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Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Report
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On September 15th 2010 the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a plan for improvements in K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Click here to visit the PCAST page and read the report.
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Greetings!
Securing the Future of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics !
GWIS members Christina Ragan and Anna Domask (Nu Chapter) in DC demonstrating principles of polymer science to the participants of the Science and Technology Festival on October 23rd and 24th at the National Mall
We are very fortunate to have a White House Administration who sees the value of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Just recently, President Obama held the first ever White House Science Fair this year. (A Youtube video showcasing the fair is found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2eRr3goUFQ)
And most recently in late September, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
(PCAST) co-led by Eric Lander, Director of the Broad Institute of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and S. James Gates Jr., Professor of Physics and director of the Center for String and Particle Theory of the University of Maryland, submitted their report with 19 other scientist on the future of STEM. It advocates a two-pronged strategy: prepare all students to use STEM in their personal and professional lives and to inspire them to learn STEM subjects and pursue STEM careers. The report also provides a roadmap of programs that the federal government must seriously consider if the United States is to remain a vibrant and innovative society. "There are five steps that the committee recommends:
1) High-quality programs should be scaled up to prepare 100,000 STEM teachers over the next decade;
2) STEM Master Teacher Corps should be created to award salary supplements and resources to support professional activities and networking;
3) New federal entity should develop shared technology platforms and digital instructional materials to help teachers and students harness the potential of technology-New group is ARPA-ED (Advanced Research Project Agency-Education);
4) Government should help states increase their STEM schools from 100 to 1000 over the next decade;
5) A coordinated initiative called INSPIRE, to provide after-school STEM programs.
The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology also calls for a partnership with the National Science Foundation and Department of Education with greater staff capacity at each agency to provide better coordination among all federal agencies with K-12 STEM education. Many of these strategies can be implemented now, while others will need new authorities and appropriations. We must all do our part to enhance the STEM education today and for the future.
On the 23rd and 24th of October, we, Graduate Women in Science (GWIS), participated in the largest ever science and engineering festival on the Mall in DC (some estimated the attendance to a million or more!). We had over 30 volunteers who took part in demonstrating polymer science handing out bags of slime to 4500 attendees over the weekend. And then demonstrations throughout both days attracted another 5000-6000. Conservatively, we approached over 10,000 attendees to talk about polymer science. Fortunately for us, 37 Nu Chapter members and their lab friends were organized by Melissa A. Wilson Sayres to spend two meetings prior to the event, to make the slime baggies and then Nu Chapter members drove it all to DC! (Thanks to all of you folks!). We had members from Xi, Rho Tau, Kappa, Nu, and Kappa Rho volunteering and Omicron (DC Chapter) provided the beds and Saturday dinner of crab cakes for us! We had a great time making slime and enjoyed inspiring a new generation of scientists! Below under National GWIS news you will find some pictures from the event. Please go to our Facebook page to see more pictures of the event.
We remain United in Friendship through Science,
Dee McManus
National GWIS Executive Director
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National GWIS News
National and Chapter members meet in DC for the USA Science and Engineering Festival
The wordle from the USA Science and Engineering Festival 2010.
GWIS National and chapter members participated in the 2010 USA Science and Engineering Festival which was organized with the mission of "re-invigorating the interest of our nation's youth in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by producing and presenting the most compelling, exciting, educational and entertaining science gatherings in the United States". The members had a great time not only participating and meeting many young and old inquisitive minds but also enjoyed each others company at the fair and at Liz's house for wonderful dinner and evening of socializing. Nu Chapter from Penn State provided the graduate student volunteers and the slime and Omicron chapter in DC is providing the great hospitality for the out of town GWIS members. Our special recognition goes to Melissa A. Wilson Sayres (Nu Chapter) for her exceptional leadership and coordination skills and Paula Lincoln Smith (Omicron Chapter) who coordinated and prepared most of the delicious food that made this event a successful and an enjoyable experience to all!
 GWIS members demonstrated principles of polymer science to the USA Science and Engineering Festiival participants. Dr. Anne Pumfery (President-elect) and Dr. Jennifer Ingram (President) showcasing our booth and our new table cloth!
This is how slime is made! Nu chapter members demonstrating at the Fair. From left to right are: Irene Darku, Anna Domask and Christina Ragan.
Dee McManus (Executive Director) and Dr. Paddy Wiesenfeld (Omicron member, and member of Board of Directors) having fun with Slime!
 GWIS participants in the USA Science & Engineering Festival gathered in Elizabeth Von Kaenel's house for a wonderful dinner and an evening of socializing.
Honorary Membership Awards Committee Announcement
2010-2011 committee: Dr. Helen D. Haller, Omega; Dr. Regina Vidaver, Beta; Jennifer Quiceno, Kappa
The Honorary Membership Awards Committee solicits nominations for Honorary Membership from chapters or individuals.The committee does not normally initiate nominations. Once nominations are received during the review process the committee may ask for further details or clarification, if appropriate. Completed nominations are then submitted to the National Council for their review, and the members of National Council are asked to vote on the nominations the next time the y meet (whether in person or in a web conference call). Names approved by National Council are then sent to all the chapters for their review and their vote. Chapters are given 60 days to send a response back to the Corresponding Secretary, voting in either the affirmative or the negative. If an individual is approved by two-thirds of the chapters voting, the process of nomination is complete. The person should be notified, and may be invited to attend the next Grand Chapter meeting or, failing that, the next meeting of the nearest chapter, so that her certificate can be presented. If presentation in person is not possible, the certificate can be mailed.
Note that this procedure does not have specific deadlines, but if a person is to be approved by the chapters in enough time so that she can be invited to the next Grand Chapter meeting, the nomination should be in the hands of the committee by December 1. Honorary Membership is the highest honor that Sigma Delta Epsilon Graduate Women in Science bestows. It has been the custom in recent years to limit the number of new Honorary Members to three per year.
Please contact the committee chair Dr. Helen D. Haller for obtaining further information and the nomination form at: wordbird@rochester.rr.com
Call for Monthly E-NEWS Contributions
Dear Chapter Liaisons and GWIS members,
Hope you enjoy the news from our members! Please send your chapter events news that you would like to share with other GWIS members to be included in our monthly E-News letter to our Corresponding and Recording Secretary Dr. Uromi M. Goodale at gwisrecec@gmail.com and our Executive Director Dee McManus at gwised@mac.com on or before the 25th of each month. We greatly appreciate and encourage you to submit photographs along with your news item. When you do so, please identify the full names of your members in the photograph and provide a brief description.
Our community is growing and we are please to share with you the exciting news and events from our members and chapters!
Dr. Uromi M. Goodale
National Corresponding and Recording Secretary,
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Chapter News
Mu Sigma Upsilion Chapter - Michigan State University, East Lansing MI
The Michigan State University (MSU) chapter had their welcome meeting this fall and had excellent attendance by women from a number of disciplines across campus. The chapter was officially reactivated in June 2010, and as of Fall 2010, Mu Sigma Upsilon Chapter of the Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) is now an officially recognized graduate student organization at Michigan State University. At the national level, GWIS's mission is to advance the participation and recognition of women in science and to foster research through grants, awards, and fellowships. At the local level, the MSU chapter aspire to provide a support network among MSU women pursuing careers in science and actively work to foster the development of aspiring young scientists through local and global outreach efforts. Our activities can be found at: http://gwis-msu.wikispot.org/Activities. To visit our home page please go to: http://gwis-msu.wikispot.org/Home_Page
The officers of the reinstated MSU chapter. Pictured in the front row:
Stephanie Miller, Treasurer (left) and Jennifer Smith, President (middle). Pictured in the second row: Leslie Curren, Vice President (left), Alycia Reynolds Lackey, Liaison Officer (middle), Carolyn Hurst, Secretary (right).
Omicron Chapter - Washington DC
GWIS Scholarship Reveiw
In April Omicron chapter members gathered at the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa in Virginia to review the Fellowship Grant Applications as a group, and had some fun and great food. They tried something new this year to improve the review process for GWIS grant applications. Their goal was to upgrade the quality of reviews to enhance scientific research, create a fair playing field for the diverse applicants, develop a model process for one of the most important functions of GWIS--and have fun while doing it! Their effort was led by Omicron member Dr. Robin Woo. Dr. Carol Goter-Robinson, who manages grant reviews for the National Institutes of Health provided leadership and guidance in the review process and shared her wisdom and experience to help Omicron. This was a major project which Omicron takes very seriously and it takes many hours of hard work from preliminary review to presentation of applications at the retreat. A summary video was made of suggestions on how we might improve and enhance SDE/GWIS review process. If you are interested in the outcome of this event to enhance your chapters' review process of the scholarships please contact Dr. Paddy Wiesenfeld at: paddy.wiesenfeld@fda.hhs.gov We worked hard!
And enjoyed each others company!
Omicron Picnic and Induction of Officers
On the 11th of September the Omicron chapter held their Picnic and Induction of Officers at Sugar Loaf Mountain Vineyard in Dickerson, Maryland. Dr. Paula Lincoln Smith (Omicron President) presented a special floral arrangement to Dr. JoAnn Schrass, who is also a member of the Omicron Chapter, in appreciation of her service to SDE/GWIS as National President 2009/10.
 Omicron Picnic and Induction of Officers event. Dr. Paula Lincoln Smith (Omicron President) presented a special floral arrangement to Dr. JoAnn Schrass (SDE/GWIS National President for 2009-2010) honoring her services. Nu Chapter - Penn State University
What is Inside the Scientists Studio (ISS)?
Inspired by Inside the Actor's Studio, Nu chapter organized the "Inside the Scientists Studio (ISS)", a monthly seminar series of lively, interactive interviews with two guests from faculty, industry, or government professions in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The interviews are general and discuss the life experiences of the interviewees: family-work balance, graduate life and communicating with one's advisor, career decisions and challenges, and plans for the future. Guests are typically female, but men are also invited to speak. Nu chapter professionally video tapes each event, and past event videos can be found thought their web site using the below link:
The 2010-2011 ISS Series are sponsored by the WISE institute. Free lunch is served at or after the event. If you are in the area please join us at the event! Our October event featured Prfessor Annette Jacobson and Professor Andrew Lau on the 21st of October.
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Past Fellowship Winners - Where are they now?
By Melissa A. Wilson Sayers (Nu Chapter)
Dr. Alyssa S. Hakes, GWIS Adele Lewis Grant Fellowship Winner
  | | To apply go to our fellowship web page |
Dr. Alyssa S. Hakes Postdoctoral Researcher Florida State University
In August 2010, Dr. Hakes received her doctoral degree in Biology from Louisiana State University under the direction of Dr. James Cronin. Her dissertation research, supported by the GWIS fellowship, examined plant resistance and tolerance in a spatial and temporal context, using goldenrods in mid-successional fields as the study system. Hakes begin a postdoctoral research position in the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University in the summer of 2010. In addition to her academic research, Hakes served as a leader of a Girl Scout troop throughout graduate school and coordinated ecology-focused badge workshops and camping trips. Dr. Alyssa Hakes has been awarded several prestigious awards in addition to her Adele Lewis Grant Fellowship including the Amy Lutz Pre-doctoral Award from AWIS, the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund from the American Museum of Natural History, the Daisy B. & William J. Luke Botany Teaching Assistant Award from the Department of Biological Sciences at Louisiana State University and the Helen E Hess Award for Undergraduate Research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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National News
Education
"Females are equal to males in math skills"
A new study published in the online edition of journal Psychological Bulletin, that examined existing studies from 1990 to 2007, showed that the mathematical skills of boys and girls, as well as men and women, are substantially equal. The chief author of this study is Dr. Janet Hyde, a professor of psychology and women's studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The study systematically investigated 242 articles that assessed the math skills of 1,286,350 people from grade school to college and beyond. The study also examined the results of several large, long-term scientific studies, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The authors report that in both cases the difference between the two sexes was so close as to be meaningless.
Preparing for a Dual Career
The Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at the Carlleton College has a great collection of case studies of dual career couples in geoscience as well as other disciplines on the SERC website:
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/careerprep/jobsearch/dualcareer.html
This collection illustrates a number of different solutions to the two-body problem, arising from a variety of job search strategies. The webpage also includes a number of other resources for dual career couples. |
Useful Websites for Funding and Job Opportunities
Women and Underrepresented Groups Links
Northeastern University Page
Job Search and Career Links
Northeastern University Page
American Association for the Advancement of Science Page - Membership to this site is free but you have to input your information and establish a web account.
Scientific Grants and Funding Links
American Association for the Advancement of Science Page - Membership to this site is free but you have to input your information and establish a web account. And you can opt to receive a weekly e-mail for grant deadlines.
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