MPOWIR (Mentoring Physical Oceanography Women to Increase Retention) is a US community-initiated and community-led mentoring program aimed at improving the retention of women physical oceanographers in academic and/or research positions. This article describes the MPOWIR program elements designed by the US physical oceanography community, quantifies the participation in these programs, describes MPOWIR's impact to date, and outlines future directions. An examination of surveys to date indicates that MPOWIR, several years after its implementation, is having a positive impact on the retention of junior women in physical oceanography, primarily by giving them a broad professional network and focused mentoring.

Clem, S., S. Legg, S. Lozier, and C. Mouw. 2014. The impact of MPOWIR: A decade of investing in mentoring women in physical oceanography. Oceanography 27(4) supplement:39–48, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2014.113.

Lozier, M.S. 2005. A community effort toward the retention of women in physical oceanography. Oceanography 18(1):35–38, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2005.68.
1. Lozier, M.S. 2006. Mentoring Program for Women in Physical Oceanography. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union 87(12):123/126, https://doi.org/​10.1029/2006EO120005.
2. Nelson, D.J. 2004. A National Analysis of Diversity in Science and Engineering Faculties at Research Universities. 43 pp., http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/N/Donna.J.Nelson-1/diversity/briefings/Diversity Report Final.pdf.

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