Internships in the acoustical disciplines: How can we attract a more diverse student population?

Abstract

A problem that many professional scientific organizations are tackling now, including the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) and the Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE), is the lack of diversity in our current membership. As the chair of INCE’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, we are exploring ways to engage with a more diverse student population for both internships as well as fulltime employees after graduation. In 2021, the National Science Foundation (NSF) published Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering, which provides statistical information about the participation of these three groups in science and engineering education and employment. In order to have a plan as to how to proceed engaging with students, this document provides a good benchmark as to the current enrollment in the United States. This presentation explores methods that INCE’s DEI committee is implementing to reach out to students and connect them with companies and industries in acoustics and noise control engineering who can make internships possible.