Overview

• Only 23% of bachelor’s and doctoral computer science degrees and 18% of full professorships are held by women, with representation declining since the 1980s.
• Faculty surveys across top U.S. departments show applied researchers are rated lower for brilliance and technical skill despite equal recognition of their work’s importance.
• Analysis of publication, funding, and award data confirms that applied research yields fewer opportunities and accolades than theoretical work.
• Interdisciplinary programs that boosted female enrollment by showcasing real-world applications are undermined by institutional biases against applied scholarship.
• Kleinberg calls for overhauling university evaluation, promotion, and tenure criteria to ensure equal value for applied and theoretical contributions.