“Intimidation is a big problem,” McKinley said. “There are people who come in who are physics olympic medalists.”

As a result of this, Nowski said that Harvard students are unwilling to experiment with outside subjects related to their concentration.

“You are pigeon-holed when you come to Harvard,” Nowski said. “Science people say that they can’t write papers, and humanities people think they can’t do science.”

These issues, combined with science courses’ incompatibility with a study abroad program, are the leading reasons why fewer women declare concentrations in science at the end of freshman year, according to Li,

To help attract female concentrators, students suggested class activities such as an ice cream social for Chemistry 5 students.

Other options that the students discussed included starting an early mentorship programs for female freshmen considering the sciences.

Previously, WISHR has also discussed ways to streamline funding for summer housing for women working in laboratory research, an issue Summers and Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross ’71 have agreed to look into, according to Limor S. Spector ’07, secretary of WISHR.