AWIS
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ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE
Washington Wire
February 2009
Issue I
Greetings!
 
Today, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. NIH, AHRQ, NSF and a new prevention and wellness fund will see substantial funding increases including:

  • NIH - $10 billion, including $7.4 billion for distribution to the institutes and centers, $1.3 billion for extramural construction and equipment, $800 million for the Office of the Director for trans-NIH initiatives, and $500 million for improvements to the NIH campus

  • AHRQ - $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research

  • NSF - $3 billion, including $2.5 billion for research, $400 million for construction and equipment, and $100 million for education and human resources

  • Prevention and wellness fund - $1 billion, of which some portion will be allocated to CDC

Track what this might mean for you in future issues of the Washington Wire - Government Section. 

Best regards,
 
Janet
___________________
Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director
In This Issue
Education
Government
International
Careers
Science and Health
Lifestyle
Chapter News & Events
Opportunities
Education

The Gap in Retention and Completion Rates Between Two and Four-Year Colleges

As of 2005, two-year colleges accounted for 40% of total college enrollment. However, the retention and degree completion rates for two-year colleges are consistently lower than the retention rates of four-year colleges and universities. For example, three-quarters of first-time students who start at a four-year college persist to the second year, compared to about half of first-time students who start at a two-year college. The demographic differences between two-year and four-year colleges may help explain this disparity. Two-year college students are more than twice as likely to be enrolled part-time, and more than 50% of two-year college students are employed, compared to only 38% of four-year college students. This paper uses a human capital framework in reviewing various policy solutions put forward to address the gap in persistence and degree completion.

Retention and Graduation Rates for Two-Year Colleges



Change in Boardroom Dynamics as Women's Presence Increases on College Boards

A recent survey by the Cornell Higher Education Research Institution and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges shows an increase from 20% to 31% of female members on college boards. During the same period, the percentage of college and university boards being chaired by women increased from 10% to 18%. These findings are consistent with
Wellesley Centers for Women research on women serving on boards of Fortune 1000 companies. According to the Wellesley Centers' research, as the number of women on boards increases, the less likely their viewpoints are marginalized or ignored. And consistent with the notion of a "critical mass," women who served on boards with at least two other females reported that their opinions were more highly valued.

Increase of Women on College Boards
Government

Decline in Research and Development Funding for Federal Agencies

Recent data from the National Science Foundation, show a 4.8% decrease in federal funds for Research and Development from fiscal year 2007 to 2008. And the expected total for 2008, is 7.5% lower than the total for 2005. Obligations for research by all federal agencies declined at an estimated average annual rate of 2.1% between 2004 and 2008. These numbers are largely driven by funding for the Department of Health and Human Services which accounts for nearly 53% of all federal research support. Fiscal Year 2008 data show that for the first time, the Department of Energy research budget is expected to exceed that of the Department of Defense.

Downward Trend for Federal Funding

International

Can Globalization Help Women Out of Traditional Gender Roles?
In an increasingly globalized world, what kinds of changes will we see with women and gender roles? This was just one of the many topics discussed at a recent global conference in Deauville, France entitled Women Forum for the Economy and Society, which included women from 90 countries. Globalization spreads knowledge, goods, and people across international borders and has the potential to challenge cross-cultural gender roles. Does this mean globalization will increase women's self-sufficiency and equality? It's a tricky question. Increasing participation in the global marketplace will put women at the mercy of the market and women benefit poorly if only goods and money cross international borders. However, the spread of ideas and information that comes with a globalized world can influence local laws, contracts, and investments to the benefit of women. One thing is clear: Women have a stake in the shape globalization takes over the long-term.

Globalization's Affect on Women


Careers
 
Increase in Unemployment Gender Gap
More men than women are currently unemployed and that disparity is growing, due, in part, to the nature of the job losses incurred during this recession. Most of the recent layoffs occurred in sectors dominated by men including construction and manufacturing.  Industries such as healthcare and education, which employ more women than men, are continuing to expand. "Given how stark and concentrated the job losses are among men, and that women represented a high proportion of the labor force in the beginning of this recession, women are now bearing the burden - or the opportunity, one could say - of being breadwinners," says Heather Boushey, a senior economist at the Center for American Progress.
 
As Layoffs Surge, Women May Pass Men in Job Force

 
 
What it Takes for African American Women to Succeed in Science

This research demonstrates that despite a great interest in science many young African American women find that to stay in afloat in the sciences they must "swim against the tide." Given the low expectations and race discrimination they often encounter, an unexpected conclusion, according to the research, is that they persevere.  The book, Swing Against the Tide: African American Women and Science Education indicates how these students succeed and what obstacles they overcome. Based on statistics, surveys, and interviews, the author shows this pool of young women should recruited and murtured to study science if the US hopes overcome an expected decrease in up and coming scientists. 

Swimming Against the Tide



Gender Bias Found in Student Ratings of High School Science Teachers
A recent Science Education research paper, "Unraveling Bias from Student Evaluations of their High School Science Teachers" published results from a study done by researchers at Clemson University, University of Virginia, and Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The study found that female high school science teachers received lower evaluations than their male counterparts even though male and female teachers are equally effective at preparing their students for college. Other non-gender based factors contributed to teacher ratings. For example, teachers who related the course material to real-world examples tended to receive higher student ratings.

Female Teachers Rated Lower than Male Teachers

Science and Health
 
Multivitamins Not Reducing Risk for Heart Disease or Cancer
 
Doubt has been cast on the effectiveness of daily multivitamins in reducing the risk for common cancers or heart disease in women based on the results of a new study out this week.  Over 160,000 women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative were followed for nearly a decade, and approximately forty percent of these women reported taking a daily multivitamin. The majority of the women taking multivitamins had a lower body mass index, were more likely to participate in regular physical activity, and eat more fruits and vegetables.  These women were also less likely to smoke, although they were also more likely to consume alcohol when compared to women who did not take a multivitamin.  In spite of these seemingly healthy habits, the incidence of death, heart disease, and common cancers, including breast, colorectal, and lung cancer, was not significantly different in women using daily multivitamins compared to women not taking vitamins.  This large study supports previous findings that suggest no clear health benefit for consumption of multivitamins.
 
Multivitamins Miss the Mark



Encouraging Results for Women Using Anti-HIV Microbicide
 
The first large-scale clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of anti-HIV topical microbicides in women shows some protection against infection. Topical microbicides are gels or creams that are applied topically prior to sexual intercourse and can prevent infection by sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.  This Phase II/IIb trial was carried out in South Africa and included more than 3,000 women, some of whom received placebos, and others who received one of two different microbicides.  Women were enrolled in this trial for approximately 20 months and HIV infection was detected 194 women.  One of the microbicides, called PRO 2000, showed some effectiveness in preventing infection, but this finding was not statistically significant. Nonetheless, this large study lends further momentum into research for topical microbicides against HIV.
 
Microbicides Hinder HIV Infection

Lifestyle

Telework Revs Up as More Employers Offer Work Flexibility
WorldatWork, the global human resources association, has found that telecommuting at least one day per month by US employees has increased 39% in the last two years. The trend demonstrates employers are increasingly flexible. Rose Stanley, work-life practice leader at WorldatWork, says that "Employers seem more willing to try new ways of working" with increasing inquiries from "employers wanting to learn how to pilot a elework program, the do's and don'ts of managing virtual workers, and how to use telework to reward and motivate talent." Other key findings include a shift away from full-time telework to occasional telework, and resistence of respondents to give up some pay in exchange for being allowed to telecommute.
 
Increase in Occasional Telecommuting

AWIS News and Events

AWIS Massachusetts Chapter

Event:     The PHARM Game�
               Facilitated by Dr. Elizabeth Treher, of The Learning Key
Join MASS AWIS for a fun and interactive game to learn more about the pharmaceutical industry. The PHARM Game� is a proven learning tool to teach novice and experienced employees about pharmaceutical drug discovery and development.
Date:       Thursday, February 19, 2009
Time:       7:00pm to 9:00pm - Organizational Meeting
Location: Novartis, 220 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA
Cost:       $10 MASS AWIS members, $20 non-members.
Register: http://www.acteva.com/booking
Contact [email protected] with any questions.
Sign up soon as space is limited!



AWIS East Bay Chapter

Event:     Winter Workshop 2009
               BRAG! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It™                with Peggy Klaus
Date:       Saturday, February 28th, 2009
Time:      8.30-9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast
               9.00-12:00 Workshop
               12:00-2:00 Lunch and Networking
Location: Rothwell Center Faculty-Staff Dining Room
                Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA
Cost:        AWIS Members - $30, Non-members - $45,
                Students and Postdocs - $25.
                Onsite registration add $5 and BYO lunch.
Register:  No later than Feb, 24th online at: www.acteva.com



AWIS LA/Ventura County Chapter

Event:      Public Star Party
Join us for a fun chance to meet your fellow AWIS members and gaze at the stars and the beautiful LA cityscape at night! This low-key activity is for everyone!
Date:       Saturday, March 7th, 2009
Time:       6:00pm - 9:45pm
Location: Griffith Park Observatory, http://www.griffithobservatory.org
Cost:        FREE
Register:  Please RSVP to Jennifer Gordon at [email protected].




AWIS Palo Alto Chapter

Event:       Wominnovation with Francine Gordon, Ph.D.
What challenges face women innovators? In what ways do women innovate differently than men? What does it take to become more innovative? Please join us for a stimulating talk about women and innovation with Dr. Francine Gordon, an organization consultant and executive coach who runs her own consulting firm (F Gordon Group). Her expertise includes fostering creativity and innovation in business and supporting women to advance into executive positions.
Date:        Thursday, March 12, 2009
Time:        7:00-7:30pm Networking and light supper
                 7:30-7:45pm Announcements
                 7:45-8:45pm Program
                 8:45-9:00pm Discussion
Location:  PARC Auditorium, 3333 Coyote Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA
Cost:         Members - $4, non-members - $7 to offset the cost of food
Register:   http://www.acteva.com/go/pa-awis



AWIS San Diego Chapter

Event:       2009 Women in Science and Technology
                 (WIST) Conference   
The biennial AWIS conference formerly known as, "Women in bioScience," (WIB) is expanding its focus this year, encompassing topics relevant to all women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This one-day symposium includes two keynote speakers and a series of workshops, round-tables, and seminars focusing on career and personal development and hot topics in science.                   
Date:         Saturday, May 9, 2009
Time:        7:30am to 6:00pm
Location:  The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Register:   All are welcome and can register at: http://awis.sdsc.edu
Registration closes on May 6. Early Bird rates end March 15!

Opportunities

 
2009 Postdoctoral Professional Development and Enrichment Award

Offered by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), the award was established to recognize outstanding achievement by early stage life scientists from underrepresented minority (URM) groups. A total of six individual awards are available to provide resources to support the development and enrichment of leadership skills and training of postdoctoral fellows or new (within one-year) assistant professors. Applicants must be members of a FASEB Society.  Membership status will be subject to verification by the member society identified in the application. Applications are accepted electronically only until March 13, 2009.

Click here for more information




James S. McDonnell Foundation Research Awards21st Century Research Awards are designed to support research projects with a high probability of generating new knowledge and insights. Projects submitted for funding consideration should be at an early, even preliminary stage of development, and should be intended to break new ground or to challenge commonly-held assumptions. Projects submitted should be sufficiently novel, cross-disciplinary, or heterodox so that they have a strong likelihood of influencing the development of new ways of thinking about important problems
Application Deadline: March 17, 2009

Click here for more information or to apply
 


Stanford Biochemistry Founders' Award for Doctoral Excellence
Now seeking nominations for the Stanford Biochemistry Founders Award to recognize outstanding achievement by women pursuing graduate studies in biochemistry and molecular biosciences. Recipients will participate in a one day symposium on May 22, 2009 at Stanford University. Awardees will be advanced students near the completion of their studies and will not have graduated before 9/1/08.  Up to six awardees will be selected on the basis of the quality, originality, and significance of their work; the award will include travel and accommodation expenses and a $500 honorarium. Nominations should be submitted electronically (as a single pdf document) by a faculty member, and should include the student's CV, a one page description of the thesis work (written by the student), and a recommendation letter.  A second recommendation letter (pdf) should be sent separately by its author. Nomination materials should state clearly how the nominee's work has advanced our understanding of the molecular basis of a significant biological process.
Submission deadline: March 20, 2009. Email to [email protected]
Quick Links
AWIS FELLOW SPOTLIGHT
 
Dr. Alice S. Huang


 Dr. Huang

Alice S. Huang, a senior faculty associate in biology at the California Institute of Technology and a lifelong advocate for women in science, has been chosen to serve as president-elect of AAAS beginning February 17, at the close of the 2009 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Dr. Huang was honored as an AWIS Fellow in 1998.

More about Dr. Huang
 
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