[pfreivald]

Don't go too far with that idea. Listen to Richard Feynman talk about trying to encourage both his son and his daughter to pursue science -- it worked for his son, and didn't work for his daughter.

In my family, it worked for some of the boys but not others.

People are different. I'm not convinced that STEM/gender distinctions are all that important, either in recognition or in something that needs remedy. I've got very, very STEM-interested girls in my robotics programs, and I've got boys who I couldn't drag in no matter what.

I think my perspective on this comes from a rather fierce individualism -- peoples is peoples, and likes what they likes. I think it's important to try to get everyone to try new things, just to see if they like them, and to pursue their passions with relentless tenacity -- and I think we should make no distinction based on gender, skin color, creed, geography, socio-economic status, or anything else.