A new journal from Taylor and Francis includes an article by Max M Houck of West Virginia University, investigating the reasons why women outnumber men in forensic science programmes.
The article, entitled 'Is Forensic Science a Gateway for Women in Science?' and appearing in 'Forensic Science Policy and Management: An International Journal' also considers how forensic science can attract more women to other fields of science.
Houck co-edits the journal alongside Jay A Siegel of Indiana University - Purdue University.
Houck contrasts the large number of women in forensic science with the lack of women in other scientific fields.
He cites a survey of accredited forensic science educational programmes in which 78 per cent of students were female, compared to a 35 per cent average for non-forensic science bachelor's degrees.
While women have the ability to pursue science at the university level, many gravitate towards other professions, such as law.
The high proportion of women in forensic science, however, bucks the trend.
Houck cites four reasons ascertained from responses from female students in accredited forensic science programmes - early exposure to, support for, and love of science in school; the popularity of forensic science as a good career; seeing forensic science as a way to improve society and to help others; and a personal trauma or event (like 11 September 2001) that inspired the student.
Houck also cites the media's contribution to attracting women to the field.
He said: 'In the 1990s, women and minorities were underrepresented as leads in television series with a scientific theme; the current spate of crime scene investigation dramas, however, have generally improved this representation, as shown in this article.' Houck says other scientific fields can learn from the reasons for forensic science's popularity.
He added: 'Traditional science programmes can learn from forensic science how to attract females and make their professions more open to them.'
