| Greetings!
We're still looking for an editor for the Washington Wire! If you or someone you know would like to work on this hugely successful project, please send me an e-mail at awis@awis.org.
Each issue takes about eight (8) hours to compile and we send out two issues per month. We're looking for volunteers to take on at least one entire issue per month with a six month commitment.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Janet
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Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director |
| Education |
A Boost for Postsecondary Education from the American
Recovery and Reinvestment ActPresident Obama presents an unprecedented boost to
postsecondary education indicating that "long-term investments that will
lead to new jobs, new industries, and a renewed ability to compete with the
rest of the world" are needed. This focus and commitment to higher education is
reflected as part of the $80 billion dollars for education that includes over
$17 billion dollars for post secondary education to help Americans
participate in some form of post high school education or training. To this end
much of the post secondary education funding is for financial aid in the form
of grants and work-study.
Stimulus Package's Effect on Postsecondary EducationNegative Stereotypes for Women and Minorities Can Become Self-Fulfilling
Prophecies
A new study that will be published in the Psychological
Science journal has found that a phenomenon known as the "stereotype threat"
is likely one explanation for the under-performance of women and minority
students on standardized tests and in college academic work. The
authors of the study suggest some ways that educators and test
administrators can reduce the effects of this phenomenon.
Negative Stereotypes Effects on Standardized Tests |
| Government |
Bill to Promote Gender Parity Among University Engineering and Science Faculty Reintroduced
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson announced that she has
introduced H.R. 1144, the Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic
Science and Engineering Act, which she also introduced in the 110th
Congress. The provisions of the bill are derived from recommendations of the
National Academies report "Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the
Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering."
Press Release: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act
Women and Minority Groups Express Concern Over Stimulus Money
Some women and minority groups are concerned over how some of the money
in the recently signed economic stimulus package will be used. Over $1
billion will be used for health research to compare the effectiveness of various treatments
on the same disease. The concern is that women and minorities are not
always fairly represented during clinical trials of certain treatments.
Fair Representation in Clinical Trials
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| International |
NSF Travel Grants to Women Scientists Increased Research Productivity
One hundred ninety-three U.S. women scientists and engineers received
travel grants from the National Science Foundation between 2001-2003.
The grants allowed the women to establish international research
partnerships in more than 60 countries. In a survey of the grantees,
most of them agreed that the travel grants allowed them to make progress
in their research productivity. Studies show that women scientists are
less likely to have international research partnerships.
Travel Grants Benefit Research
Gender and STEM Degree Attainment in Three Nations
The top three STEM degree-producing nations are the U.S., Japan, and
Brazil, based on data from the National Science Foundation. The
relative importance of science and engineering degrees varied across
all three nations as did the distribution of women and men across the
broad fields selected. Japanese women are more likely than their U.S.
counterparts to get degrees in engineering. In general "Agricultural
Sciences" tends to have the proportionately lowest number of first
university degrees, among both women and men in each of the three
nations.
International STEM Degrees
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| Careers |
Your New Part-Time Job
If you are in the market for a
new job in 2009, you have already landed one new part-time "position": your job hunt. To be successful in this increasingly
competitive job market, plan to commit at least two hours per day on searching
for that new situation. Cover all your
bases. In addition to combing the
internet, you should also be searching within your network, trade periodicals,
and job fairs. Develop a system to track
the innumerable applications, interviews, emails, phone calls, and new contact
information. Be persistent in
following-up, but know when to stop.
Move on after three un-returned emails or phone messages. Finally, prepare now for the time ahead when
your enthusiasm may lag. Silence from
headhunters and interviews that lead nowhere may just be par for the course
during this recession.
Job Hunting in 2009
Does
Being a Minority Make You a Better Team Player?
Many
organizations now operate using a matrix-based management structure instead of
a strict hierarchical structure, and more job descriptions require that
applicants "must be a team player."
Since women and other minorities have had to develop the skills to
enable them to adapt to unfamiliar environments, are these groups at an
advantage when facing this new paradigm?
Scientists who study team dynamics are working towards an answer. Some experts suggest that those who
are accustomed to brokering conflict, tolerating ambiguity, and thinking in the
abstract will be more successful in team-sensitive initiatives such as
interdisciplinary research or conflict negotiations. Regardless of whether minorities possess these talents, team-oriented science is the new business model and
those players who can adopt these skills will be more productive.
The New Business Model: Team-Oriented Science
Academic Culture Continues to Discourage Men From Being Active Parents
Many
universities do not have or offer family-friendly policies to faculty or
graduate students who are also fathers.
A survey of University of California faculty found that mothers worked,
on average, 18.6% more hours per week than fathers (95 hrs vs. 80 hrs), and
spent 12% more of their working hours on childcare and housework. A survey of graduate students uncovered
similar disparity: mothers worked 13% more hours per week than fathers (101 hrs
vs. 89 hrs), and devoted 13% more time to childcare and housekeeping. Cultural norms that do not embrace the father
figure as a component of childcare were cited as a cause for the seeming
inequity, not a lack of desire to participate in childcare. Compared to the US, Sweden offers a generous
18-month parental-leave policy. In an
effort to change the norm there, if the fathers do not participate, that leave allowance
is reduced to 12 months.
Family-Friendly Policies Must Include Fathers
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| Science and Health |
At the Root of Going Gray
A new study by a group of European researchers has unraveled
the cause of gray hair. The scientists
discovered that large amounts of hydrogen peroxide, the same chemical used for
blonde hair dye, accumulate in older hair follicles and causes bleaching of the
hair shaft. Older hair follicles also
had reduced levels of an important enzyme that usually break down the hydrogen
peroxide into oxygen and water, as well as enzymes that are involved in hair
pigmentation. These findings are a major
breakthrough in the understanding of hair color and graying and may also
contribute to an improved understanding of other pigment disorders, like
vitiligo.
Gray Hairs Revealed
Vitamins for Defense against Age-Related Macular
Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most
common causes of vision loss during aging. A recent study suggests vitamins may
protect against this disease. Scientists
at Harvard Medical School
followed over 5,000 women for seven years; one group of women received a
combination of B6 and B12 vitamins and a folic acid supplement, and the
remaining women received a placebo. All
of the women enrolled had heart disease or were at risk for cardiovascular
disease, and these diseases that involve the vascular system are thought be
linked to the development of AMD. Women
in the group taking vitamins had a 34% lower risk of developing AMD, and while
these results are promising, further clinical studies need to be completed to
support these findings.
Vitamins for Vision
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| Lifestyle
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The Women's Culture StudyWe are experiencing one of the most challenging worldwide
economic and business conditions since we came down from the trees. The
Corporation, as we have known it, will not likely survive the next 20
years. In the study, Tom Peters! Company assessed the cultures of 100 women-led organizations
in diverse industries. Participants were men and women employees who
objectively selected specific characteristics, as they perceived them in
their culture.
Measuring Cultures in Women-Led Organizations
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| AWIS News and Events |
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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 28, 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 7, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 9:45pm
Location: Griffith Park Observatory, www.griffithobservatory.org
Cost: FREE
Register: Please RSVP to Jennifer Gordon at jenniferlgordon@ucla.edu.
AWIS San Fransisco Chapter
Event: Social Networking
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: The Pub at UCSF, Mission Bay Campus,
1675 Owens Street, San Francisco
Cost: FREE
Click here for Directions to Mission Bay.
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:
www.acteva.com/go/pa-awis
AWIS Massachusetts Chapter
Event: "Broads, Bullies & Building Relationships: How to Navigate
Office Politics Strategically, Successfully and Politely!"
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Time: 6:00-9:00 pm
Location: MGH/ Simches Research Building,
185 Cambridge Street, Boston
Cost: $15 members/$40 non-members (limit of 65 participants)
Register: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=178460
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: www.awis.sdsc.edu
Registration closes on May 6. Early Bird rates end March 15!
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Opportunities |
The National Science Foundation is seeking Assistant Director for Biological Sciences (BIO)
Please send recommendations and supporting information to The Ad/Bio Search Committee, biosrch@lists.nsf.gov, by March 31, 2009.
Enhancing Diversity at the Graduate and Postdoctoral LevelsA symposium at the American Chemical Society National Meeting in Washington, D.C. Aug. 16-20, 2009. While the pipeline to careers in chemistry for women and underrepresented minorities is known to leak at all educational and professional stages, statistics indicate that it hemorrhages before, during, and after Ph.D. study. The goal of this symposium is to catalyze an open, constructive conversation between students, educators, and other chemical professionals regarding diversity at the graduate and postdoctoral levels. The organizers welcome submissions from researchers, administrators, and program leaders who are studying, interested in, or working towards enhancing diversity at the graduate and postdoctoral levels. Proposals are due on March 16, 2009. Click here for more information.
Anita Borg and Denice Denton Awards
The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology is now accepting nominations for three awards: the Anita Borg
Social Impact, Anita Borg Technical Leadership and the Denise Denton
Emerging Leader Awards. The awards are valued at $5000, $10000, and
$10000, respectively. The awards will be presented on October 1, 2009 at
the Grace Hopper Celebration in Tucson, Arizona.
Nominations will be accepted until April 30, 2009.
Click here for more information.
Nominations Sought for Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a private institution devoted to prevention, patient care,
research, and education in cancer, is accepting nominations for
the Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research. The prize recognizes
outstanding young investigators who have used basic or clinical
research to make significant contributions to increasing the
understanding of cancer or improving the treatment of the disease.
The prize is awarded to up to three investigators every other
year. Nominees must be 45 or younger at the time of the submission deadline. The winners will present their work at MSKCC and
will share a cash award of $150,000.
The deadline is April 30, 2009. Click here for more information.
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IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Barbara
Filner |
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Barbara Filner, our great friend, mentor, and supporter, passed away after a long illness this morning at her home in Bethesda, Maryland on February 24, 2009.
Barbara began her career in a traditional academic track and then moved to science policy studies and grants administration always championing the cause of women in science. She served as AWIS National President in 1987 and 1988 and managed the AWIS Educational Foundation as President from 1998 to 2008.
A memorial service will be held for Barbara at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 27, 2009 at Temple Sinai on 3100 Military Road in Washington, DC. The family is asking that donations be made to the AWIS Educational Foundation in remembrance of Barbara.
We will feel her loss tremendously.
Phoebe Leboy
President
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