Dean, a senior science adviser with Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC with a long and varied background in studies of chemistry and microbiology, told the gathering that ‘‘(women) might not always be able to do something about glass ceilings” but that they should always be able to manage to escape ‘‘sticky floors” in progressing to their potentials.

‘‘Glass ceilings may just be there in some workplaces and they are often hard to break,” she explained. ‘‘But sticky floors can be overcome, especially (in science and technology) with good mentoring experiences and networking.”

The biochemical endocrinologist touted the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) as one place for such opportunities.

‘‘AWIS is the longest serving association for women with scientific degrees,” she noted. ‘‘It was founded back in the late 1960s to bring pressure on the National Institute of Health to employ more women in science in the health and medical fields. Incidentally, AWIS got pro bono advice on suits filed back then by a lawyer named Ruth Bader Ginsburg.”

Dean went on to say that the organization is one of the ‘‘loudest voices of all women in science” and explained AWIS’s emphasis on: ‘‘ABCs—for Advocacy in education, Breaking down barriers, as well as Career development for women and Capacity building.”

‘‘Women in science today still only make 77 percent of the salary of men and less than 25 percent are in the fields of science and engineering,” she said, ‘‘but progress is being made by groups like AWIS because of success in debunking old myths.”

One of the most prevailing myths that remains, she said, is in the nation’s schools where it is believed, ‘‘girls just can’t do math as well as boys can.”

She also pointed out myths about minority women in science and technology and blamed some of the biases existing on ‘‘the language of science.” The explanation she used was a true experience about the use of ‘‘master and slave” terminology that a university professor made in detailing how certain microbiological units worked together. ‘‘One of the best graduate students in the class then was an African-American woman and told the professor that she wouldn’t be taking the advanced course offered because of that language,” Dean said.

Dean also noted cultural barriers to getting more minority women in science and technology.

‘‘Culture eats strategy for lunch,” she said. ‘‘It is very difficult for instance to get Native Americans into medical science because of cultural beliefs prohibiting biological research on living things...Native Americans do much better in engineering, chemistry or physics because of their cultural heritage,” she said. ‘‘Also, we have found that Hispanic girls do far better in science when their mothers are interested.”

Dean, a native of Kentucky, is an undergraduate (chemistry) of Brea College and received her doctorate in biochemistry from Duke University. She also completed a senior management program from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She has been a senior scholar in residence at the National Academy of Engineering and a senior adviser for engineering to the directory of the National Institutes of Health focusing on policies and projects. Additionally, she has served as a leader on scientific and technical workforce issues involving women, minorities and people with disabilities. Her current activities include the presidency of AWIS and membership on a committee for science, engineering and public policy of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The e-mail address for women interested in more information about AWIS is: localAWIS@connect.com

Dean was part of a two-part series NSWCDD is holding in observance of Women’s History Month. The series continues on March 26 as Dr. Rosalyn Hobson will speak on the Society of Women Engineers.