A new national survey highlights how U.S. women and minority scientists were discouraged from pursuing STEM Careers.

40% of today's women and underrepresented minority chemists and chemical engineers in the United States say they were discouraged from pursuing a STEM career (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) at some point in their lives, according to a new Bayer Corporation survey.

The study, commissioned by the Bayer Corporation, a US subsidiary of Bayer AG, the German international health care, nutrition and high-tech materials group, was conducted by Pittsburgh-based research firm Campos Inc., and polled a total of 1,226 Caucasian women, Asian women, African-American men, African-American women, Hispanic men, Hispanic women, American Indian men and American Indian women.

According to the survey, 60% of respondents cited U.S. colleges as the leading place in the American education system where discouragement happens, while 44% saw their college professors as the individuals who were most likely responsible for the discouragement.

The U.S. K-12 education system was also deemed as falling short with survey respondents on average giving it a "D" for the job it does to encourage minorities to study STEM subjects and a "D+" for girls.

The Bayer Facts of Science Education XIV survey polled 1,226 female, African-American, Hispanic and American Indian chemists and chemical engineers about their childhood, academic and workplace experiences that play a role in attracting and retaining women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.

"If we want to achieve true diversity in America's STEM workforce, we must first understand the root causes of under-representation and the ongoing challenges these groups face," said Greg Babe, President and CEO, Bayer Corporation. "We want to knock down barriers. If we can do that, we'll be able to develop the attitudes, behaviours, opportunities and resources that lead to success."

Some of the key findings from the study included:

"This and previous Bayer Facts surveys confirm something I've long known – that interest in science is genderless and colourless," said Dr. Mae C. Jemison, astronaut, medical doctor, chemical engineer and Bayer's long-time Making Science Make Sense® spokesperson, about the survey.

According to the Jemison, the first Black astronaut in the United States, "all children have an innate interest in science and the world around them. But for many children, that interest hits roadblocks along an academic system that is still not blind to gender or colour.

"These roadblocks have nothing to do with intellect, innate ability or talent," she said. "On the contrary, they are the kinds of larger, external socio-cultural and economic forces that students have no control over. As students, they cannot change the fact that they do not have access to quality science and math education in their schools. But adults can. And we must."