But Chao also stressed that the challenges women face in science will not go away.
"Undergraduates might not understand it now because the issue is not pressing, but it hits hard. There are CEO's and full professors at top institutions who say they face discrimination and are extraordinarily disappointed. They're happy with the work they're doing, but not with the situation," she said.
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The sponsors of the conference included the Departments of Physics, Mathematics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Psychology and Women's Studies; University Health Services; Kaplan; the Harvard College Observatory; the Institute of Politics; and the Ann Radcliffe Trust.