Greetings!
Here's your opportunity to find out more about the Association for Women in Science and what we are doing to address your needs.
AWIS will be presenting a new webinar titled "Your Questions Answered: Ask the AWIS President" featuring AWIS President, Dr. Joan Herbers. Dr. Herbers will provide a quick review of the benefits of AWIS membership, the initiatives we are working on, and will be prepared to answer your questions.
To facilitate participation we will be offering two sessions; the first will take place on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 from 3 PM to 4 PM (Eastern Time) and the second will take place on Thursday, March 4, 2010 from 4 PM to 5 PM (Eastern Time).
For further information and to register, please go to the AWIS website. Questions? Contact AWIS at membership@awis.org.
Ask away!
Janet
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Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director |
| Education |
Contributed by: Sanjukta Chakraborty
Best Value Colleges of 2010: An Interactive Database
With increased college costs, and a receding economy, students and their families are having to really stretch the dollar. The Princeton Review, an education services and test-prep company known for its annual college listings, has teamed up with USA Today to create an interactive database of the 100 Best Value Colleges for 2010. This annual list is based on more than 30 factors which include academic ratings, admissions, financial costs, and aid offered, as well as statistics and analyses of the students at these colleges.
Is getting a degree affordable?
Gender Equity in Science: Role Models and Mentors
Although the number of women in science careers has increased significantly over the last couple of years, it will take some time to reach true gender balance. A survey by the National Research Council on Gender differences in critical career transitions found that women who had mentors did significantly better than those who did not. One of the factors that inspire women to pursue scientific careers is seeing examples of other women who have succeeded in such positions. National organizations, such as the Association for Women in Science, increase the benefits of such mentorships by bringing women scientists together to network.
Need for a mentor
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| Government |
Contributed by: Jennifer K. Wind
National Science Foundation's 2011 Budget Request
On February 1st the National Science Foundation (NSF) submitted a 458-page budget proposal to Congress, outlining their spending plans for 2011. The NSF has requested $7.4 billion to be invested in discovery, research infrastructure, learning, and stewardship. The NSF's investment priorities for 2011 include $158 million in graduate research fellowships, $10 million in climate change education, $41 million in cyber-learning education, and $103 million in undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. This report also breaks down how the NSF used or plans to use the $3.0 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding.
NSF budget request
User-friendly summary brochure
Voice YOUR Opinion! Share YOUR Ideas!
The Office of Science and Technology Policy has released a request for information (RFI) to the general public regarding the greatest STEM challenges of our century. A list of 'grand challenges' currently includes the need for better vaccines, less expensive diagnostics, improved cyber-security, affordable solar cells, and intelligent prosthetics. The current administration wants your input on which of the proposed grand challenges are most important and how government, industry, and society can work together to overcome these challenges. Responses are due by April 15, 2010 to challenge@ostp.gov.
Click here to voice your opinion!
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| International |
Contributed by: Lindsey De Biase
New EU Science Commissioner "A Woman of Action"
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, a self-proclaimed "woman of action", will begin her new job this week as Europe's Research Commissioner. Although she doesn't hail from a scientific background, this position gives Geoghegan-Quinn enormous influence during a period when the European Commission (EC) is contemplating science policy changes which could impact most researchers in the European Union (EU). One key issue that Geoghegan-Quinn will need to address is the creation of the European Research Area. This initiative could boost Europe's collective research productivity by allowing free movement of researchers and funding across national borders, but requires numerous legal changes on the part of member nations. Another issue confronting the new commissioner is controversy about the fate of Cooperation Programs. These programs fund consortia of academic and industry scientists, to address problems relevant to EU policy in arenas such as health and energy. Such consortia have produced impressive cross-border cooperation, yet crippling bureaucracy plagues the programs in their current form, leading some to argue that the programs should be abandoned altogether. Faced with these and other tasks, Geoghegan-Quinn says she "won't be a mouse" and that she "wants results."
Geoghegan-Quinn and the future of research in Europe
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| Careers |
Contributed by: Sarah Rhodes
Taking on Tenure
Gordon Gee, President of The Ohio State University, thinks tenure rewards publishing in scholarly journals over excellence in teaching and other contributions -- a structure that is outdated and too often favors the quantity of a professor's output over quality.
A change in the rules?
Where To Work
Are you thinking of looking for a new job and wondering who the best employers are? If so, this article is a must read! Science, technology, and health-related companies have been assessed based on their women- and family-friendly policies. Factors taken into consideration in the assessment include maternity (and paternity) leave, on-site childcare, percentage of women employees, and proven commitment to work-life balance. Among the top employers are Cisco Systems, Eli Lily, Genentech, and General Electric.
Top family-friendly companies for women in science, tech and engineering
I'm A Phony
Scientists, and especially women scientists, are plagued by feelings of inadequacy. Cheryl Murray, President of the American Physical Society and incoming Dean of Harvard's School of Engineering, still describes "an overwhelming sense of being a fraud, a phony, of not being good enough for her job, despite much evidence to the contrary". This special report by Nature delves into the 'impostor phenomenon', a term coined 30 years ago to describe how women (though later research show that men are afflicted too) have difficulty internalizing their successes. From 'sitting-on' papers to not applying for promotions, this often leads to sabotaging one's own career. The article ends by listing some strategies for helping purge the inner critic such as establishing a relationship with a good mentor, and tackling areas of weakness head-on.
Unmasking the impostor
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| Science and Health |
Contributed by: Jennifer MacArthur
Third-Hand Smoke Hazards
The dangers of second-hand smoke are generally appreciated, however most people are unaware of 'third-hand' smoke. Recently a study reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrates how third-hand smoke, the nicotine residue that sticks to indoor surfaces such as carpets, furniture and clothes, can also be a health hazard. Researchers found that the nicotine reacts with common indoor air pollutants like nitrous acid to form potent carcinogens. These carcinogens pose the greatest health risk to small children who have more direct contact with household surfaces.
Another reason to quit!
Anti-Aging Cocktail
Researchers may have uncovered a recipe for youthful vigor, as recently reported in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine. Mice fed a complex dietary supplement of vitamins, minerals, and extracts maintained high physical activity levels into old age, compared with controls which significantly slowed down. The energy boost in the supplement-fed mice appeared to be due to increased mitochondrial activity and decreased oxidative stress. The researchers hope to develop a supplement formula to help humans similarly maintain zestful health and performance into their later years.
Mix it up, shaken not stirred
Maternal Age May Be A Significant Factor in Likelihood of Autistic Offspring
Researchers
at the University of California, Davis have conducted a 10-year study
evaluating nearly 5 million births in California during the 1990s, and
found evidence linking the mother's age at conception to the risk of
developing autism in the child. The study found that mothers over the
age of 40 had a 51% greater risk of having an autistic child compared
with mothers between the ages of 25-29, and a 71% higher risk compared
with mothers under 25 years old. An earlier study performed by Kaiser
Permanente found that both the father and mother's ages correlated to
the risk of autism. The current study provides evidence that having an
older father plays a stronger role in increasing the odds of having an
autistic child only when the mother is under 30 years old. The study
states that in the past twenty years rates of autism have increased by
600%, however only 5% of that increase is due to older women having
children. The researchers also point out that there are many other
factors which may contribute to the development of autism, including
exposure to potential environmental toxins.
Mother's age and risk of autism
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| Lifestyle |
Contributed by:
Geetha Srinivasan
Women Constitute A Majority in Nonfarm Payroll Jobs For The First Time in History
According to recent Labor Department data, women are now a majority in the workforce for the first time in recorded history. The latest data shows that women constitute 50.3% of nonfarm payroll jobs, however this apparent advance in gender equality is bittersweet since the recent recession is a contributing factor. While both men and women have lost jobs since the recession began in December 2008, men have lost 7.4 million jobs, compared 3.9 million for women. One reason for this disparity arises from the different types of jobs men and women hold. Generally, men dominate industries such as construction and manufacturing which have suffered a greater downturn, whereas some industries employing a large number of women such as healthcare and education have faired relatively well during this recession.
Job loss disparity
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| AWIS News and Events |
AWIS Bethesda Chapter
Event:Stranger in a Strange Land: Musings from a Neurologist Living Among Psychiatrists
Date: February 17, 2010
Time: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
AWIS Los Angeles/Ventura Chapter
Event: Work-Life Satisfaction Program
Date: February 17, 2010
Time: 6:00 PM-8:30 PM
AWIS San Diego Chapter
Event: Work Life Satisfaction Program
Date: February 18, 2010
Time: 6:00 PM-8:00 PM
AWIS Massachusetts Chapter
Event: General Membership Planning Meeting
Date: February 22, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM-9:00 PM
AWIS San Diego Chapter
Event: Strategy Session: Going Green at Home and Work
Date: March 1, 2010
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
AWIS National
Event: Your Questions Answered: Ask the AWIS President!
Dates: March 2, 2010 3:00 PM-4:00 PM
March 4, 2010 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
AWIS LA/Ventura County Chapter
Event: Brighter Horizons Science Career Day
Date: March 6, 2010
AWIS Northern California Chapters
Event: NCC-AWIS WINTER WORKSHOP
Date: March 6, 2010
Time: 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
AWIS San Diego Chapter
Event: Expanding Your Horizons Conference (EYH)
Date: March 6, 2010
Time: 8:30 AM-2:30 PM
AWIS Metropolitan New York Chapter
Event: FIRST Robotics Career Festival
Date: March 14, 2010
Time: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
AWIS Bethesda Chapter
Event: Panel discussion on Policy, Program, Review
Date: March 16, 2010
Time: 4:30 PM-6:00 PM
AWIS Massachusetts Chapter
Event: AWIS Moive Night: Naturally Obsessed
Date: March 17, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM-9:00 PM
AWIS National and Bethesda Chapter
Event: USA Science and Engineering Festival
Date: October 23 & 24, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM-5:30 PM each day
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Opportunities |
AWIS Volunteering Opportunity
The AWIS Magazine is always looking for contributors. If you would like to contribute as an editor or writer, please contact Faye Farmer for more information. The magazine reflects the membership and new perspectives are always welcome. If you are interested in creating or contributing to a regular column in the magazine, please contact Columns Editor Lindsay Reese.
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 National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)
AWIS members are invited to attend NPA's 8th Annual Meeting and the National Summit on Gender and the Postdoctorate. The NPA's Executive Director Cathee Johnson Phillips said, "Many of the issues that women scientists face are often magnified during the postdoctoral experience. We would really value the input of AWIS members at both of these meetings."
The NPA's 8th Annual Meeting will be held in Philadelphia March 12-14. Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes for Health, will be the Keynote Speaker. Please visit NPA's website for more information.
The National Summit on Gender and the Postdoctorate precedes the Annual Meeting and also takes place in Philadelphia March 10-11. Dr. Kathie Olsen, Senior Advisor to the National Science Foundation will be the Keynote Speaker. Please visit NPA's website for more information.
National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI)
2010 Tech in the Works Competition
Letter of Interest Due: March 23, 2010
Proposals Due: April 6, 2010
Scholarship for PhD and Postdoctoral Studies in Sweden
The program provides PhD students and researchers with an excellent opportunity to conduct a study or research visit to a Swedish university within all fields of study. For more information click here.
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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AWIS MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Sandy Pearce, PhD
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Dr. Sandy Pearce, President of the AWIS Chicago Chapter, has been nominated the chapter's scientist of the month.
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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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Distinguished Lecturer - Power Engineering
City College of the City University of New York
Dean of the College of the Environment and Life Sciences
The University of Rhode Island
Chair in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
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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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