AWIS
________________________________________________________________________

ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE
Washington Wire
June 2008
Issue 1
Greetings!

Serving in leadership roles in professional organizations like AWIS provides women with invaluable opportunities to network and gain marketable skills while exchanging ideas and experiences with other women in STEM from around the country. (Think "r�sum� building.")
 
AWIS will be holding elections in late September and the Nominating Committee is searching for leaders to join the National Executive Board. As a member, you can submit nominations--or nominate yourself. We are looking to fill two Councilor positions, the office of President-Elect.
 
Councilors represent the membership, lead AWIS committees, and set policy for the organization. They serve for a period of three years. The President-elect serves for a period of four years.  They assume the presidency after serving one year, and following a two year term as President, they serve as Past-President one year.  Visit www.awis.org/about/mission for a copy of the AWIS Constitution and Bylaws.
 
By July 25, please e-mail a r�sum� (no longer than two pages) and a statement of interest to:
 
[email protected] - put "ELECTION" in the subject line.
 
Please include:
 
1. Name
2. Mailing address (home or work)
3. Phone numbers (work, cell, fax)
4. E-mail address
5. Position for which the candidate is running (Councilor or President-Elect)
6. Education
7. Current professional position and professional activities
8. Involvement in AWIS and/or other women in science and engineering activities9. Why the candidate is interested in the position for which he or she is running
10. Women in science issues or national committees that the candidate would work on as goals for National AWIS 
We look forward to hearing from you!

Janet
_____________
Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director

In This Issue
Education
Government
International
Science and Health
Careers
Opportunities
Featured Article
Education

Appearance of equity more important than reality, report says

Interviews with 80 women at a large research university revealed individual and institutional discrimination still exists even while women are increasing in prominent authoritative positions. The report, conducted by the University of California at Irvine in conjunction with the National Science Foundation, says importance of these positions is often downplayed in these situations. Women in the study "attributed the persistence of gender inequality not to biology but to a professional environment in which university administrators care more about the appearance than the reality of gender equality and a professional culture based on a traditional, linear male model ."

Quite Desperation
Read more about the report and possible solutions

Gender equity = Higher scores

A report released by Science magazine correlated gender bias with mathematics scores. They found in gender equal cultures the gender gap within math scores shrinks while the reading gender gap widens in favor of women. Cultures were classified by several conditions of gender equity which varied greatly according to culture. Conditions included: the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index (GGI), an index of cultural attitudes toward women, the rate of female economic activity reflected by the percentage of women age 15 and older who supply, or are available to supply, labor for the production of goods and services, and a political empowerment index computed by the World Economic Forum measuring females political participation. These four variables correlated highly.


Culture, gender, math
Government

It's time to move pay forward

President John F.  Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act 45 years ago. Now, the Association of University Women (AAUW) is trying to bring equal pay even further asking lawmakers to continue progress with the Paycheck Fairness Act, sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). It would empower women in negotiating, encourage companies follow the law in regard to equal pay, and strengthen enforcement. This bill would amend the 1938 Fair Labor Standards act providing solutions against wage discrimination based on gender.

Read the press release
Information on H.R. 1338



Peer review reformed

After months of discussion and debate the National Institute of Health (NIH)  decided to reform its peer reviewed system. These changes, which came out during a meeting with the Advisory Committee for the Director of NIH,  will alter the scoring system, increase pay for reviewers, reduce the size of grant applications and "explicit commitments" to new scientists as well as high-risk, high-reward research. NIH's hopes to maintain the core values to peer review. NIH will soon begin planning the details for implementation, a process that will take 12 to 18 months.

Enhancing peer review at NIH

International

ILO campaign spreads equality message

The International Labor Organization began a year-long campaign as part of its Decent Work Agenda, which will focus on gender equality issues. The campaign revolves around 12 Decent Work themes looking at how the workforce affects men and women in different ways including rights, employment, social protection and social dialogue.


Read the press release
Science and Health

Life with children is hard; so is life without

While some women try to maintain their career and manage a family, others cope with a lack of family and covet the balancing act other women face. About 10 percent of women today have trouble conceiving naturally and when infertility treatments fail, it's hard to decide when enough is enough. Many of these women often remain silent and feeling alone. Doctors suggest they treat this loss as they would any other: with a mourning process. 

Facing life without children when it's not by choice



"First" female genome sequenced but others emerge from the woodwork

First Watson's genome was sequenced and now Kriek's. No, not Crick, but Kriek. Marjolein Kriek.  Kriek was presumably the first female genome to be sequenced but, after being announced as the first genome with two X chromosomes to be sequenced, reports started bubbling to the surface that she was not in fact the first female genome. Team leader Gert-Jan van Ommen, who thought the first sequenced female genome would "make a splash," said he was not aware of the other reports otherwise he would not have presented his information in a breaking news fashion.


GENOMICS: Read all about it --The first female genome! Or is it?

Careers


Decisions or discrimination: Which results in the wage gap for women?

A point-counterpoint discussion  on why women receive only 77 cents to every man's dollar brings into the ring whether it's discrimination against women, or decisions made by women that hinder equal pay. The USA Today editorial board takes the position of career choice and familial matters affecting earnings, while Michelle Leber, chair of the National Committee on Pay Equity, argues gender discrimination still exists as evidenced by the wage gap.

Discrimination: Old attitudes die hard
Decisions: Why women earn less


ARISE in awareness for young scientists and transformative research

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences released a report stating the importance of investing in young scientists and transformative research, even when it seems more risky. ARISE: Advancing Research in Science and Engineering focuses on problems for securing grant money in early scientist's careers and high-risk, high-reward research. The report includes recommendations for federal agencies, such as creating or strengthening existing large, multiyear awards for early-career faculty. It also suggests universities reconsider promotion and tenure policies for early-career faculty and address the needs of primary caregivers. The AAAS produced this report to increase awareness for the necessity of young scientists and transformative research in order to maintain a competitive edge in a new global environment.

Read the report

Women in math: Get em', got em', good!


The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) met September 2006 to discuss improvement of the representation and experiences of women in mathematics within the United States, Canada and Mexico. They just released their report from the workshop and emphasized development in the mathematical field is crucial for scientific "vitality and prosperity." They urged that increasing and retaining women and minorities in the field will benefit the field of science. The report concludes that the "continued vitality of mathematics" will rely heavily upon "the culture change that we recommend, [which] will allow women to reach their full potential as participants and leaders in academic mathematics departments."


Read the report
Annual Survey of the Mathematical Science faculty profile
 
Chapter News and Events

Chicago Area AWIS


EVENT: Innovator Award Dinner and AWIS-CAC 30 Year Celebration
WHEN: June 23, 2008 6:30 - 9:00 PM
COST: $15 for members, $30 for nonmembers
WHERE: Prairie Moon 1520 Sherman Ave, Evanston
For more information or to RSVP click here



San Diego AWIS

EVENT: Ruben H. Fleet Science Center Family Day
WHEN: June 21, 2008 11:30 AM
COST: After lunch explore the exhibits at the science center. Receive a discounted price for the IMAX theater ($4). $5/AWIS member & kids (3+), $10/guests
WHERE: Balboa Park - Ruben H. Fleet Science Center


For more information or to RSVP click here

EVENT: AWIS Summer Celebration Happy Hour
WHEN: Cozymel's
WHERE: June 25, 2008 5:30 PM

For more information or to RSVP click here


Opportunities


UNESCO-L'OR�AL International Fellowships for Young Women in Life Sciences     

Since 2000, as part of the L'OR�AL-UNESCO For Women in Science partnership, 15 international UNESCO-L'OR�AL International Fellowships are awarded to young women researchers in the Life Sciences, at the doctoral or post-doctoral level, whose promising projects have been accepted by a reputable institution outside their home country. Starting with 2006 Fellows, the length of the Fellowships was doubled. Each is now worth a maximum of $40,000 and may cover a period of up to two years. The Fellowships give a boost to promising research in the Life Sciences, helping the beneficiaries, who have already distinguished themselves by their talent and commitment, to pursue promising research at what may be a critical point in their scientific careers. The UNESCO-L'OR�AL Fellowship Selection Committee makes the final choice of three Fellowship beneficiaries from each of these five UNESCO regions: Africa, Arab States, Asia/Pacific, Latin America/Caribbean, and North America/Europe.

Deadline: June 30, 2008
Announcement: February, 2009
For more information

Maria Goeppert Mayer Award for Young Physicist

The Maria Goeppert Mayer Award seeks to "recognize and enhance outstanding achievement by a woman physicist in the early years of her career, and to provide opportunities for her to present these achievements to others through public lectures in the spirit of Maria Goeppert Mayer."

This annual award consists of a $2,500 prize as well as a $4,000 travel allowance to provide opportunities for the recipient to give lectures in her field of physics at four institutions and at the meeting of the Society at which the award is bestowed and a certificate citing the contributions made by the recipient.

Deadline: July 1, 2008
Official Award Page

For more information contact the Chair of the 2009 Selection Committee:
Sherry Yennello
Texas A&M University
Cyclotron Institute
College Station, TX 77843
Phone (979) 845-1411
Fax (979) 845-1899
E-mail: [email protected]

Five (5) copies of the nomination should be sent to the above address

Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning

The Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning is recognized internationally for the quality and integrity of its program. Each year the conference provides a forum for the exchange of information on distance education and training. The conference addresses the needs of educators, trainers, managers and designers from throughout the world who are involved in the application of technology to the teaching and learning process and in the planning, administration, and management of distance education programs.

The conference will offer more than 150 presentations including keynotes, forums, concurrent sessions, pre-conference workshops, course design showcases, and roundtable discussions.

This year the conference takes place August 5-8, 2008 in Madison, Wisconsin. Register by July 16, 2008 and save on conference fees.

For more information

Early Career Development Award    

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of the early career-development activities of those teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their organization. Such activities should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of integrated contributions to research and education. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from junior faculty members at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.

Deadlines for Submission of Proposals Vary by Discipline:

Full Proposal Deadline Date:  July 22, 2008
      BIO, CISE, and EHR
Full Proposal Deadline Date:  July 23, 2008
      ENG
Full Proposal Deadline Date:  July 24, 2008
      GEO, MPS, SBE, and OPP

For more information

Write Winning Agricultural Grants

The Northeast Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (NERA) and the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (SAAESD), in conjunction with USDA-CSREES will host a 2-day Competitive Grants Workshop to focus on the USDA-NRI Competitive grants process, September 30 - October 1, 2008.

The first day of the workshop will focus on opportunities in the USDA Competitive Grants program, while the second day will focus writing winning grants. Drs. Michael Harrington and Thomas Fretz will conduct the Writing Winning Grants workshop (October 1), while National Program Leaders from CSREES will conduct the September 30 program.

Deadline August 1, 2008
For more information

Norwood Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Woman in Statistical Science

Sponsored by the Department of  Biostatistics in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama- Birmingham, nominations are now open for the seventh annual Janet L. Norwood Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Woman in Statistical Science. Each year, the recipient of the award is given the opportunity to deliver a lecture at UAB as well as receive a plaque and a $5,000 prize.

Candidates must have completed their terminal degree and have made significant contributions to the field of statistical sciences.

In order to nominate a candidate, send a full curriculum vita as well as a letter no longer than two pages in length describing the candidates contributions to the field. Self-nominations are welcome.

Deadline for Nominations August 30, 2008
Award Announcement September 4, 2008
Official Award Page

For more information contact:
David B. Allison, Ph.D.
Professor & Head Section on Statistical Genetics
Department of Biostatistics, RPHB 327
University of Alabama at Birmingham
1665 University Boulevard
Birmingham, AL 35294-0022
Phone: (205) 975-9169
Fax: (205) 975-2541
Email: [email protected]

Designated Outcomes Award in Geriatric Gastroenterology    
 
The objective of the "Designated Outcomes Award" is to promote research by young investigators in the area of outcomes as it relates to geriatric gastroenterology.

Eligible Applicants must possess an MD, PhD or equivalent and must hold faculty positions at accredited North American academic institutions by the time of the start date of the award (July 1). * The award is intended for junior faculty; therefore, established investigators are not eligible. For MD applicants, no more than five years should elapse following the completion of your clinical training (GI fellowship or equivalent) and the start date of this award (July 1).

A letter of recommendation should be provided by the Division Chief or Department Chair and should outline support of the candidate and his/her research program. The investigator must submit a progress report and a financial report to the Foundation upon completion of project.

To download the award application and for more information about this and other AGA Foundation awards, please click here. The application deadline date for this award is September 5. If the deadline occurs on a weekend or holiday, the application packet must be received by midnight the following business day.

Please email the application packet to [email protected].
Please direct questions about this award or the application submission process to the Research Awards Manager at 301-222-4012 or via email at [email protected].

Harvard University Junior Fellowships

The Harvard University Junior Fellowships is an annual program to give men and women at an early stage of their scholarly careers an opportunity to pursue their studies in any department of the University, free from formal requirements, by providing 3-year fellowships to scholars of exceptional ability, originality, and resourcefulness.

Candidates must be at an early stage of their careers.  Most fellows either have received the Ph.D. recently or are candidates for the Ph.D. and well along in the preparation of their dissertations.

Facilities of all branches of Harvard University are open, without charge, to Junior Fellows.

Nominations for Junior Fellowships are customarily made by the individual's faculty mentor.  Junior Fellowships begin July 1, 2009.

Deadline: September 5, 2008
For more information

Further information is available by telephoning 617-495-2485

Completed Application Materials can be submitted to:
The Society of Fellows
Harvard University
78 Mount Auburn Street
Cambridge, MA 02138


Elsevier Foundation New Scholars Program
The 2008 Elsevier Foundation New Scholars Program will give priority to the efforts of the academic and research community to address the fundamental challenge of balancing childcare and family responsibilities with the demanding academic careers in science, health, and technology. The program is focused on doctoral candidates and scholars in the first five years of their post-doctoral careers.

The Foundation provides one, two and three year grants to non-profit academic and research institutions, learned societies, professional associations, and governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Proposals are welcome for single-year grants in amounts between US $5,000 to US $50,000. Proposals will be accepted for multi-year programs (up to three years) for grant amounts of US $5,000 to US $50,000 per year. Grants are awarded for specific projects rather than operating support.

Deadline: September 15, 2008.
Announcement: December 2008
For more information
 
Proposals should be sent to:
The Elsevier Foundation
360 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10010-1710, USA
telephone: 212-229-4970
facsimile: 212-633-3965
e-mail: [email protected]


Funderburg Research Scholar Award in Gastric Biology Related to Cancer  

The Funderburg Research Scholar Award is awarded to an established investigator working on novel approaches in gastric cancer, including the fields of gastric mucosal regeneration and regulation of cell growth as precancerous lesions; genetics of gastric oncogenes in gastric epithelial malignancies; epidemiology of gastric cancer; etiology of malignancies; or clinical research in the diagnosis or treatment of gastric carcinoma.

The Scholar Award intends to support an active, established investigator in the field of gastric biology who enhances the fundamental understanding of gastric cancer pathobiology in order to ultimately develop a cure for the disease.

Applicants must hold faculty positions at accredited North American institutions and must have established themselves as independent investigators in the field of gastric biology. Women and minority investigators are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants must be Members of the AGA (visit www.gastro.org for membership information).

The deadline for receipt of applications without exception is September 20, 2009. An electronic copy of the application must be submitted by the deadline to [email protected].

If the deadline falls on a weekend, applications must be received by midnight the following Monday. Letters of recommendation may be e-mailed by the signatories to [email protected] or mailed to the following address, postmarked by the deadline:
Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition
4930 Del Ray Avenue
Bethesda, MD
 20814

Please email the application packet to [email protected] and direct questions about this award or the application submission process to the Research Awards Manager, by telephone at 301-222-4012 or email at [email protected].
For information about other AGA Foundation awards, please click here.

Quick Links
Your Network, Your Resource, Your Voice
The Washington Wire is one of the many benefits of an AWIS membership.  Our goal in this bi-monthly e-digest is to provide you with a snapshop of news you can use.

While our newest feature, the Chapter Member Spotlight, is our way of highlighting national issues important to you, we thought it would be nice to introduce you to our AWIS National Office interns.  But if you've got a hot topic, let us know and the next spotlight could be on you.

AWIS Intern Spotlight

Jessye Bemley
Washington, DC
Picture of Jessye
Jessye Bemley

Major: Industrial Engineering
University: NCA&T State University
Year: Senior
Hometown: Washington, DC
Hobbies: Singing gospel music, fashion, soccer, science

Read more about Jessye and what brought her to AWIS. . .

Jessye can be reached at
[email protected]

 
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