This course seeks to provide a multidisciplinary introduction to today’s world and how it came to be. The ecological, technological, and scientific bases of the contemporary world are emphasized. Other themes include humankind’s biological and cultural origins, the Industrial Revolution, today’s global socioeconomic context, challenges to the nation-state, and cultural and gender issues.
This course is a survey of various cultural traditions. Typical study units include Afro-American, Asian, Hispanic, and American ethnic cultures in historical perspective.
The objective of this course is to provide students with a general survey of the field of sociology.This course aims at providing students with a way to think about and understand the social world and one’s place in it.Therefore, the lectures, readings and assignments will focus on understanding the basic social processes and how they can be applied to everyday events, both small and large, both personal and political.
HSS 441:Gender and Race in Science and Engineering
This course discusses important issues related to gender and race in science and engineering (S&E). The issues include S&E as professions and social institutions as well as the experiences of women and minorities as S&E students, professionals, and the users of current science and technologies. In addition, this course explores the current social issues and policy concerns regarding gender and race in science and technology.
School: College of Arts & Letters
Department: Social Sciences
Program: Social Science
Research & Education
Education
Ph.D. Georgia Institute of Technology, Sociology of Science and Technology . 2009
M.S. Georgia Institute of Technology, History and Sociology of Technology and Science. 2007
Ed.M. Boston University, Educational Media and Technology. 2004
B.A. East China Normal University, English. 2000
Research
I am currently co-editing a book (tentatively titled Changing the Face of Engineering: The African American Experience) that examines the experiences of African Americans in engineering. The critical issues that we address in this book include historical background, education (grade school through graduate school), employment, research contributions, honorific recognition, policies and programs to broaden participation, and the outlook for the future.
I am also co-authoring a chapter in this book regarding the Ph.D. experience of African Americans compared to other racial/ethnic groups. This chapter also examines the unique experiences of African American women and men in engineering doctoral education and transition to engineering occupations.
The other project that I am currently working on is a paper that investigates the gender differences in the choice of employment sectors among engineering doctorate recipients.
My research areas include:
Sociology of Science (esp. Science and Engineering Workforces in the U.S. and China)
Gender and Race in Science and Engineering
Higher Education
Innovation and Globalization
Experience & Service
Professional Service
Committee on the Status of Women in Sociology, American Sociological Association. 2012-2014
Reviewer, Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering.
Reviewer, American Journal of Sociology.
Chaired the session on the Sociology of Science and Knowledge at the 77th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association, Los Angeles, CA. 2006
Institutional Service
Academic Operations and Affairs Committee. 2013-present
Committee on Protection of Human Subjects. 2013-present
Library Committee, Stevens Institute of Technology. 2011-2013
Honor Board Advisory Council, Stevens Institute of Technology. 2010-2012
Chair, CAL Major Curriculum Committee, Stevens Institute of Technology. 2010
Judge, the 3rd and 5th annual Science and Technology Ethics Bowl for High School Students. Stevens Institute of Technology. 2010 and 2012
Experience
Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA. Instructor / Research Assistant / Teaching Assistant. Aug. 2004 – Aug. 2009
Siemens Shanghai Mobile Communications Ltd. (now Nokia Siemens Networks), Shanghai, China. July 2000 – Aug. 2003
Achievements & Professional Societies
Grants, Contracts & Funds
Walter B. Jones Foundation Fellowship (Dissertation Fellowship). Georgia Tech. 2008 – 2009
Understanding Interventions Conference Travel Award. The National Academies of Sciences. Washington, D.C. 2008, 2009
The National Science Foundation Travel Award (through the grant of Prof. Susan Cozzens at Georgia Tech). Enschede, the Netherlands. 2008.
The National Academies Travel Award, National Academies. Washington, D.C. 2008
National Summer Data Policy Institute Fellowship. Association for Institutional Research. 2007
Honors & Awards
Certificate of Recognition. Mid-South Sociological Association Meeting. 2008
Professional Societies
American Sociological Association.
Association for Institutional Research.
Pacific Sociological Association.
Mid-South Sociological Association.
Selected Publications
Journals
Tao, Yu. (2011). "The Earnings of Asian Engineers in the U.S.: Race, Nativity, Degree Origin, and Influences of Institutional Factors on Human Capital and Earnings", Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 17 (3), 225-249.
Tao, Yu. 2010. "Multiple Disadvantages? The Earnings of Asian Women Computer Scientists in the United States", International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology. 2(2):136-158, For abstract and the paper .
Conference Proceedings
Tao, Yu. (2011). "Are Asian Immigrant Engineers the Same? Earning Differences among Asian Immigrant Engineers in the U.S. by Nationality", Proceedings of the 2011 Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2011. IEEE.
Tao, Yu. 2009. "Earnings of Asian immigrant computer scientists: The effect of degree origin", Proceedings of the 2009 Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy. Susan E. Cozzens and Pablo Catalan, IEEE. For abstract .
Book Chapters
Tao, Yu. 2006. "3G in China: A Resource-Based Examination of Telecom Firms in China", Last Mile Initiative Innovations: Research Findings from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Michael Best, pp. 159-171, U.S. Agency for International Development.
