Gender Gaps at the Academies

This project investigates why women remain underrepresented in science, focusing specifically on whether biased recognition of female research talent contributes to this gap. Limited recognition—combined with a shortage of female role models—may discourage women from pursuing scientific careers. To examine potential biases, the study analyzes elections to two of the most prestigious U.S. scientific academies: the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Using detailed measures of research productivity for active scholars in Economics, Psychology, and Mathematics, the project addresses two core questions: (1) Do women face higher barriers to academic recognition, even when controlling for scientific output? and (2) Are such biases stronger in fields where women are particularly underrepresented?