| Greetings!
Each year, AWIS receives over 100 applications for our summer internship program. Our program promotes, educates, and encourages young women to pursue careers in the STEM fields. Students gain valuable knowledge and professional skills through mentorship and independent learning. Seminars are also scheduled throughout the summer in various STEM disciplines.
Our program allows women seeking careers in STEM to explore and develop skills that can be applied across all disciplines. Students also have opportunities and are encouraged to take advantage of the unique cultural and social activities Washington DC has to offer.
Unfortunately, AWIS can only support a few positions due to limited funds. Your generous gift, which will go directly towards a $3,500 stipend for each intern for a 10-week summer program, can allow more enthusiastic and passionate young women to join AWIS in the pursuit of improving the status of women scientists and engineers across the nation.
Giving is easy...just click here and make your donation today. Your gift could change a young woman's life.
Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director |
| Education |
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Intel Science Talent Search Awards Female High School
Student Top Prize
Shivani Sud, a 17-year-old student from Durham,
N.C, was awarded the top prize in the Intel Science Talent Search held on March 11th, 2008. Shivani
developed of a model for assessing a person's genetic profile, which involved
determining the individual risk for recurrence of colon cancer and then
tailoring a treatment regime. Her work won her a $100,000 scholarship from the
Intel Foundation. From a pool of 1,600 entrants, only 40 finalists were chosen
this year, with each receiving thousands of dollars in scholarship funds.
Honoring Tomorrow's Stars
Presidential Panel Declares U.S. Math
Education "Broken"
Would you rather clean your room or do your math homework?
According to a national survey conducted by the National Mathematics Advisory
Panel, if you were a middle school student, there's an 84 percent chance that
you'd rather clean your room. The panel, which is composed of mathematicians,
education experts, and psychologists, recently released a report to the U.S. President and the Secretary of Education urging elementary
and middle schools to bolster their math curricula to improve the "broken" math
education system in our country. Click here to view the final report, "Foundations for Success: Report of the National
Mathematics Advisory Panel."
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| Government |
The Consequences of Flat
NIH Funding
A new report, "A Broken Pipeline? Flat Funding of the
NIH Puts a Generation of Science at Risk," was recently released by a group of
academic research institutions concerned about the toll flat NIH funding will
take on American medical research and the recruitment of young scientists. Click here to view the full report.
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| Science and Health |
North Americans aren't
Consuming Enough Omega-3's
According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the typical North American
diet is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, unsaturated fats commonly found in
fish. The study focused on omega-3 consumption in pregnant women and found that
these fats may play a beneficial role in infant neurological development.
Eating Fish for Your Baby Poor Sleep Associated with
Greater Health Risks in Women than Men
A recent study published in the Journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, showed that women face
greater health risks associated with poor sleep than men, including a
significantly stronger risk of psychological distress and higher levels of
biomarkers associated with heart disease and type II diabetes. The researchers found that women who reported
taking a longer time to fall asleep had the worst risk profiles.
How's Your Sleep? Unconscious Gender Bias in Medicine
According to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal,
unconscious gender biases among doctors may explain why women who complain of
knee pain are less likely than men to be recommended for total knee replacement
surgery.
Physician Bias
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| International |
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S. Korea Names Female Engineer to be its First Astronaut
South Korea has recently announced that Yi So-yeon will be the country's choice to fly on a Russian Soyuz capsule to the International Space Station in early April. The previous Korean nominee was rejected by Russian officials for violating certain rules at a space training center. Yi will join five other cosmonauts, including one female American astronaut, for a 10 day voyage, conducting scientific experiments.
Women in Space
Gender Bias in Parental Leave System in Australia
Gender bias in the workplace is not an issue unique to the U.S. In Australia, the gender divide in its parental leave system leaves women in a vulnerable position in the workplace, according to a Sydney academic. Around 7 percent of Australian men take paternity leave. While 14 percent of fathers take unpaid leave, almost 60 percent of mothers do. New legislation in Australia has allowed parents to take an extra 12 months of unpaid leave along with the existing 12 months that employers must offer. While the extra year could potentially be shared between parents, more often than not women are the ones taking the extra year of leave. Researchers on the status of women in the workforce argue that keeping women out of paid employment for up to two years may cost a huge social toll, including the creation of biases against women in Australian society.
Aussie Mums taking Maternity Leave |
| Careers |
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Study Confirms Wage Gap between Men and Women Faculty
A study presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association explores the wage gap between men and women faculty at U.S. institutions of higher education. Taking into effect disciplinary and institutional attributes, individual demographic characteristics, and accumulated human capital, the findings reveal new implications to the study of salary equities and labor conditions among college faculty.
Pay Inequities in Academia
Women Scientists at Research Institutions in the UK Face a Lower Glass Ceiling
A recent study, Glass Ceilings - Thicker at the Top?, by Dr. Sara Connolly and Dr. Susan Long at the University of East Anglia, cites that women scientists are less likely than their male colleagues to be promoted to higher professorial positions at their universities and that women are also less likely to be promoted out of postdoctoral posts at research institutions. According to Dr. Connolly, the findings question gender equality at these publicly funded organizations and how the UK is making use of this highly skilled workforce.
Facing the Gender Gap in Academia in the UK
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| National and Chapter Announcements |
AWIS East Bay Chapter
Event: A Panel of Speakers Working in Clinical
Research and Regulatory Affairs
Date: Thursday, March 27, 2008
Time:6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (6:30 p.m. Networking/light supper*, 7:00 p.m. Meeting)
Location: Novartis, 4560
Horton St, Rm 4,104 Emeryville,
CA
RSVP: [email protected]
*A contribution of $5-10 to cover
cost of food is encouraged.
Event: Sally Ride Science Festival to encourage
middle school girls in science
Date: Saturday,
March 29, 2008
Location: Santa
Clara University
Event: Informal
Networking Social
Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Jupitor,
2181 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley,
CA 94704
(Directions: http://www.jupiterbeer.com/jupiter/info.htm)
Event: Tea with
Women Chemists
Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Location: UC
Berkeley
Scientists, Students,
Men, Non-Members . . . . All Are Welcome!
AWIS DC Chapter
Event: Managing
Your Career in Science at Capital Science 2008
Date:Sunday,
March 30, 2008
Time:2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location:ConferenceCenter, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd.Arlington, VA22230. NSF is metro accessible (orange line to Ballston).
Register at the Washington Academy of Sciences website: http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=169086
Click here for more information on Capital Science 2008.
AWIS Mass Chapter
We are looking for
Mentors! Help us recruit! Mentoring others is a valuable way to increase
your leadership skills; share your experience with others and get a huge
benefit.
Event: Special
Kick-off Event for the AWIS MASS Mentoring Circle Program
Date: Tuesday,
April 1, 2008
Time:6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: BIDMC Research North, 99
Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA
02215 (almost across from Fenway
Park; the entrance is on Overland
Street, which is off of Brookline
Avenue. There is street parking available on both Brookline
Avenue and Beacon Street
as well as parking behind the building ($10). BIDMC Research North is
accessible by the T with the two nearest stops being Kenmore Square Green Line
and Longwood Medical Area D Line stops.)
Register:http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=153872
A Mentoring Circle
is a small group of women scientists committed to meeting regularly and
supporting one another with advice, support and information. Each circle
will consist of 3-5 peers and be coordinated and supported by at least one more
experienced mentor. Time commitment will be 2 to 6 hours/month over an 8 month
period (Sept 2008 to April 2009).
How to join the MASS AWIS Mentoring Circle Program:
You must be a MASS AWIS chapter member to participate as a
Mentee, student rates are available. Join AWIS and MASS AWIS at www.awis.org
You must apply online by filling out the Mentor
or Mentee surveys. Here are the links:
Survey
for potential MENTEES
Survey
for potential MENTORS
The MASS AWIS mentoring committee will review submitted
surveys and match you with a circle based on interest, career goals, geography
and other factors.
For information on joining our email list or for other
questions email: [email protected]
AWIS CT Chapter
Event: Panel
Discussion on Careers in Industry
Date: Thursday, April 3, 2008
Time: (Tentatively)
6 p.m. Details will be available
soon.
Location: Yale
University AWIS San Diego Chapter
Event: "Make that
Move," How to successfully implement a career transition
Date: Monday, April 7, 2008
Time: 6 p.m. for networking, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. for the session
Location:
Trustees Room, Salk Institute 10010 N. Torrey Pines
Rd. La Jolla, CA 92037
This session is for AWIS members only. Please register at: http://awis.npaci.edu/calendar/eventdetails.php?event_id=369
Event: 2008
Scholarship Gala featuring keynote speaker Dr. Naomi Oreskes, Professor of
History and Science Studies at UCSD
Date: Saturday, April 19, 2008
Time: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Coronado
Boathouse 1701 Strand Way Coronado,
CA 92118
For more information and to register: www.awissd.org Contact: [email protected]
AWIS St Louis Chapter
Event: Happy Hour
Social
Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Time: 7 p.m.
Location:
Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave,
Maplewood, MO 63143.
(It's between Big Bend and McCausland, off of Manchester.)
AWIS Palo Alto Chapter
Event: 2008 Award
Dinner. This is an annual event in which the Northern California Chapters
of AWIS gather together to recognize three distinguished women
scientists/mentors and several outstanding students. Several awards will
be presented including the 2008 Judith Pool Award to Marilyn Winkleby, the
2008 Ellen Weaver Award to Angela Barth, the 2008 Distinguished Professional
Award to Doris Davis, and Chapter Scholarships to students at local community
colleges.
Date:Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Time:6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. (6:30 to 7:00 Social time with wine and appetizers; 7:00 to 8:00 Plated dinner with choice of three
entr�es and delicious dessert; 8:00to 9:00
Awards program)
Location:Doubletree Hotel, 835
Airport Boulevard, Burlingame, CA (Anza
Blvd. exit off Hwy 101). A shuttle will be
available from BART/Caltrain station).
Cost: $45
Register: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=155523
(There will be no onsite registration.)
Please indicate your choice of entr�e: rosemary chicken, grilled filet of sole
or vegetarian (grilled portabello mushroom), or a child's plate (chicken
tenders).
(Online credit card payment deadline is April 25,
2008. Mail-in payments are accepted until postmark April 23, 2008.) Check
payable to: NCC-AWIS Awards Banquet
Mail to: PA-AWIS, PO Box 2641,
South San Francisco, CA.
94083-2641.
All women scientists and their
colleagues, co-workers and friends are welcome.
AWIS is an Early Supporter of Sciencedebate 2008
Wonder why the U.S.
Presidential debates have not been devoted to policy surrounding science and
technology? We all know that science and technology lie at the center of a very
large number of the policy issues facing our nation and the world. In early
January, AWIS became one of the first organizations to sign on as a supporter
of Sciencedebate 2008, which has issued a call for a public debate in which the
U.S.
presidential candidates share their views on the issues of The Environment,
Medicine and Health, and Science and Technology Policy. Click here to
support Sciencedebate 2008.
Have a chapter event you'd like to post?
Please send
information/fliers to [email protected]
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MentorNet is Seeking Mentors!
MentorNet, the E-Mentoring Network for Diversity in Engineering and Science, is seeking new mentors, particularly faculty e-mentors. At the present time, MentorNet has more than 100 proteges waiting for faculty mentors. Please encourage your faculty colleagues to sign up as a mentor. Being an e-mentor with MentorNet is convenient and can take as little time as 15 minutes per week! Since March 1st AWIS has had 14 new proteges and 10 mentors joined the program.
Contact [email protected], if you have any questions. Please visit the website to learn how you can become a mentor for an aspiring new scientist: www.MentorNet.net
Summer Internship in Neural Engineering (SINE) at NorthwesterUniversity
SINE allows undergraduate students to work in an innovative, progressive, fast paced scientific environment where they will be exposed to traditional techniques in molecular biology, advances in computer science, new theories in mathematics and mechanical-, electrical- and biomedical engineering applications. Students learn the ins and outs of research designed to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of neural injury and recovery, promote greater recovery and provide accessible technology to the temporary and permanently disabled.
Accepted students are provided with funding for travel, housing and a small stipend.
Application information can be found at: http://www.northwestern.edu/bme/sine2008.
Emailed applications are due on or before March 31, 2008.
Minority students, women, the disabled and students from institutions with under-represented scientific research programs are strongly encouraged to apply.
If you have any questions, please contact Danielle M. Kerkovich, Ph.D., Associate Director for Research: (312) 238-1477 or by email at [email protected].
Summer Forum on Feminist Theologies
The Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER) and Feminist Studies in Religion, Inc. (FSR) invite graduate students and junior faculty to the first Summer Forum on Feminist Theologies in Washington, DC,June 15-20, 2008. This inaugural year will focus on "Making the Connections: Claiming Our Past--Envisioning Our Future Together."
This residential program will provide the space and opportunity to work with colleagues across generations, religions, racial/ethnic, and disciplinary lines to create new knowledge and deepen feminist scholarly collaboration. The program will include plenary sessions, seminars, and working groups as well as meals and informal time together. The fee for the Summer Forum is $800 including room, board, and program. Scholarships are available, but graduate students and junior faculty are urged to seek funding from their departments, institutions, denominations, and other sources.
Application deadline is April 1, 2008. Participants will be notified after April 15, 2008.
To read the full description of the forum and download the application form, click here.
Please direct inquiries and send completed applications to [email protected].
Call for Nominations: The Leopold Leadership Fellowship Program
The Leopold Leadership Program invites mid-career academic environmental scientists from North America (Canada, Mexico, and the United States) to apply for the 2009 Leopold Leadership Fellowships.
Mission: to advance environmental decision making by providing academic environmental scientists with the skills and connections they need to be effective leaders and communicators. Through a competitive process, the Leopold Leadership Program selects up to 20 Fellows annually to participate in an intensive training program designed to build and enhance their skills in communicating with policy makers, media representatives, business leaders, nonprofit organizations, and the general public. Our goal is to create a community of engaged scientific leaders to inform decision makers addressing society's most pressing environmental challenges.
Eligibility: The program seeks candidates with terminal degrees in a broad range of disciplines including the biological, physical, and social sciences (e.g., economics, political science) and technical, medical, and engineering fields related to the environment (e.g., wildlife veterinary medicine, environmental health, hazardous waste management). Applicants must be employed by an academic institution in North America, be tenured or tenure-track (associate professor level or equivalent or above), and be active in teaching and research. Every applicant must demonstrate: an academic position (either tenured or tenure track); an active role in research and teaching in an area of environmental science at a Canadian, Mexican, or U.S.-based higher education or research institution; a reputation for outstanding science; evidence of interest in making direct connections between scientific knowledge and environmental issues; interest, willingness, and an appropriate professional position to synthesize, interpret, and communicate the results of their work to peers, policy makers, the media, and the general public; passion and capacity to exercise leadership in the environmental science arena and enthusiasm to advocate the importance of science for improved environmental policies and practices; commitment to participate in the entire two weeks of training and contribute to the program as well as take advantage of its benefits; intent to share what is learned in the training program with students and colleagues and other stakeholders through courses, workshops, and broader outreach efforts; and ability and desire to remain an active member of the Leopold Leadership Network after the conclusion of the Fellowship year.
Training is offered in English and focuses on U.S.-based institutions, audiences, and policy making. Full details and application documents are available online at: www.leopoldleadership.org
Deadline: Monday, April 14, 2008
Call for Proposals: IEEE Real World Engineering Projects
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is now accepting proposals for its' second year of funding for the Real World Engineering Projects program. The program, created by the IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Committee along with the Educational Activities Board (EAB), provides university faculty of electrical engineering (EE), computer engineering (CE), computer science (CS) and electrical engineering technology (EET) world-wide, with hands-on projects and on-line workshops designed to attract more first-years, particularly women, to these disciplines. Visit the website for more information: http://www.realworldengineering.org/
Deadline for abstracts is April 15, 2008.
ASBMB Science Policy Fellowship
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is currently accepting applications from recently graduated Ph.D.s for their Science Policy Fellowship. The Society will sponsor one fellow for a year (stipend of $40K plus benefits) to work in the Public Affairs office of their headquarters in Bethesda, MD. Fellows will have the opportunity to engage with Congressional staff as well as other advocacy organizations to learn how science policy issues are addressed in the federal government. Applications are due April 30, 2008 and details can be found at www.asbmb.org/publicaffairs or by contacting Peter Farnham [email protected].
2008 National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants Program
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service announces the availability of grant funds and requests applications for the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program.
NEW in 2008: CSREES and the USDA Forest Service (FS) have undertaken a collaborative, long-term effort focused on workforce development through graduate education (M.S. and Ph.D. level). Emphasis will be placed on the four critical capacity shortage areas (decision sciences; land use and landscape analysis; ecosystem processes and forest health; and utilization technology), identified by educators, employers, and the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP).
Closing Date: May 8, 2008
Proposed Award Date: September 5, 2008
Program Code: KK
Funds Available: $3.6 million
CFDA Number: 10.210
ONLY ELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS THROUGH WWW.GRANTS.GOV ARE ACCEPTABLE.
Soliciting applications for:
(1) Fellowships to train students for Master of Science and doctoral degrees in food and agricultural sciences in the Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas (TESA), and
(2) for Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel
Allowances (IRTA) for eligible USDA National Needs Fellows.
Postgraduate training will not be funded under this announcement.
All attachments must be submitted in portable document format (.pdf) for proposals submitted under this program announcement.
Contacts:
1) Support (Electronic Application Process Issues) in Proposal Services Unit
CSREES - 202- 401- 5048 OR [email protected]
2) Program Office (Programmatic Technical Issues) in National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants Program - CSREES - 202-720-1973 OR [email protected].
See: Program Brochure, RFA, more information about the NNF Program, agency website, other CSREES Funding Opportunities
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| AWIS Advocacy |
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AWIS Contributes to Diversity &
Innovation Caucus BriefingOn
February 28, 2008, the U.S. House Diversity and Innovation Caucus held a stakeholders'
listening meeting with over 80 women,
minority, and STEM stakeholder groups to discuss diversity in the STEM fields. Click here to read AWIS' statement
on diversity. Resources on Affirmative ActionAWIS has compiled an index of resources for general information
on affirmative action and how it applies to women in science. Click here
to view the list.
AWIS Position StatementsClick here to view our most recent position statements and advocacy documents.
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Pfizer is a Proud Corporate Sponsor of the Association for Women in Science
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Visit Our Sponsor
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