A UCSD study shows that the drop-out rate of female students in engineering classes relates to an attitude shared by many women in engineering: that competence in engineering is something they are born with.

When faced with difficulties in engineering classes, female students tend to see the problem as an issue related to their identities. Female students will more often drop classes when faced with difficulties than their male counterparts because the female students believe that aptitude is a fixed ability, while male students tend to see the problem as a challenge to overcome through more studying or a new approach to the problem, according to the study.

The study finds gender tension in engineering classes as well. While female students believe that they must work harder and perform at a higher level than male students to prove themselves, male students believe that female students are given more breaks.

The study concludes that positive female role models at critical points in the college careers of female students may help keep women in engineering.

A follow-up survey is underway to determine how attitudes about intelligence affect high school age women. An additional survey for college women is being planned.

Poetry writing workshop to be held at Central Library

A poetry writing workshop will be held Sept. 7 at the San Diego Central Library on 820 E St. in downtown San Diego. The event is sponsored by Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant received from the James Irvine Foundation.

The workshop will be taught by Susan Luzzaro, an English professor at Southwestern College. The workshop will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the third-floor Wangenheim room.

Only 30 participants will be accommodated. If interested in attending, contact Pamela Sanderson at (619) 236-5847.

UCSD to hold Sept. 11 memorial service

A special memorial service will be held for the UCSD community at noon on Sept. 11 in the Price Center. The program will include remarks from Chancellor Robert C. Dynes and a carillon presentation by Scott Paulson, who plays the Geisel Library Carillon.

The Office of Religious Affairs will assist in the event, which will conclude with a spiritual service.

The scheduled event is currently tentative.

UCSD professor wins prestigious electronic award

UCSD Professor Peter Asbeck recently won the Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., David Sarnoff Award, which is given for outstanding achievement in electronics. He is the third California-based researcher to receive the award since its inception in 1959.

Asbeck received the award for his work in the development and application of gallium arsenide-based heterojunction bipolar transistors, or HBTs. HBTs are one of the technologies that enable modern communications and are incorporated into most cell phones produced today.

Asbeck received a Ph.D. from MIT and has worked for the Sarnoff Research Center in Princeton, N.J., as well as the Rockwell International Science Center. Asbeck joined the UCSD faculty in 1991.

Preuss School awards community members

The Spirit of Preuss awards have been given to two community representatives and two UCSD staff members by the Preuss School.

The recipients are Kate Callen, senior public information representative, UCSD; Rozeanne Steckler, director of education at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, UCSD; Andy Acterkirchen, retired engineer and resident of Del Mar; and George Hellmann, an engineer with Hughes Network Systems.

The Spirit of Preuss award is given to community members who embody and exemplify the ideals of the Preuss School. These include demonstrating dedication to the mission of the Preuss School, serving as a role model and demonstrating strong character and values.

Callen received the award for her active support of the school both as a tutor and mentor. Steckler was recognized for setting up a system of remote monitoring of student teachers, supplying teachers from the Supercomputer Center for a multimedia class, and bringing science and technology educational modules developed at the supercomputer into the Preuss curriculum. Hellmann was cited for his enthusiastic contribution of his time as a longtime volunteer with the Saturday Enrichment Academy at Preuss School.