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Physics News Update
Number 48 (Story #6), September 19, 1991 by Phillip F. Schewe and Ben Stein

THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP SURVEY explores the demographics of American physics. For example, 30% of the members polled work for industry; 2% are Black, Native American, or Hispanic; 6.6% are women. 80% of the married female physicists are married to other scientists, whereas only 16% of married male physicists are married to scientists, indicating that women are disproportionately confronted with the problem of securing proximal jobs for both wife and husband. Regarding federal funding support, plasma and accelerator physicists, not surprisingly, were found to be the most dependent, while polymer and condensed matter physicists (many of whom work in industry) were the least dependent on government help. (APS Bulletin, September 1991.)