The National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education released a new report Title IX at 35: Beyond the Headlines. Over a dozen organizations concerned about equity in education, including AWIS, contributed to the formulation of the report, which explores how Title IX has affected athletics in schools; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education; career and technical education; employment in educational institutions; sexual harassment of students; and single-sex education.  The report also lists recommendations on how to reach equity in education.

Listening to Your Kids Can Help Them Learn Better

A recent study released in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, revealed that listening to kids explain their reasoning to problems, rather than providing them with the answers, actually helps them learn more. The researchers found that children can benefit from explaining a solution to a problem at an earlier age than previously thought.  Explaining an answer to their moms, in particular, helped the children apply what they already knew to solve more difficult problems.

Science Stalls in East Africa due to Conflicts in Kenya

The violence in Kenya that resulted after the December elections in 2007 has disrupted several scientific projects in the country and the East African region. While some scientists, who worked and lived in the affected areas, have been displaced, field research projects undertaken by the universities in the region have remained unscathed thus far. However, professors worry that efforts to fund future projects have been thrown into turmoil due to the conflicts.

Science in Kenya

Global 'Drug Drought' in Maternal Health

The international drug market has been failing pregnant women around the world, as indicated in a recent study in PLoS Medicine. The authors of the study concluded that compared to other areas of health, insufficient investments from the global community have been made in maternal health. Possible reasons for the market failure in obstetrics included risk aversion, the cost of reproductive toxicology studies, the small market size, and a weak regulatory system, which encourages endemic off-label use. The authors highly recommended improving access to obstetric services, investing in drugs for postpartum haemorrhage and pre-eclampsia, among other strategies, in order to reduce death rates in pregnancy and improve our chances of achieving a key Millennium Development Goal.

Global Maternal Health

Future of EU Science Research "Depressing"

That's how the Director of the British Computer Society views it. Turns out, the U.S. is not the only nation experiencing a lack of women in the science professions. The European Commission has accepted to fund several projects that will explore gender equity in the sciences, including identification of best practices used in Europe and in countries such as the U.S., Australia and Canada that have promoted the presence of women in public scientific research institutions.

Exploring the Pipeline Abroad

 
India Boosts Investments in Science Education

During the opening of the 95^th Indian Science congress, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unveiled a major funding proposal that will give science education and research in India a 'quantum jump' over the next five years.  Several schemes were included in the agenda, including funding for the development of 30 new Central Universities, five new Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, eight new Indian Institutes of Technology, and 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology. One million schoolchildren will also receive science innovation scholarships of 5,000 rupees (US$130) each over the next five years, and 10,000 scholarships of 100,000 rupees per year will go to those enrolling on science degree courses.

Endorsing a New Wave of Science Innovators

On 'On-Ramping,' For Men?

Do men have it just as hard as women when it comes to getting back on the career track? Recent trends show that more men are taking time off to stay at home for various reasons; some, similarly as some women, for caregiving purposes; however, their transition back to work can be just as difficult as it is for women, for different reasons of course. Business enterprises are among the few workplaces that are offering "off/on-ramping" programs to facilitate their employees' transition out of or back to work. While such programs have shown great success, particularly in attracting and retaining women in business, not much attention has been given to men who "off-ramp." Good news is some businesses are slowly beginning to introduce co-ed on-ramping programs. 

Getting Men Back on Track

From Scientist to Business Entrepreneur

In 2006, Anousheh Ansari became the first female private space explorer and the first astronaut of Iranian descent to go into space. To encourage the advancements in space exploration, Anousheh and her family provided sponsorship for the Ansari X Prize competition, which awarded $10 million to the first successful private flight into space. Anousheh is currently the co-founder and CEO of Prodea Systems, a technology company that aims to make digital technology more accessible and easier to use for the everyday consumer.

2008 AWIS Annual Events

AWIS Fellows Reception

Date:          February 17, 2008
Time:          5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Location:    Grand Ballroom, Sheraton Boston Hotel

Please RSVP to awis@awis.org, gibson@awis.org or call 202-326-8940.

AWIS Networking Breakfast and Panel Discussion
The Road Less Traveled: Science Careers Off of the
Beaten Path

Date:          February 18, 2008
Time:          7:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location:    Republic Ballroom, Sheraton Hotel Boston
Cost:          $ 35.00        Non-AWIS Member
                   $ 30.00        AWIS Member
                   $ 15.00        Students

To pre-register for the event, please fill out the form or contact Meredith Gibson at gibson@awis.org by Monday, February 11, 2008.

For more information, visit the website.

Women in Biomedical Research: Best Practices for Sustaining Career Success

The NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers, which is co-chaired by Dr. Elias Zerhouni, NIH Director, and Dr. Vivian W. Pinn, NIH Associate Director for Research on Women's Health, will host a workshop that will highlight organizations and best practices that are successfully addressing the major barriers in the career development of women.  

Date:         March 4, 2008
Time:         8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location:   Natcher Conference Center, NIH, Bethesda MD

AIMBE 2008 Annual Event

On February 20-22, 2008, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) annual event will bring together scientists, engineers, university professors, and other leaders in global health or engineering to discuss how medical and biological engineering is contributing to the improvements in health care around the world. The three-day event includes a series of activities and plenary sessions, including a discussion on global health in the 21^st century with Roger I. Glass, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Director for International Research and Director at the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health.

Visiting Scholar's Programs at UC Berkeley

The Beatrice Bain Research Group, a center for research on gender and women at the University of California, Berkeley, is now accepting applications for two visiting scholar's programs:

* THE BBRG SCHOLARS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM
Open to faculty (tenured and untenured), visiting scholars, postdoctoral scholars and independent scholars, from any country, whose research is centrally on gender and women. Approximately 15 fellows are selected for the program each academic year. Applicants must have received their Ph.D. at least one year prior to the projected beginning of their residency at BBRG. The BBRG is non-stipendiary. The BBRG provides a visiting scholar appointment to UC Berkeley, library access, computer and printer access, a reading/writing group, research assistance if desired, and a public forum for Scholars in Residence to present their research to the Berkeley campus and wider community. Click here for more information on the BBRG Scholars In Residence Program, and for application procedures, forms and materials.

Application Deadline: March 15, 2008

* THE BBRG AFFILIATED SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Two to three short term scholars are selected for the program at any one time, on a rotating basis, throughout the academic year. The Affiliated Scholars Program is open to faculty (tenured and untenured), visiting scholars, postdoctoral scholars and independent scholars, from any country, whose research is centrally on gender and women. Applicants must have received their Ph.D. at least one year prior to the projected beginning of their residency at BBRG. The BBRG is non-stipendiary. Scholars are responsible for Berkeley affiliation fees. International scholars are also responsible for any related visa fees. Affiliated Scholars remain in residence for periods ranging from two weeks to one semester and have access to many University of California at Berkeley and BBRG resources. The application to the program is comprised of: (1) a letter of intent (including: the proposed length of residency, and start and end dates; and a summary of the research project in two to three paragraphs); (2) a separate abstract summarizing the research to be undertaken (one short paragraph, preceded by title of research); (3) a full curriculum vitae; and (4) a writing sample. Materials should be sent at least 10 weeks prior to the beginning of your projected affiliation period to:

Professor Paola Bacchetta, BBRG Director
Department of Gender and Women's Studies
3407 Dwinelle Hall, MC 1070
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-1070
USA

Please note: The BBRG will not be able to return materials submitted with applications unless the candidate includes a self-addressed stamped envelope or other container.

Questions regarding these programs can be directed to Sara Perryman at svperryman@berkeley.edu.

2008 Maria Mitchell Women in Science Award

Nomination forms must be postmarked by March 15, 2008.

Research Associateship Program

Deadline: Feb. 1, 2008. The next review will be in May.

Mary Fieser Postdoctoral Program for Women and Minorities

Deadline for the first award: February 15 and for the second award: July 15, 2008.

Support Sciencedebate 2008

Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship

The National Academies Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students pursing a graduate degree in a field of science, engineering, medicine, veterinary medicine, business, law or education. During the course of the fellowship, each fellow will be assigned to a senior staff member who will assist and guide the fellow to engage in the analysis that informs the creation of science and technology and familiarize them with the interactions of science, technology and government. For more information.

Deadline for Summer Session: March 1, 2008.

Nominations for the National Science Foundation PAEMST Now Being Accepted

Nominate exemplary K-12 teachers for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). This year the award will honor elementary school teachers for their contributions to improve teaching and learning in the areas of science and mathematics (secondary teachers will be honored next year).

Deadline: May 1, 2008.

For information about the online nomination and application, visit www.paemst.org or e-mail info@paemst.org.

INFLOW will provide NSF with a source of information on potential proposal review panelists, advisory committee members, and rotators. Additionally, the participants will be provided: information on a variety of professional development opportunities; and a mechanism to access limited contact information on other participants to facilitate potential collaborations. Information on financial support, research, career, and other professional opportunities will be provided to registered individuals to encourage and support the completion of their degree programs. 

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks qualified candidates for the following positions:

#07--142 - POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW -  (Washington, DC)  Working with the Research Fellow and Senior Scientist leading the Global Change research theme of IFPRI, the successful candidate will conduct research and analysis on land use patterns and shifts under alternative scenarios of global environmental and economic change.

#07-148 - POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW - (Washington DC)   - the successful candidate will conduct cross-country analysis on development strategy for higher agricultural and rural growth, cutting hunger and malnutrition, and reducing vulnerability of poor, and develop typology to target donor and national investment across different countries and sub-national regions to achieve greater poverty reduction.

FOR FULL DESCRIPTION & TO APPLY:
Go to www.ifpri.org .  Click on "Careers" and "Research" to link you to the above positions.  Please complete on-line application, including a complete resume and cover letter.

Tenure-track Faculty Position - Physics
Department of Physics and the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, N.Y.

Director of Science
Health Effects Institue
Boston, MA

Post-doctoral Fellowship
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL