AWIS
____________________________________________________________________
ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE
Washington Wire
April 2008
Issue I
Greetings!
 
For women in STEM by women in STEM, our new coaching program targets both your professional and personal needs.  Listen to one of our recent coaching demos here.
 
Best regards,
 
Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director
In This Issue
Education
Government
Science and Health
International
Careers
National and Chapter Announcements
Opportunities
Education

States Strengthening STEM Ed to Address
Economic Challenges

In an attempt to better prepare students for the economic challenges of the future, states across the nation are investing in programs to boost STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education in their school systems.  Find out what strategies are being used to improve STEM education and what American parents are saying about the current state of STEM education.  

Bolstering STEM Education

Increasing Popularity of Associate's Degrees
In 2006, about 635,591 associate's degrees were awarded. About 30% were in STEM fields, 62% were awarded to women, and 23% to under-represented minorities.

Click here for the full report. 
Government
OSTP Director Addresses Science Budget and Policy Issues on the Hill
The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) appeared before the House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee recently to discuss key science budget and policy issues.  Click here to read a summary of the comments made by the Director and the committee's appropriators during the hearing. 

Ensuring Science Debate Takes Place
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. While the original date (April 18, 2008) for the Science Debate in Philadelphia with the presidential candidates is looking less and less likely, organizers say the debate can still take place in early May during Oregon's primary. Click here to read about how you can support Sciencedebate 2008.

Plan B

Science and Health

Navigating the Emotional Hazards of the Workplace
Can expressing your emotions hurt or reward you?  According to a recent study published in the journal Psychological Science the answer may depend on your gender.  The authors found that people, men and women alike, often accept and even reward men who get angry but view women who lose their temper as less competent.

Keeping Your Cool
To access the full report: click here  

Study Shows Stress Not Related to Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy
Stressing that stress can cause preeclampsia and gestational hypertension during pregnancy? Stress no more, a new study published in the journal BJOG, an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found no relationship between a woman's level of job stress, anxiety, anxiety related to pregnancy or depression and her risk of developing these hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Less Stress

International

"Are there too many female medical graduates?" 
University of Edinburgh Brian McKinstry says 'yes' and that this could cause potential problems for future staffing. Read Dr. McKinstry's commentary here: Yes.
Jane Dacre from the University College London argues that while UK universities are indeed producing more female doctors than male, it is not the issue we should be worrying about; rather, she believes that we should be focused on ensuring equality of opportunity for women in academic medicine. Read Dr. Dacre's commentary here: No.

Past Award Laureates Commit to Help Women in Science
Earlier in March, nearly forty past L'OR�AL-UNESCO award laureates reunited in Paris, France to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the L'OR�AL-UNESCO awards, which are the first international awards devoted to women scientists. The event was marked with the signing of a special charter designed to promote science, support the cause of women, and change the face of science in the world, the Charter of Commitment "For Women in Science."

New Charter Launched by L'OR�AL-UNESCO

Careers

"Reflections on the Dearth of Women in Science" by Ben Barres, MD, PhD
In March, Professor Ben Barres (2007 AWIS Fellow) arrived at Harvard University as an invited guest to give a personal and intellectual analysis of the obstacles faced by women in academic science and what individuals and institutions could do to increase opportunities in the sciences for women. Professor Barres brought a unique perspective to the discussion: Professor Barres is transgender, and has experienced life as both a female and as a male scientist.

Click here to listen to the webcast of the presentation.

Are You the Face of Pay-Equity?
This year, April 22nd marks Equal Pay Day and supporters of pay-equity across the nation are taking action to show Congress that the persistent and sizable wage gap between men and women will not be tolerated. Join in the "I am the Face of Pay Equity" campaign to show your senators that pay-equity is still an issue and to urge them to move forward legislation that will help close the pay-gap, including the Fair Pay Restoration Act.  (Two-Minute Activist) 
To urge your senators to cosponsor the Fair Pay Restoration Act, Take Action   
To learn more about pay-equity, click here

Three New Studies Show More People are in the S&E Pipeline
Three new reports from the National Science Foundation (NSF) show that the supply of scientists and engineers in the U.S. has grown since 2003. 
Report 1: Unemployment rate of U.S. scientists and engineers in 2006.
Report 2: An overview of science, engineering, and health graduates in 2006.
Report 3: Postdoc participation of science, engineering, and health doctorate recipients.
(Note: the reports reflect the labor market as of 2006 and are not representative of the current status of the S&E workforce.  Experts also warn that the NSF data only show the supply side of the story and do not reflect information about the future or current demand for scientists and engineers).

National and Chapter Announcements
AWIS Seattle Chapter 
Event:
"Bacterial production of hydrogen: an energy source for the future?" by Carrie Harwood, PhD, Professor of Microbiology, University of Washington
Date:
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Time:
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Location:
UW SouthLakeUnionBuilding, First Floor Auditorium, 815 Mercer Street Seattle, WA98109

AWIS Northwest Ohio Chapter 
Event: Public Lecture by cancer researcher Dr. Zena Werb, part of the AWIS Northwest Ohio (NWO) Chapter's Distinguished Women in Science Speaker Series
Date: Thursday, April 17, 2008
Time: 6 p.m. Dr. Werb will present "Of Mice & Women - New Insights into Breast Cancer." Then at 12 noon, "The Leaking Pipeline: Increasing the Career Trajectories of Women in Science." There will be a reception to follow.
Location: Doermann Theatre, The University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft Street, Toledo OH 43606-3390
For further information, please contact Dr. Deborah Vestal (419) 530-1581.

AWIS San Diego Chapter
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 Northern California 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 Palo Alto Chapter
Event:
"Protein Kinase C in Heart Attack: From Bench to Bedside" by Dr. Daria Mochly-Rosen, Senior Associate Dean for Research, Stanford University School of Medicine
Date: Thursday, May 8, 2008
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (Light super will be served)
Location: PARC Auditorium, 3333 Coyote Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA
RSVP: http://www.acteva.com/go/pa-awis
Members pay $4 and non-members pay $7 to offset the cost of food.

Have a chapter event you'd like to post?
Please send information/fliers to [email protected]

Nominations Open: Anita Borg and Denice Denton Awards
The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology has opened nominations for the Anita Borg and Denise Denton Awards, which honor individuals in three categories: Emerging Leader, Social Impact, and Technical Leadership. Nominees may be submitted by high-tech companies, universities, private industry, and the general public. One winner will be selected in each category.

  • The Denice Denton Emerging Leader Award recognizes a junior (under 40), non-tenured faculty individual in an academic or research institution who is pursuing high quality research in engineering or physical sciences, while contributing significantly to promote diversity in his/her environment. The award winner will receive a $5,000 prize underwritten by Microsoft.
  • The Anita Borg Social Impact Award will honor an individual or team who has caused technology to have a positive impact on the lives of women and society, or who has caused women to have a significant impact on the design and use of technology. The award recipient will receive a $10,000 prize underwritten by Microsoft.
  • The Anita Borg Technical Leadership Award will recognize and celebrate an outstanding woman technical leader. Nominees are women who have inspired the women's technology community through outstanding technological and social contributions and, through their leadership, have increased the impact of women on technology. The award recipient will receive a $10,000 prize.
Nomination Deadline: April 30, 2008

Visit the website for more details: http://anitaborg.org/initiatives/awards

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 20 new proteges and 20 mentors join 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

Call for Nominations: National Science Foundation Mentoring Awards
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) program seeks to identify outstanding mentoring efforts that enhance the participation of groups (i.e., women, minorities, and persons with disabilities) that are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The awardees serve as leaders in the national effort to develop fully the Nation's human resources in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Awards are made in the following two categories and nominees - both individual and institutional - must have served as a mentor or facilitated mentoring activities for at least five years.

  • Individuals who have demonstrated outstanding and sustained mentoring and effective guidance to a significant number of underrepresented students at the K-12, undergraduate or graduate education level; and
  • Institutions with program activities that have enabled a substantial number of students drawn from populations underrepresented in the sciences, technology, and engineering and mathematics fields, to pursue and complete relevant degree programs. At the post-secondary level, these efforts must show that students have completed a baccalaureate, masters or doctoral degree.

Awardees receive $10,000 to continue their work and a commemorative Presidential certificate.
For more information: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04525/nsf04525.htm
For assistance, contact David L. Temple at 703-292-4674; by email, [email protected].
Nomination deadline: April 22, 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].

Call for Nominations: National Science Foundation Teaching Awards
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).
For information about the online nomination and application, visit www.paemst.org or e-mail [email protected].
Application deadline: May 1, 2008.

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
Only electronic applications are acceptable: www.grants.gov 

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

Joan's Legacy Research Grant     
Joan's Legacy invites grant applications for institutional research that studies lung cancer. The Foundation is particularly interested in the genetic basis and biology of bronchioalveolar carcinoma as well as novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of this disease.
For more information, click here.

Application Deadline: Thursday, May 15, 2008

Society for Neuroscience Awards
Career Development Award - This achievement award is for early career professionals who demonstrate achievement and promise in fields within the purview and interest of SfN. 
Application Deadline: May 12, 2008
Click here for more information.
Louise Hanson Marshall Special Recognition Award-This award recognizes individuals working outside the field of neuroscience who have significantly promoted the professional advancement of women in neuroscience.
Application Deadline: May 12, 2008
Click here for more information. 

Summer School on GPUs and Multicore for S&E Grad Students
The Great Lake Consortium for Petascale Computation's Virtual School of Computational Science and Engineering is pleased to announce its first annual Summer School, Accelerators for Science and Engineering Applications: GPUs and Multicore to be held at NCSA August 18-22, 2008
Applications deadline: May 19,2008
Visit the website for more info. 

 

Quick Links
Featured AWIS Member
Mina Bissell
Dr. Mina J. Bissell, Distinguished Scientist at the Life Sciences Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and current AWIS member, was recently awarded the 2008 Medal of Honor in Basic Research from the American Cancer Society (ACS), the highest honor bestowed by the Society, and the 2008 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Excellence in Science Award.  Dr. Bissell was recognized for her outstanding contributions to cancer research.
Biography
Mina J. Bissell Award
ACS Medal of Honor
FASEB Excellence in Science
AWIS Advocacy
AWIS Contributes to Diversity &
Innovation Caucus 
Briefing
On 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 Action
AWIS 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 Statements

Click here to view our most recent position statements and advocacy documents.
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