Hernquist acknowledges the difficulty in trying to change people’s perspectives about the culture at Harvard. “I can only make the promise that the reputation is going to change in the future,” Huth says.

Being seen as what Narayanamurti terms a “collaborative, friendly organization” plays an especially important role in keeping undergraduate and graduate students in their science departments. It also makes female science professors feel comfortable at Harvard.

Departments are pushing for more mentoring programs for women in the sciences. Both the computer science and math departments offer mentoring programs in which undergraduates, graduate students and faculty members participate.

“We have been very active in mentoring all our junior faculty,” Narayanamurti says. “This mentoring is particularly important for women and minorities because they face issues of isolation.”

—Staff writer William C. Marra contributed to the reporting of this story.