A panel sponsored by Women in Science at Harvard-Radcliffe (WISHR) discussed last night why women are noticeably absent in the fields of engineering and computer science.

About 30 students attended the event, the first in a three-part series entitled, "The Rare Woman Scientist."

The series is funded by the Radcliffe Union of Students.

The panel included Lisa Drake, an environmental engineer; Penny Ellard '88, a project manager and software engineer at Bolt, Beranek and New-man, a computer technology firm; and Lorna Gibson, an MIT materials engineer professor.

"Although the WISHR constituency does include many pre-meds, we did want to address the needs of female science concentrators who are not pre-med, [such as engineering and computer science students], said Caroline L. Kung '00, WISHR co-president.

"Generally, people tend to perceive thatconcentrators in science are necessarily pre-med.We want to [show] that there are alternate sciencecareers that can be equally rewarding," she said.

Panelists linked the lack of women in scienceto differences between how men and women aretreated in the classroom and the specialchallenges that they face when playing the rolesof both career scientist and mother.

In the classroom, "girls get used to beingquiet...boys tend to be active and vocal," Drakesaid.

And large classes discourage all students fromasking questions in lecture, Gibson said.

Between high school and college, the number ofwomen taking science classes drops, said Jaime K.Chambron '99, panel mediator and co-director ofWISHR's speakers' panel committee.

After college, women face difficult logisticalchallenges, Gibson said, while trying to balancegetting a degree, finding a job and raising afamily.

The panelists said that companies can encouragewomen to get back into science by continuing toimprove policies, like maternity leave, thataffect women.

Said Ellard, "I think companies are becomingmore aware."

In the meantime, Drake encouraged college womento "stay involved in groups. Find ways to networkand get experience."

WISHR claims 150 active members. The groupmeets monthly.

Co-President Christine M. Pui '99 said shehopes these events help make WISHR "a morecohesive group."

"We want it to become more of an organization"than an e-mail list, she said.

The next panel will be held Tuesday