• Provide guidelines and resources for developing high quality research and evaluation studies for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career and workforce mentoring.

• Highlight resources for STEM mentoring, including guides and web sites.

• Disseminate announcements about mentoring awards and funding opportunities.

Mentoring matters. Mentoring is often cited as a critical factor in:

• Programs to increase the participation of groups traditionally underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

• The decision of undergraduate students to pursue graduate education in STEM, particularly students who participate in undergraduate research programs.

• The retention of students in STEM doctoral programs.

• Promotion and advancement of employees in academia, government, and industry.

However, from focus groups with selected recipients of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) and the AAAS Mentor Awards, college and university students and others, we learned that (a) the definitions and perceptions of mentoring (Part 1 and Part 2) varied widely; (b) STEM mentoring often lacks a clear focus; and (c) we need more high quality research studies on STEM career and workforce mentoring.

Selected leaders identified strategies for bringing increased attention to the need for (a) mentoring and (b) high quality research related to STEM career and workforce mentoring. Recommendations were developed for professional societies, foundations, and college and university departments. Our ongoing work will include developing a coalition of professional societies and others to foster STEM career and workforce mentoring and research. ]]> http://ehrweb01.aaas.org/sciMentoring/index.php/2008/12/science-mentoring/feed/