CRA Bulletin

April 11, 2003

• Community Mourns Death of Anita Borg
• PhD CS&CE Enrollments Increase but Degree Production Lowest Since 1989
• Growth in Graduate Enrollment in Computer Sciences
• Freshmen's Interest in Computer Science Drops
• NSF Reports on Academic R&D Expenditures for Fiscal Year 2001
• R&D Growth Expected to Slow in 2002
• Fulbright Scholar Grants for Computer Science: August 1 Deadline
• NSF CISE Rekindles Newsletter
• ITAA IT Workforce Convocation: May 5
• Cognitive Systems Workshop: June 30-July 2

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Community Mourns Death of Anita Borg

Anita Borg died Sunday, April 6. From the Institute for Women and Technology (IWT) website:

Anita Borg received a Ph.D. in computer science from the Courant Institute at New York University in 1981. In 1987 while attending a major industry conference, she realized there were only a handful of women attending. She pulled that small group together and started Systers, an e-mail list and information-sharing community providing mentors, support and encouragement to women in computing. Today, Systers has grown to include over 2,500 women in 38 countries. In 1994, Dr. Borg co-founded the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, inspired by the legacy of Navy Admiral Grace Murray Hopper. Held biennially, the conference brings the research and career interests of women in computing to the forefront. Today it is the largest gathering of Women in Computing in the world. In 1997, Dr. Borg left the industry to found and lead the IWT. Besides assuming responsibility for existing programs - including Systers and the Grace Hopper Celebrations - IWT is an experimental research and development organization focused on increasing the impact of women on technology, as well as heightening the positive impact of technology on women around the world. In 1999, President Clinton appointed Anita to the Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology. In 2002 she received the Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy and Employment.

PhD CS&CE Enrollments Increase but Degree Production Lowest Since 1989

Approximately 849 computer science and computer engineering (CS&CE) doctorates were awarded by U.S. and Canadian schools in 2002, according to the latest results of the Computing Research Association's Taulbee Survey. This is the lowest number of doctorates granted since 1989. 

At the same time, total Ph.D. enrollment increased 14% between 2000/2001 and 2001/2002, with the number of new students increasing by 22%.

Total enrollments in Bachelor's and Master's programs at the Ph.D.-granting schools surveyed also increased, as did the number of degrees that Bachelor's programs granted. Enrollment in Bachelor's programs increased 11%, while enrollment in Master's programs grew by 21%. The number of Bachelor's degrees granted increased by 21%, while the number awarded by Master's programs decreased by 4%. 

The number of new undergraduates entering CS&CE programs declined slightly in 2002/2003, as it did the previous year. This follows significant increases over the previous several years, and suggests that there may be a slowdown in Bachelor's production in a few years.

For the first time since 1989/1990, more doctorate recipients found first employment within academia rather than outside it (i.e., in industry, government, or self-employment). The past several years saw steady growth in the proportion of doctorates going into academia, with a significant increase in 2001/2002.

The full results of the Taulbee Survey, with student and faculty demographic information, as well as faculty salaries and degree production, can be found at www.cra.org/statistics/

Growth in Graduate Enrollment in Computer Sciences

Computer sciences experienced the greatest growth in graduate enrollment (10%) among science and engineering fields between 2000 and 2001, according to a recent National Science Foundation (NSF) InfoBrief.

Approximately 429,500 graduate students were enrolled in science and engineering programs in fall 2001. Although this represented a 4% increase from the fall 2000 number, this was still below the 1993 peak of approximately 435,700.

An increase of students with temporary visas accounts for much of the recent increases in graduate enrollment. The increase for such students was greatest in computer sciences (16%). The number of computer sciences graduate students with temporary visas rose 133% between 1994 and 2001, with the result that students with temporary visas now make up almost half of graduate students in computer sciences and in engineering.

The complete InfoBrief can be found at www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/infbrief/nsf03315/start.htm

Freshmen's Interest in Computer Science Drops

Only 2.2% of incoming freshmen in 2002 indicated that they planned to major in computer science, a drop from 3.3% in 2001 and 3.7% in 2000, according to the results of a survey that are summarized in a recent issue of CPST Comments. Only 0.7% of women planned to major in computer science, compared to 4.2% of men.

The results of the survey are summarized in the March 2003 issue of the Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology's CPST Comments, which is currently unavailable online. The survey itself, The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 2002, is available for a fee at www.gseis.ucla.edu/heri/heri.html

NSF Reports on Academic R&D Expenditures for Fiscal Year 2001

Highlights include:

• Total R&D expenditures for computer sciences at universities and colleges were $953.8 million in 2001.
• Ranked by expenditures, the top ten institutions accounted for 47% of computer sciences R&D. 
• R&D in computer sciences represent 2.9% of total science and engineering R&D expenditures at universities and colleges.
• Computer sciences received 3.35% of total Federal funding for science and engineering R&D at universities and colleges in 2001. 
• Science and engineering fields at universities and colleges received 59% of their R&D funding from the Federal government. Computer sciences, however, received 67% of its R&D funding from the Federal government.

The full report, Academic Research and Development Expenditures: Fiscal Year 2001, can be found at www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/nsf03316/start.htm

R&D Growth Expected to Slow in 2002

Preliminary data suggest that national research and development (R&D) expenditures will grow 2.4% in real terms between 2001 and 2002, to $291.7 billion, according to a recent NSF InfoBrief. Real growth had already slowed to an estimated 4% between 2000 and 2001, after an average annual growth rate of 5.8% between 1994 and 2000.

It is estimated that the United States will spend 2.79% of its GDP on R&D in 2002. In 2000, the United States spent 2.69% of its GDP on R&D. This compares to rates of 2.98% spent by Japan, 1.88% by the European Union, and 1.84% by Canada.

Between 1988 and 2000, the Federal share of R&D funding dropped from 45.1% to 25%--the lowest it has been since the start of the time series in 1953. Between 2000 and 2002, however, Federal R&D support is expected to have risen 8.7% per year. In 2002, this translates into $81 billion, or 27.8% of R&D funding.

It is estimated that universities and colleges performed 12.9% of national R&D in 2002. Approximately 60% of R&D funding at these schools came from from the Federal government, 27% from universities, colleges, state and local governments; and 6% from industry.

The complete InfoBrief can be found at www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/infbrief/nsf03307/start.htm

Fulbright Scholar Grants for Computer Science: August 1 Deadline

The Council for International Exchange Scholars is offering lecturing, research and lecturing/research awards for computer science professionals and faculty for the 2004-2005 academic year. Awards for both faculty and professionals range from two months to an academic year. While many awards specify project and host institution, there are a number of open "All Disciplines" awards that allow candidates to propose their own project and determine their host institution affiliation. Most Fulbright lecturing assignments are in English.

More information can be found at www.cies.org

NSF CISE Rekindles Newsletter

After an absence of several years, the NSF's Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate is again providing a quarterly newsletter to inform the community of new CISE programs, NSF-wide programs of interest, personnel changes, and other news in the in the directorate.

ITAA IT Workforce Convocation: May 5

The Information Technology Association of America will hold its sixth annual National IT Workforce Convocation, May 5, 2003, in Arlington, Virginia. The one-day Convocation will bring together leaders from industry, education, and government to discuss ways to continue strengthening America's IT workforce. In addition, the event will highlight effective programs nationwide that are expanding IT education and training opportunities. Featured conference tracks this year will be: Strengthening the IT Education/Training Pipeline, Diversity in IT, and e-Learning Practices.

More information about the event can be found at itaa.org/events/event.cfm?EventID=563

Cognitive Systems Workshop: June 30-July 2

Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico are co-hosting a workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to explore current thinking and activities with regard to the understanding of cognitive systems. Topics to be addressed in the workshop include: differentiation between cognitive, AI, and expert systems, as well as other related fields; ongoing research and developments in cognitive systems; principles in conceptualization and design of cognitive systems; and opportunities for the advancement of cognitive systems.

The keynote speaker will be Ronald J. Brachman, Director of the Information Processing Technology Office at DARPA.

More information about the conference is at www.unm.edu/cognitive_systems/

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