| Greetings!
Please join me in congratulating and welcoming the newly elected members of the National Board.
Joan Herbers
President-Elect
Joan Herbers is a Professor of Biology and the former Dean of Biological Sciences at OhioStateUniversity. Dr. Herbers joined the national board of AWIS as a Councilor in 2007. Her new term on the national board will start in January 2009. She will serve one year as President-Elect, two years as President, and one year as Immediate Past President.
Gail Gasparich
Councilor
Gail Gasparich is Professor of Biological Sciences at TowsonUniversity in Maryland. She has served as Chair of the AWIS Grants and Contracts Committee for the past year. Dr. Gasparich will start her three-year term as Councilor on January 1, 2009.
Lilian Wu
Councilor
Lilian Wu is Program Executive, University Relations and Innovation, IBM Technology Strategy and Innovation, and a research scientist. She chairs the National Research Council's Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Dr. Wu will start her three-year term as Councilor on January 1, 2009.
Susanne Neuer
Councilor
Susanne Neuer, Professor of Biogeochemistry at Arizona State University's School of Life Sciences, will join the AWIS National Board for one year to fill the position of Councilor which will be vacated by Dr. Herbers on January 1 when she moves to her new position as President-Elect. Dr. Neuer served on the board of the Central Arizona Chapter of AWIS from 2007 through May 2008 as Vice President before assuming the Presidency.
You will find more information on each of our new board members in the November issue of the AWIS Magazine.
Best regards,
Janet
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Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director |
| Education |
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American Culture Pushing Girls Away from Math
A new study published in the Notices of the American Mathematical Society says there's no shortage of American girls with an aptitude for math, but peer pressure and a national cultural that ostracizes smart kids keep them from pursuing education and careers in mathematics. The study goes on to suggest that US "homegrown" mathematicians are few and far between, pointing out that 80 percent of female and 60 percent of male faculty hired in recent years by mathematics departments at the top U.S. research universities were born in other countries.
Cross-Cultural Analysis of Students with Exceptional Talent in Mathematical Problem Solving
Should Children Matter?
Author of "Mothers on the Fast Track," Dr. Mary Ann Mason, argues that Title IX compliance reviews should include a "baby-gap test." A true measure of success in academic careers should include family formation. Namely, statics show that 72% of male tenure track scienctists are married with children compared to only 50 % of women.
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| Government |
Environmental Education Gets Funded
Earlier last month the U.S. House of Representatives, by a vote of 293 to 109, passed The No Child Left Inside Act (H.R. 3036). The bill, as approved by the House, would authorize new spending on environmental education and would provide incentives to states to develop environmental literacy plans. The federal funding could also be used by states to train teachers in environmental instruction and to create environmental programs.
Environmental Education Spending Bill
Congress Passes Continuing Resolution to Fund Federal Programs at 2008 Levels Until March
The House and Senate have passed a stop gap funding bill, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), for FY2009 appropriations which will fund most federal programs, including federal education programs, at the 2008 levels until March 6, 2009. Technically the FY2009 budget year began on October 1, 2008. As has been the case in recent years Congress and the President were not able to come to an agreement on the amount of total FY2009 spending, so this CR will flat fund most federal departments and agencies until next March, when the issue will be addressed by the next administration.
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| International |
Glass Ceiling Keeps Getting Harder for British Women to Break
According to a new report by Britain's Equality and Human Rights Commission, progress by UK women in attaining top jobs is slowing to a "snail's pace" and in many cases going into reverse. Its annual study of women's progress in achieving positions of power and influence reported the biggest number of falls since the survey was launched five years ago. Fewer women held top positions in 12 out of the 25 sectors covered by the study than a year ago, while the number of women in top jobs remained unchanged in another five sectors, said the commission. Sex and Power 2008
Chinese Women in Science Face Same Career Hurdles As Their American Colleagues
A new survey by the Chinese Academies of Science reports that women in science and technology professions face discrimination, bear the brunt of family care-giving, and are less likely to get promoted.
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| Careers |
High-Tech Firms Driving Women Away
Nearly one-third of women in high-tech careers plan to leave their current positions and pursue other options during the next year, according to a report by the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology at StanfordUniversity. Frustrated by barriers to advancement, the study found that women are skeptical that corporations fairly reward work based on merit. And, women believe they are viewed as "less technically competent" than men.
Climbing the Technical Ladder
Adjuncts: Second Class Academics
Inside Higher Education reports on a recent meeting of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA) where treatment of adjunct professors was decried. It was noted that the current system is particularly unfair to women who are more likely to be adjuncts and work longer hours for less pay. Recommendations to improve the two-tier system include offering benefits to adjuncts especially those that work full-time.
Worse than Wal-Mart |
| Science and Health |
Smart is Sexy
California researchers recently assessed the long- and short-term mate appeal of 204 women by having them watch videos of 15 men with known measures of intelligence performing verbal and physical tasks. Findings indicate "both intelligence and creativity independently predicted mate appeal across mating contexts, but no conception-risk effects were detected." The article "Intelligence and mate choice: intelligent men are always appealing" has been published online in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior.
Brains over Brawn
Vitamin K Does Not Prevent Bone Density Loss
Vitamin K has been widely promoted as a supplement for decreasing bone loss in postmenopausal women. A new study finds it does not protect against age-related decreasing bone density, but may protect against fractures and cancers in postmenopausal women. The scientists concluded that a daily high dose of vitamin K provides no protection against the age-related decline in bone density in postmenopausal women, and that it cannot be recommended for the prevention of osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become more fragile and more likely to break.
Vitamin K Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women
Circulating Air Lowers Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
New evidence suggests that increasing ventilation in baby's bedroom can lower the risk of SIDS by 72%. Sleeping in a room with a fan should be added to other sleeping strategies for lowering SIDS like removing soft bedding and putting babies on their back. The findings were recently published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Sleeping Environment Matters |
| Chapter News and Events |
AWIS Bethesda & DC Chapters
Event: Panel Discussion
Motherhood, the Elephant in the Laboratory
Date: October 21, 2008
Time: 5:00 pm Reception
6:00 pm Discussion
Location: AAAS Headquarters, 2nd Floor
1200 New York Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20005
For more information visit: http://www.awisdc.org/
AWIS East Bay Chapter |
Event: Personal Communication Styles Workshop
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2008
Time: 9:00 AM - 12Noon,
Continental Breakfast Will Be Served
Location: Novartis Inc. 4560 Horton St, Emeryville, CA
Cost: AWIS Members: $20.00
AWIS Philadelphia Chapter
Event: Expand Your Horizons (ACS-WCC and AWIS-PHL)
This hands-on science experience for 6th grade girls is continuing to be held in the fall and the spring at Chestnut Hill College and visits to schools are also being planned for this school year.
Date: October 18, 2008
Location: Chestnut Hill College and visits to local schools
Registration materials are posted at http://www.awisphl.org
Event: Collaborative Development of Improved Breast Cancer Treatments
G. Scoot Lett, PhD
Date: October 29, 2008
Time: 6:00 PM Check-in, Dinner
7:00 PM Program
Location: Mandeville Hall Faculty Dining Room (1st floor, Building 1)
St. Joseph's University
54th St. & City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $ 18 for AWIS members
$ 20 for non-members of AWIS/guests*
$ 15 for students and postdocs
RSVP: By 5:00 pm, Friday, October 24, 2008
Registration with payment: www.awisphl.org/meetingregistration.htm. Your on-line payment will be acknowledged when you make your reservation.
AWIS San Diego Chapter
Event: AWIS San Diego annual Open House:
Come learn about AWIS San Diego events, activities and committees, and help celebrate our most active and dedicated volunteers through the AWIS Awards. All are welcome.
Date: Thursday October 16, 2008
Time: 5:30 -7:30pm
Location: Biogen Idec, 5200 Research Place, San Diego, CA 92122 For more information about the San Diego chapter and to register for this event please visit www.awissd.org
AWIS Seattle Chapter
Event: Washington Toxics Coalition's Pollution in People
Date: November 12, 2008
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location:
First Floor Auditorium
UW South Lake Union Building
815 Mercer St, Seattle, WA |
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Opportunities |
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L'Oréal USA Fellowships
A national offshoot of the L'ORÉAL-UNESCO For Women In Science program, the L'Oréal USA Fellowships program is open to women at post-doctorate level in physical/material sciences, engineering, technology and mathematics. The L'Oréal USA Fellowships For Women in Science enable young scientists to continue working toward breakthroughs in their research.
Application deadline: October 31, 2008
Grant year: July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010
For More Information About This Fellowship
AAUW Eleanor Roosevelt Fund Award
Association of University Women Educational Foundation invites nominations for the following prestigious biennial award.
Established in 1989, the Eleanor Roosevelt Fund Award honors an individual, project, organization, or institution for outstanding contributions to equity and education for women and girls. The award is given for a broad range of activities including classroom teaching, educational and research contributions, and legal and legislative work in equity for women and girls. While the award focuses on education, the recipient need not be an educator.
ACS Award in Pure Chemistry
To recognize and encourage fundamental research in pure chemistry carried out in North America by young men and women. Nature: The award consists of $5,000 and a certificate. Up to $1,000 for travel expenses to the meeting at which the award will be presented will be reimbursed. Establishment and Support: The award was established in 1931 by A. C. Langmuir and was supported by A.C. and Irving Langmuir through 1937. In 1938, James Kendall financed the prize. No award was made in 1939. In 1940, Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity assumed the financial obligation and has continued its support. Rules of Eligibility: A nominee must have been born after April 30, 1973 and must have accomplished research of unusual merit for an individual on the threshold of her or his career. Special consideration is given to independence of thought and originality in the research, which must have been carried out in North America.
NIH is accepting applications for its extramural Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs). The LRPs repay up to $35,000 of educational loan debt annually for individuals who commit to conducting at least two years of qualified biomedical or behavioral research at a nonprofit institution of their choice.
Deadline for applications is December 1, 2008
For more information and to apply visit: http://www.lrp.nih.gov/
AIMBE's Women in Medical and Biological Engineering Committee Presents:
"It's Your Responsibility! How to Lead and Impact Policy:
Enhancing the Role of Women in Medical and Biological Engineering"
Chicago Airport Hilton
December 4-5, 2008
Women in science, technology, engineering and math have made great strides over the past 35 years, and in biomedical-related disciplines they have essentially reached parity with men entering the workforce. However, the proportion of women in senior, highly visible positions in both academia and the corporate sector has not kept pace with the proportion of women receiving biomedical degrees.
AWIS President, Phoebe Leboy, will make participate as part of a wider discussion, hosted by AIMBE's WIMBE Committee, of how to positively influence change for women in medical and biological engineering. The Symposium is open to all AIMBE Fellows as well as to senior women and a limited number of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in medical and biological engineering.
For more information about the meeting and student registration, please visit our website at www.aimbe.org/womensymposiumwww.aimbe.org/womensymposium. You can also contact the AIMBE office at (202) 496-9660 or tjohnson@aimbe.org.
AIMBE has a block of rooms at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport. To make a reservation, please call 877-865-5322 and mention code AIB or go online at http://www.hilton.com and use code AIB in the group/convention box. The cutoff date for reservation is November 21, 2008.
The National Medal of Science
Help celebrate the contributions of your colleagues by submitting a nomination for The National Medal of Science. The National Medal of Science was established in 1959 as a Presidential Award to be given to individuals "deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, or engineering sciences." In 1980 Congress expanded this recognition to include the social and behavioral sciences. The National Medal of Science is the highest honor the President bestows on scientists. A Committee of 12 scientists and engineers is appointed by the President to evaluate the nominees for the Award. Since its establishment, the National Medal of Science has been awarded to 441 distinguished scientists and engineers whose careers spanned decades of research and development.
Deadline: December 5, 2008
For more information or To nominate someone
Alan T. Waterman Award for Young Researchers
The National Science Foundation is pleased to accept nominations for the 2009 Alan T. Waterman Award. Each year, the Foundation bestows the Waterman Award to recognize the talent, creativity and influence of a singular young researcher. Established in 1975 in honor of the Foundation's first Director, the Waterman Award is the Foundation's highest honor for researchers under the age of 35.
Nominees are accepted from any field of science or engineering that NSF supports. The award recipient will receive a medal and an invitation to the formal awards ceremony in Washington, DC. In addition, the recipient will receive a grant of $500,000 over a three-year period for scientific research or advanced study in any field of science or engineering supported by the National Science Foundation, at any institution of the recipient's choice.
For detailed nomination information and criteria, please visit https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/honawards
Complete nomination packages, consisting of nominations and four letters of reference, are due by December 5, 2008. The nominations and letters must be received through the FastLane system. Please contact the Program Manager for the Alan T. Waterman Award at waterman@nsf.gov or 703-292-8040 if you have any questions. You may also visit http://www.nsf.gov/od/waterman/waterman.jsp for more information.
AWIS Educational Foundation Awards for Undergraduates
New this year! The AWIS Educational Foundation has re-focused its grant giving priorities. New scholarships are available for undergraduate women in science.
Application Deadline: January 23, 2009
Click here for more information | |
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AWIS CHAPTER SPOTLIGHT
Indianapolis WhatWorks Workshop |
"Thanks to [you and] AWIS, Lilly and the other sponsors for delivering such a valuable and fun program in a special setting.
Your work means I have:
1. Learned new ideas about leading/inspiring others and creating work-life balance (today, I plan to try them out on my unsuspecting colleagues)
2. Connected with early- and mid- career scientists, about 20 on 1:1 basis during the day
3. Scheduled 6 followup meetings
4. Started reading the 1st of 2 books purchased and it is a page-turner..."
Alisa Wright
CEO
BioConvergence |
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Interviewing For Scientists: How to have the Interview Remember You: Using Personal Stories to Demonstrate Your Strengths
October 21, 2008
5:30 - 6:15 PM EST
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5 Things You Need to Know Before Considering a Career Transition
October 23, 2008
3:00 - 3:45 PM EST
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Support AWIS
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Help other women in science! Donate to AWIS for its programs and/or to the Educational Foundation for its fellowships.
Your tax-deductible donation to AWIS supports the wide-ranging advocacy
and career development activities of the National Office and the
Executive Board.
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