students in All Subjects in Shanghai Ten thousand Physics Graduate Enrollment (MS) in Shanghai JiaoTong University

9. Physics Undergraduate Enrollment in Shanghai JiaoTong University

10. Physics Undergraduate Enrollment in Nanjing University The ratio of female undergraduates in many physics departments is low and erratic.

11. Physics Undergraduate Enrollment in Beijing Normal University The ratio of female physics undergraduates in normal universities is not so low, though still erratic.

12. Our Recommendations • Organize physics and applied physics competition programs specially for girls in secondary schools • Encourage girls in secondary schools to participate in creative activities and inventions in the physical sciences • Departments of physics should provide more chances for girl students who are interested in physics

13. Our Recommendations • Women professors and scientists in physics should give stronger support to young women in their research Ling-An Wu, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Yi-Cheng Xie, Beijing Polytechnic University Min Wang, Experimental Senior School Attached to Beijing Normal Univ. Yan-Lai Yan, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Man-Ling Sui, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Hong Zhang, China Association for Science and Technology Shu-Qin Tian, Chinese Physical Society, Beijing, China