Greetings!
We need to hear your voice as we prepare a new strategy to advance AWIS over the next three years. We have made great strides since launching our last plan in 2007 especially in building new programs and services for our members. I hope you have participated in one or more of our career training, work/life balance seminars, and local networking opportunities with our 54 chapters across the country.
We have also continued to advocate for gender equity at the national level -- with the White House, with Congress, and with the Federal Agencies. Our government work is particularly important in light of federal spending cuts which endanger vital initiatives like the NSF ADVANCE Program.
So, please weigh-in with your comments and suggestions by Wednesday, November 4, 2009.
Best regards,
Janet
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Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director
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| Education |
| Contributed by: Erin Rogers
STEM Pipeline Fails to Retain the Most Qualified StudentsNew research suggests that top-performing students are leaving the STEM career "pipeline" at a higher rate than lower-performing students. Investigators at Rutgers University, Georgetown University and The Urban Institute used multiple longitudinal data sets to examine 20-year trends in retention and attrition of STEM students from high school through mid-career STEM occupations. Overall retention between the 1970s and 1990s was strong, but there were clear declines in retention of the highest performing students during the 1990s. Investigators suggest that highly qualified students may be finding traditional STEM positions unattractive and are choosing non-traditional careers that utilize their STEM knowledge.
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| Government |
Contributed by: Jennifer K. Wind
The Science of Losing
Duke's Center for Cognitive Neuroscience found that males that voted for John McCain, who lost the recent presidential election, experienced a decrease in testosterone levels after McCain's defeat. Testosterone levels in male voters for Barack Obama and all female voters were unaffected by the election's outcome. Scientists are showing growing interest in the biological processes underlying political behavior.
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| International |
Contributed by: Haroula Argiros
Global Gender Gap Report
Just released is a report ranking 115 countries on their progress toward equality between genders. Four criteria wer included in the study: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Unfortunately, ranked 31st, the United States does not even come close to being ranked in the top ten.
Mind the gap
Insight into the Educational System: A Global Perspective
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international organization composed of 30 countries, has published the 2009 edition of its annual report Education at a Glance. The report encompasses a wide range of issues impacting the educational system of the involved countries, including new long-term unemployment data, an analysis of economic spending on teacher compensation, instruction time, and class size, and a review of the educational excellence of children within these countries. While the report does not assess the impact of the economic crisis on the education system, it does demonstrate how critical investments in human capital, and thus the education system, are contributing to economic recovery.
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| Careers |
Contributed by: Sarah Rhodes
Busy and Guilty but Still Happy
Women now make up 47% of the work force and this upward trend is generally popular, with 75% of Americans disagreeing with the notion that women should be tied to the kitchen sink. However, many working mothers do feel conflicted about their competing roles at work and at home; although 74% of working moms work full time, only 37% really want to (the rest would prefer to work part time) compared to 79% of working fathers. Working moms also feel as if they don't have enough time in the day, with four in ten saying that they always feel rushed, compared with a quarter of the other two groups. Nevertheless, despite all of this working moms are as happy as stay-at-home moms and happier than single mothers.
Tips for Working Women
As the workplace has evolved, women need to be aware of how sexism has changed form, becoming subtle but still affecting working women. Executive coach Ann Daly, Ph.D., has compiled what she considers to be the top 10 unwritten rules for working women, covering points raging from 'looks matter' (bare too much flesh at your own risk) to 'actually, it is personal' (it is who you know not what you know that gets you promoted).
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| Science and Health |
| Contributed by: Christiana Fogg
Wee Ones Lacking Vitamin D
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics from researchers at Children's Hospital Boston suggests that approximately 20% of U.S. children are deficient in vitamin D. Nearly 5,000 children from a variety of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds were assessed for vitamin D levels, which were at suboptimal concentrations for the majority of children. Vitamin D deficiency was highest in Hispanic and non-Hispanic black children and lowest in children taking multi-vitamins. These results bring attention to the widespread nature of vitamin D deficiency in the U.S. and will hopefully raise awareness and public health efforts to reverse this trend, especially since vitamin D is essential for immunity and cardiovascular health.
Vitamin D deficient in U.S. kids
Better Outcomes for Women with Broken Hearts
New evidence published in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicates that fewer women are dying in hospitals after experiencing heart attacks or myocardial infarctions (MIs). Researchers at Emory University analyzed mortality data from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarctions collected over the past 12 years and observed a decrease in mortality for both men and women after MIs during this time period. The most significant decrease in mortality was observed in women under age 55, and the decrease was significantly better than men in that age group. These results also lend support to other observations that men and women respond differently to heart attacks.
Health after heart attacks
Beneficial Bugs Curb Colitis
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are debilitating diseases that destroy the lining of the colon and cause painful ulcerations. A recent publication in the American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology from scientists at UCLA and the Cleveland Clinic shows that ingestion of the probiotic bacteria Bacillus polyfermenticus relieved colitis symptoms in a mouse model. Many people are familiar with the use of probiotic bacteria in the production of yogurt and other dairy products, but the bacterium also reduced IBD symptoms in mice when given during the non-inflammatory phase of colitis. This study lends support to the further clinical development of probiotic treatment for IBD in humans.
Probiotic protection for the inflamed gut
Science and Health Never Looked so Cool
Check out these seven witty YouTube videos about science and healthcare. These videos will surely have you calling the doctor for emergency surgery due to their sidesplitting hilarity.
Lights up, camera rolling
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| Lifestyle |
| Contributed by: Lindsay De Biase
The Complete Digital Diary
Two new books, Total Recall and Delete, reviewed in the journal Nature, explore how advances in digital technology are likely to change how we record our lives. While the brain is quite ineffective at storing events with detail and long term accuracy, the advent of language, writing, photographs, video, and computing have expanded opportunities to record events with lasting precision. Both Total Recall and Delete expect such trends to continue until individuals can carry small recording devices on their person that can store conversations, pictures, and records of location. The books disagree however, on whether such trends will simply mean a phenomenal ability to peruse one's memories at a later date or whethre such extensive records of personal data will make us increasingly vulnerable to corporate or government "big brother" monitoring of our lives.
Modern Monogamy: "Till a More Tempting Partner Do Us Part?"
To judge by the lives of the rich and the famous, fidelity to a single partner throughout life seems like an unattainable goal. Yet even the average Joe is confronted with increased life expectancy and trends such as "friends with benefits" and blossoming online forums such as Ashley Madison Agency (a dating site for married men and women). Has lifelong monogamy simply become unrealistic? This recent CNN article calls upon the opinions of sociologists, psychologists, journalists, and evolutionary biologists to discuss trends in modern relationships and to explore differing cultural views on infidelity. Experts seem to concur that while we may not be hardwired to have only one partner, there are still significant emotional, biological, and economic advantages in choosing to do so.
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| AWIS News and Events |
AWIS Central New Jersey Chapter
Event: Fall 2009 Lecture Series
Date: November 4, 2009
Time: 5:00 PM-9:00 PM
AWIS Chicago Chapter
Event: Negotiation in the Workplace
Date: November 10, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM
AWIS Connecticut Chapter
Event: Panel Discussion on Interviewing for Jobs in Academia
Date: November 11, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
AWIS LA/Ventura County Chapter
Event: Balancing Career and Family for Women in Science
Date: November 13, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM-8:00 PM
AWIS Philadelphia Chapter
Event: What Works Workshop
Date: November 14, 2009
Time: 9:00AM-5:00PM
Location: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
More information: regionalmeeting@awisphl.org
AWIS Palo Alto Chapter
Event: 10 Top Tips for Using LinkedIn Effectively
Date: November 18, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM-9:00 PM
AWIS Massachusetts Chapter
Event: Negotiating With Your Spouse
Date: November 19, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM-9:30 PM
AWIS East Bay Chapter
Event: Effective "Boss" Management Winning Strategies for Managing "Up"
Date: November 19, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM-9:30 PM
AWIS LA/Ventura County Chapter
Event: Holiday Potluck
Date: December 4, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM-9:00 PM
AWIS Autumn Webinar Series: Part 3
Event: Skills that will help you ace the INTERVIEW
Date: December 7, 2009
Time: 2:00 PM-3:00 PM
Register: Online
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Opportunities |
2010 National Science Board Public Service Award
The National Science Board (NSB) Public Service Award honors individuals who and groups that have made substantial contributions to increasing public understanding of science and engineering in the United States. These contributions may be in a wide variety of areas that have the potential of contributing to public understanding of and appreciation for science and engineering - including mass media, education and/or training programs, entertainment, etc. Deadline: November 4, 2009
2010 Vannevar Bush Award
The Vannevar Bush Award honors truly exceptional lifelong leaders in science and technology who have made substantial contributions to the welfare of the Nation through public service activities in science, technology, and public policy. The Vannevar Bush Award is presented by the National Science Board, the policymaking board of the National Science Foundation. Deadline: November 4, 2009.
Nominate a Colleague for the National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is the highest honor the President bestows on scientists. Help recognize the contributions of your colleagues by submitting a nomination for this prestigious award. Nominations must include the nomination itself and three references, and be submitted by November 5, 2009. If you have any questions, contact nms@nsf.gov or 703-292-8040. For more information, please visit http://www.nsf.gov/od/nms/medal.jsp.
The Schlumberger Foundation Calls for Applications
Faculty for the Future fellowships are
awarded to women from developing and emerging economies who are preparing
for PhD or postdoctoral study in the physical sciences, engineering and
related disciplines to pursue advanced graduate study at top universities
in their disciplines abroad. Candidates have from October 5th to November 30th 2009 to apply.
Hellman Fellowship in Science and Technology Call for Applications
Applicants must have a Ph.D. in an area of science or engineering and have some experience or a demonstrated interest in an area related to science and technology policy. Masters degrees may be considered in the fields of engineering and computer science. Strong writing and organizational skills are desired. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or current employees of an academic or professional organization in the United States. For more information see http://www.amacad.org/hellman.aspx. Deadline is January 15, 2010.
BeWISE Call for Presentations
Event: Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet
Date: Thursday, March 11 - Friday, March 12, 2010
Location: United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5 Office
77 West Jackson Blvd., 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60604
More Info: http://www.epa.gov/region5/water/wise/
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
This program offers one to three year postdoctoral fellowships designed to increase the involvement of scientists and engineers from academia and industry to scientific and technical areas of interest and relevance to the Navy. This program has a rolling admission.
Go to: http://www.asee.org/resources/nrl/ for detailed program information.
The Naval Research Enterprise Intern Program (NREIP) NREIP is a ten week summer research opportunity for undergraduate Juniors & Seniors, and Graduate students, under the guidance of a mentor, at a participating Navy Laboratory. The stipend amounts for the program are $5,500 for undergraduate students and $6,500 for graduate students. U.S. citizenship required; Permanent residents accepted at certain labs.
Go to: http://www.asee.org/nreip for application deadlines and detailed program information.
Humboldt Research Fellowship
Fellowships for Postdoctoral Researchers are for postdoctoral scientists and scholars who have completed a doctoral degree within four years prior to the application submission date are eligible. This fellowship allows for a stay of 6-24 months in Germany and provides a monthly stipend of 2,250 EUR. Click here for application materials and detailed information.
Fellowships for Experienced Researchers are for scientists and scholars who have completed a doctoral degree within twelve years prior to the application submission date are eligible.
This fellowship allows for a stay of 6-18 months in Germany which may be divided into a maximum of three visits of at least three months each and provides a monthly stipend of 2,450 EUR. Click here for application materials and detailed information.
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IN MEMORIAM
Virginia H. Holsinger, PhD
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Dr. Holsinger, our good friend, mentor, and supporter, passed away on September 4, 2009.
Virginia was
the creator of sustainable whey-soy based foods that have been used in military meals ready to eat (MREs).
Virginia was a long standing and committed member of AWIS and we will feel her loss tremendously.
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Read more about Dr. Holsinger.
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| NEW MENTORING RESOURCE |
 ALL NEW!
Getting the Most out of Your Mentoring Relationships: A Handbook for Women in STEM
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Provides a quick yet structured guide to mentoring
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Includes a handy resource guide for quick reference
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Is the most comprehensive handbook catered to women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
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Who's Hiring?
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AWARDS Project Manager
AWIS National
Assistant Professor-Ecology
University of Toronto
Mechanical Engineering Systems Manager
Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research
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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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Learn more
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