Greetings!
Give an AWIS Gift Membership
this holiday season!
Your generous gift of an AWIS membership is an investment in the
professional and personal growth of your favorite woman in STEM. Your
special holiday gift will include a complimentary copy of the new AWIS
Mentoring Handbook by Donna J. Dean, "Getting the Most out of Your
Mentoring Relationships" (retail value $32.95). Additionally, each gift
membership includes:
*A subscription to the quarterly AWIS Magazine
*The bi-monthly, electronic news digest Washington Wire
*Discounts on publications and special events
*Opportunities to join local chapters of AWIS
Give a personalized gift membership today. Your friends and loved ones
will enjoy the benefits of networking, camaraderie, professional
development and product discounts throughout the whole year.
Student Membership $ 50.00
Regular Membership $100.00
Click here to take advantage of this special offer!
All of us at AWIS wish you a very Happy Holiday Season!
Janet
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Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director
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Education |
Contributed by: Sanjukta Chakraborty
Attracting Women to Engineering Is the
Problem Not Retention Numerous studies and strategies have
focused on increasing the number of women engineers. However, a survey recently
published in the Journal of Engineering Education suggests that under-representation
of women in engineering is not due to early drop out but rather
less women enroll in engineering in the first place. The survey recommends that in order to build a solid foundation
for a more diverse engineering workforce early education is key. Exposure of
engineering professions to young school girls by school teachers or later years,
career counselors, and inclusion of engineering topics into K-12 curricula could
have long term benefits and attract more women to this field.
Get 'em young
Nobel Laureates Call for Gender Balance in Science Elizabeth H. Blackburn and Carol W. Greider, two Nobel
Prize winners of 2009, have urged scientific institutions to make some active
alterations in their career structures. They point out that women do really well in sciences but
are often daunted by the lack of flexibility in career structure at a life crux where they have to balance having a family and advancing in their
scientific careers. Drs. Blackburn and Grieder call for a more flexible approach to part-time
research or career breaks for women scientists as well as incorporation of
women into key committees and decision-making positions. The two Nobel
laureates emphasize that active measures need to be taken to help more women
scientists reach top positions.
Even out gender gap
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Government |
Contributed by: Jennifer K. Wind
Politically Correct
Approach to Population Pressures
On the heels of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, it is interesting to explore one aspect of environmental sustainability, population. Government enforced,
population related policy is a delicate subject spanning everything from birth
control to women's rights.
Congress Approves Appropriations for National Science Foundation (NSF)
The House and Senate passed H.R. 3288, the Consolidated Appropriations
Act of 2010 and sent it to President Barack Obama for his signature.
Under this bill, funding increases for the National Science Foundation
by $436.1 million or 6.7 percent over the FY 2009 appropriation. The
NSF Education and Human Resources Directorate, which includes the
ADVANCE Program, received an increase of 3.2 percent:
FY 2009 appropriation: $845.3 million (does not include stimulus funding)
FY 2010 request: $857.8 million, an increase of $12.5 million or 1.5 percent
FY 2010 appropriation: $872.7 million, an increase of $27.4 million or
3.2 percent
What has Congress funded?
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International |
Contributed by: Lindsay De Biase
Does Teaching Really Matter: Policy Behind Promotions in Higher Education
In the UK,
most institutions of higher education agree that excellence in teaching and
learning is a key factor in the success of the institution. Yet few universities
consider teaching performance carefully when awarding promotions to professors
and lecturers. Recent studies were able to obtain data on promotion
policy from only 46 UK
institutions, a lack of transparency that many find troubling. In addition, Deans interviewed for these studies said the absence of teaching
performance from the promotion decision-making process certainly influences
professors' perceptions of what is most important for career advancement.
Promotion in higher education
Nobel
Prize......Downsized?
The Nobel Foundation in Stockholm announced that they may have to
reduce the money awarded to future Nobel laureates as a result of the global
economic downturn. The prize, established in the 1901 will of Alfred Nobel, was
started by investing 31 million crowns ($4.5 million) in safe securities and
using the income from these investments to reward exceptional scientists and
peacemakers. Invested capital had grown to 2.8 billion crowns ($407.2 million)
at the end of last year but more than a fifth of the invested capital was lost
in the financial crisis.
Financing Nobel
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Careers |
Contributed by: Sarah Rhodes
Tips for the Academic Interview
"Rehearsal is key to academic interview success," claims Teresa Mangum
who outlines the academic interview process - from receiving a phone
call from a department chair - to the in-person interview. She explains
that knowing what you are going to say beforehand will help everything
run much smoother and help avoid meanders, repeats, omissions and
annoying mannerisms. Background research on the interviewers and
preparation of answers to key questions will help you present yourself
in the best light, calm stage fright, and get your points across clearly
and succinctly.
Break a leg
What Are Your Publication Stats? Ever wonder the reach of your publications? With Tenurometer you can submit queries to see how far reaching your publications have gone and who is reading them. Read about Tenurometer and see who knows your work.
Know your audience
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Science and Health |
Extra Attention to Cholesterol During Menopause Women going through menopause were studied and found that LDL cholesterol can increase by nearly 9% during this time. Vera Bittner MD, MSPH of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, noted that this change over time is cumulative. At risk women starting in higher range cholesterol levels may be severely affected and want to monitor their levels closely.
Who wants oatmeal?
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Lifestyle |
Contributed by: Sarah Rhodes
Maintaining Work-Play Balance
As it becomes more difficult to leave work behind at the office or lab,
it is important to focus on the need for work-life separation. In this
technological age, especially in light of the current economic downturn,
people fear they might lose their job if they are not working harder
than colleagues. Research indicates that working longer hours does not
necessarily result in getting more done and time-off can have a positive
impact on productivity. Taking catnaps (Google has even created
NapPods), lunchtime walks, vacations, days off and work-free weekends
are all ways to restore energy and get productivity back on track.
Mind matters: in defense of downtime
Keeping Your Cool This Holiday Season Enjoy six tips to having an enjoyable holiday season with your family. Don't let your holiday stress come from family members. Know your limits and keep your expectations realistic.
Tis the season to be jolly
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AWIS News and Events |
AWIS Chicago Chapter Event: People Management Workshop Date: December 15, 2009 Time: 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
AWIS Central Jersey Chapter
Event: Annual Holiday Dinner
Date: December 16, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
AWIS Bethesda Chapter
Event: Holiday Happy Hour
Date: December 17, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
AWIS Palo Alto Chapter
Event:Skills, Strategies & Super Powers for the 21st Century Woman
Date: January 21, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM-9:00 PM
AWIS National Webinar
Event: Getting The Most Out of The AWIS website!
Dates: January 25, 2009 at 12:00 PM January 26, 2009 at 4:00 PM
AWIS East Bay Chapter
Event: January Chapter Meeting
Date: January 28, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
AWIS Bethesda Chapter
Event:Stranger in a Strange Land: Musings from a Neurologist Living Among Psychiatrists
Date: February 17, 2009
Time: 4:30 PM-6:00 PM
AWIS San Diego Chapter
Event: Work Life Satisfaction Program
Date: February 18, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM-8:00 PM
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Opportunities |
Maria Mitchell Association The
White House recognizes the accomplishments of, AWIS partner, the Maria
Mitchell Association's Research Experience for Undergraduates program.
They will be receiving the 2009 Presidential Award for Excellence in
Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring January 6, 2010.
White House press release
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.
The International Institute for Applied Systems
Analysis (IIASA)Summer Felloship in Austria
Each summer, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
(IIASA), located in Schloss Laxenburg near Vienna, Austria, hosts a
selected
group of graduate students, primarily doctoral, from around the world
in its
Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP). These students work closely with
IIASA's senior scientists on projects within the Institute's 3 theme areas. For more information see IIASA. Application deadline is January 18, 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

Susan Fitzpatrick-Brown, PhD
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Long time AWIS National and AWIS Philadelphia Chapter member Susan Fitzpatrick-Brown passed away December 2, 2009 after battling breast cancer.
Susan was a long standing and committed member of AWIS and we will feel her loss tremendously.
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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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Engineering Department Head New Mexico State University
Tenure-track Assistant Physics Professor University of Nevada
Smithsonian Research Scientist The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)
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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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