| Greetings!
The AWIS national executive board met in Tempe, AZ in mid-November for a weekend hosted by the Central Arizona Chapter and board member Jane Maienschein. The major topics discussed were strategic planning and program priorities for next year, as well as the best ways to respond to emerging initiatives from a new administration in Washington. Helped by our coalition of women's caucuses in STEM, the AWIS Awards and Equity Committee assembled a list of over 50 women qualified for federal appointments, and has been sending the list to members of President-elect Obama's transition team. The board also voted to establish a national finance committee for AWIS, as well as an ad hoc task force to review the relationship between AWIS and the AWIS Educational Foundation.
If you'd like to weigh in on any of these topics, just send me an e-mail at awis@awis.org.
Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season,
Phoebe Leboy
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Phoebe Leboy, PhD
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| Education |
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Entrance Requirements Raised to Meet Enrollment Caps
Despite experiencing a record number of applications, this past November the nation's largest university system announced enrollment caps at all of its campuses. CalState is the first public university to do so since the market drop off in September. Until now, only six of CSU's campuses had competitive admissions standards over and above the system wide requirements. Under these rules, CalState campuses will still have to welcome all eligible freshmen within their immediate boundaries, but to meet the cap, they will increase the academic requirements to admit students from far away.
Colleges cap enrollments as budgets fall
Dearth of Women in the Computer Sciences
Many computer science departments find women today make up less than 10 percent of the newest undergraduates. What's baffling is that in other science and engineering fields, 51 percent of bachelor's degrees were received by women in 2004-5, according to the National Science Foundation. Three schools of thought for this decline are proposed. One idea, the right computer game has yet to be built for girls, but once it is, computer related interests should rise. Another school of thought is the "we won" assertion because women are represented in web site designing and the like, but this results in considerably less pay than software engineering and less influence on how computers are used. Alternatively, the third ideology suggests "Girls and young women don't want to be that 'nerd' person."
Where have the women gone?
Jobless? Attend Community College on a Tuition Waiver!
As unemployment increases nationwide, some community colleges waive tuition for their resident jobless." "It's the right thing to do," Scott, president of Northampton said. "An institution our size will absorb this revenue lost. Would some of these students have come anyway and found a way to pay? Maybe, but others wouldn't believe this was an opportunity. The current economic crisis is proof enough we need to do this." Other colleges waiving education costs include Bergen Community College in New Jersey which works to identify the jobless who may qualify for such waivers. This tuition aid is worthwhile as most credit-seeking students continue their degree program once capable of paying. Tuition waivers are also being instituted at some four-year institutions.
Waiving tuition in economic crisis
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| Government |
Michigan State Awarded Nuclear Physics Facility
The Department of Energy has recently announced the new $550 million Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) will be built at Michigan State University within the next 10 years. The project has been part of a long-range plan for nuclear and astrophysics development, and will allow experiments that now take as long as one year to be completed in one week. State politicians are excited about "Michigan's future in the sciences" and the jobs the new facility will both attract and create.
Nuclear Physics Research Facility site selected
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| International |
2007 Results for International Study on Young Science and Math Students
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) has released its 2007 results on the mathematics and science achievement of U.S. 4th- and 8th-grade students compared to that of students in other countries. Some of the results conclude that in 2007, average mathematics score of U.S. fourth-graders was higher than those in 23 of the 35 other countries. In science, the average U.S. eighth-grade score was higher than those in 35 of the 47 other countries. Additionally, ten percent of U.S. eighth-graders performed at or above the advanced benchmark in science compared to the international median of 3 percent.
International comparisons of students in science and math
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| Careers |
Networking Know-How
Everyone stresses the importance of networking for career development and advancement, but what specifically can you do to maximize your networking potential? Joining a professional organization is "the lifeblood of your professional life," but your success is also dependent on your preparation and persistence. Always have business cards on hand and adhere to the "the reciprocity principle," building relationships by listening and engaging. Making networking a way of life, and strengthening relationships by utilizing your different contacts will expand your networking capabilities that are critical for career development and growth.
Networking 101
Beyond the Glass Ceiling, The Glass Cliff
Over the last two decades, women have begun to break through the "glass ceiling" to earn leadership roles within organizations. However, closer examination reveals that those top positions held by women have a greater threat of failure because they tend to be within declining business units. Research recently published in The Leadership Quarterly described this phenomenon as a "glass cliff" and demonstrated in three controlled studies that women were more likely than men to be selected for senior management positions within companies in jeopardy. Those persons surveyed predictably chose a woman over an equally qualified male counterpart, for a high-risk, high-stress leadership position because the job was perceived to have a significant risk of failure.
The Glass Cliff
Women Maintain Status Quo for Top U.S. Jobs
A recent study shows women have made no significant gains in top U.S. jobs in 2008. Examining board directors, corporate officers, and top earners at Fortune 500 companies, the study found the small percentage of women in these positions has not increased over the last year. Percentage of women as top earners have hovered around 6.5 percent. Many are optimistic about the Obama Administration and are expecting to see a change next year.
No advancement in 2008
Employment Trends in Public Postsecondary Institutions
"Employees in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2007, and Salaries of Full-Time Instructional Faculty, 2007-08," is an annual report based on numbers and statistics gathered by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Participation
in IPEDS was mandatory for institutions participating in Title IV
federal student financial aid programs and whose main function is to
provide higher education (academic, continuing education, vocational)
to students beyond K-12. The report
revealed growth among the number of faculty, especially instructional
faculty, and professional staff. However, the proportion of full time
employees declined, particularly those engaged in teaching, research or
duties typically performed by professors. Other findings include the
percent of women employees, tenured, tenured and non-track faculty, and
salary data.
Employees in Postsecondary Institutions
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| Lifestyle |
Slicing Your Budget at the OfficeLooking for ways to save money during the economic downturn? Here are some suggestions for altering your work life to reduce your spending. Eliminating your morning or afternoon latte can save $30 a week and $1,500 a year. Rethinking your employee benefit enrollment decisions and increasing your health care deductible can also cut costs. Simple Suggestions for Saving
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| Science and Health |
Nationwide Cecline in Cancer Incidences and DeathsThis year's annual report tracking cancer trends in the United States showed a decline in both cancer deaths and incidences for the first time since the first Annual Report was published in 1998. Declines in cancer deaths have been seen over the last ten years, but this is the first evidence of a simultaneous decline in cancer incidences in both men and women across racial and ethnic populations. Declines in incidences and deaths were observed for the most commonly diagnosed cancers of the lung, colon and prostate for men, or breast and colon for women, and these trends may be due to improved cancer screening as well as reduction of cancer risk factors.Fewer cancer incidences and deaths for 2008
Happiness is InfectiousApparently, happiness can spread like a transmissible disease, according to a recent report showing of the infectious nature of happiness among people. Happiness was assessed in over 4,000 men and women who were enrolled in the Framingham Heart study in Framingham, MA, and happy and unhappy people formed clusters within the greater social network. An individual's happiness was influenced by who they live with, as well as nearby neighbors and siblings, although no such effect was caused by coworkers. This unique study provides compelling proof of an individual's happiness being dependent on the people surrounding them, and that happiness can spread across many different social ties.
Pursuing Happiness |
| Chapter News and Events |
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AWIS East Bay Chapter
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Event: An Evening of Newtorking
Date: Thursday, January 22, 2009
Time: 6:30pm Light Supper, 7:00pm Meeting Begins
Location: Novartis* Room 4.104, 4560 Horton St, Emeryville, CA
*Novartis security procedures require
check-in at the guard station on 53rd St at Chiron Way prior to
parking. Meeting is held in building 4 (5300 Chiron Way), Room 104.
Enter the doors nearest the big yellow stucco ball. Sign in with the
security at the front desk.
Cost: Suggested donation to cover the cost of food, $10 non-members or $5 members
visit: www.eastbayawis.org
AWIS St. Louis Chapter
Event: New Year's Reception for Women in Science & Medicine
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Time: 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Location: The Hearth Room, 2nd floor Farrell Learning and Teaching Center: http://fltc.wustl.edu
AWIS San Francisco Chapter
Event: Pragmatic Advice For Your Career - Judy Heyboer
What you wanted to know but were afraid to ask!
Date: Wednesday, January 14th
Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Location: Genentech, 611 Gateway Boulevard- Building 83, conference Rm 1B (or 83-1B), South San Francisco
Cost: $8.50 members, $17 non-members, $25 after registration date. (A light supper will be provided)
Register: via ACTEVA by Monday, January 12
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Opportunities |
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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
Society for Women's Health
Research Accepting Nominations for Prize for Contributions to Women's
Health
Nominations are now being
accepted for the 2009 Society for Women's Health Research Medtronic Prize for
Scientific Contributions to Women's Health. The annual $75,000 prize
recognizes a woman scientist or engineer for her contributions to women's
health. It also encourages women scientists and engineers to work on issues
uniquely related to women's health and rewards women who have devoted a significant
part of their careers to this area. The prize will be given to an outstanding
scientist or engineer in mid-career whose work has led or will lead directly to
the improvement of women's health. The recipient's commitment to sex
differences research and their success as a role model and as a mentor will be
noted.
The application deadline is Jan. 28, 2009, and the award will be presented at the Society's
annual gala on April 20, in Washington , D.C.
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| Give the Gift of AWIS Membership |
A gift membership in AWIS makes a wonderful holiday present that lasts the whole year through!
Your gift includes:
*Special mail delivery with all membership materials including a personalized Holiday Card.
*Four issues of our award-winning AWIS Magazine.
*Bi-monthly e-newsletter, Washington Wire.
*Discounts on all AWIS programs and services including professional COACHING and leadership development workshops.
*Opportunities to participate in local chapter events.
Sign-up by December 19 to ensure your gift arrives in time for the holidays! For fastest service, call 703.934.1223.
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Welcome New Staff!
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| The Association for Women In Science welcomes Raina Aronowitz as our new External Relations Associate. Raina is currently pursuing an M.A. in Public Policy with a concentration in Women's Studies at George Washington University.
As Raina describes herself, she is a progressive feminist dedicated to advancing women's lives and expanding opportunites for women. | |
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