Greetings!
AWIS will be holding elections in late September, and the Nominations Committee is searching for leaders to join the National Executive Board. As a member, you can submit nominations--or nominate yourself. We are looking to fill two Councilor positions and the office of President-Elect. Councilors represent the membership, lead AWIS committees, and set policy for the organization. They serve for a period of three years. A President-Elect is elected every two years and assumes office on January 1 of the year following the election. It is expected that candidates for President-Elect will have served on the Executive Board as either a voting or a non-voting member. The President-Elect exercises responsibility over particular activities at the request of the President and prepares to assume the responsibility of the Presidency after serving for one year. The President of AWIS oversees activities of the Executive Board and the national office. The President serves as the organization's chief elected official and spokesperson. For more information, click here to view a copy of the AWIS Constitution and Bylaws or the 2007-2010 Strategic Plan. By August 5, 2010, please e-mail a resume (no longer than two pages) and a statement of interest to: awis@awis.org - put "ELECTION" in the subject line. Please include: 1. Name 2. Mailing address (home or work) 3. Phone numbers (work, cell, fax) 4. E-mail address 5. Position for which the candidate is running (Councilor, or President-Elect) 6. Education 7. Current professional position and professional activities 8. Involvement in AWIS and/or other women in science and engineering activities 9. Why the candidate is interested in the position for which he or she is running 10. Women in science issues or national committees that the candidate would work on as goals for National AWIS
Serving in leadership roles in professional organizations like AWIS provides women with invaluable opportunities to network and gain marketable skills, while also exchanging ideas and experiences with other women in STEM from around the country. "Think resume building."
We look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Phoebe Leboy, PhD _______________ Phoebe Leboy, PhD Immediate Past President Chair, AWIS Nominating
Committee
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Education | Contributed by: Sanjukta Chakraborty
Increasing Debt to Get a College Degree Many parents and students have the notion that a costlier college is better than a less pricey one, and are subsequently getting into dangerously high debt. When New York University's high debt burden drew media attention, the University decided to do something about it. Staff at NYU have been reaching out to the families of a large number of applicants who have qualified for aid, to ensure that they clearly understand their financial situation. During the current recession, a good college degree is not necessarily translating into a high paying job, leaving young graduates grappling with a heavy burden of debt. Most experts recommend keeping the monthly payments to less than 10% of the income that students expect from their first job. Taking advantage of the lesser expensive public colleges or using online loan calculators could be an important first step in solving this growing problem.
Borrow less for college
Physics Gets a New Name A 20-year-old physics major at the University of California at Davis has launched an unusual campaign. He is trying to get scientists to use the slang term "hella" for the quantity of 10 to the 27th power, a 1 followed by 27 zeros. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, he is attracting considerable support on Facebook, where a petition has 60,000 supporters, and Google is using the term now.
Hella
A Crisis in Creativity A recent IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the No. 1 "leadership competency" of the future. Yet for the first time, research shows that American creativity is declining.
How creative are you?
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International | New Survey Finds Widespread Gender Inequity, Despite Support for Equality A 22-nation survey conducted by the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project recently found that while global support for gender equality is high, gender inequalities still exist in many countries. The survey found that despite a general agreement that women and men should have equal rights, many worldwide believe that men should be given preference when it comes to jobs and higher education, and that life is generally better for men than it is for women.
Equal but separate
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Careers | Contributed by: Christine
G. DiRienzo
Satisfaction Amongst Faculty in Different Academic Areas The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) provides academic leaders with in-depth peer data to monitor and improve work satisfaction among full-time, tenure-track faculty. The COACHE survey is organized around five themes: Tenure, Nature of the Work; Policies and Practices; Climate, Culture and Collegiality; and Global Satisfaction. This report describes a focus on pre-tenure faculty at doctoral universities only, and their comments on each of these five themes. Within this survey was an analysis of gender differences across academic areas. In particular, women in the physical, medical, and biological sciences, noted no differences with men. Men in these fields rated raising children and tenure track compatible, and the amount of time to conduct research amongst the higher differences. In contrast¸ women in engineering, computer sciences, mathematics, and statistics rated travel funds, stop-the-clock, and paid/unpaid personal leave amongst their higher scored areas.
Tenure by gender
Offering the "Luxury" of Paid Maternity Leave Companies are trying to cut costs as much as they can due to the state of the current economy. Some consider maternity leave a "luxury" which may be next on the chopping block. According to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, employees are allowed up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave, to care for a child. Companies with fewer than 50 employees are not required to abide by this act. In fact, about 12% companies with fewer than 100 employees offer paid maternity leave and many are planning to reduce or eliminate this benefit. There are, however, some companies which are creating their own trends and betting on the idea that good parental leave benefits are consistent with retaining and attracting good employees.
Good benefits
The Great Exodus from Technology Companies It is estimated that 56% of women in technology companies leave their careers after 10-20 years of experience to start their own companies, pursue government or nonprofit work, or stop work entirely. Inequities in the way women are treated in technology companies, including an average 11% lower pay, less opportunity, and less respect than their male counterparts, comprise some of the reasons for this statistic. While companies try to maintain the appearance that women are promoted to higher ranks, often the women promoted to these roles lack experience as they were promoted too early in their careers or are they are promoted to high risk roles that have a higher risk of failure. Instead of these scapegoat strategies and maintaining a hostile environment, technology companies that invest in women through mentoring and support will likely benefit by retaining an underappreciated group.
Bailing out
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Science and Health | Contributed by: Jennifer MacArthur
What Exercise Science Doesn't Know About Women Exercise research has traditionally focused on male athletes. But as a New York Times columnist points out, these research results are often not applicable to women, and female athletes need to be studied independently. The few parallel exercise studies that have been conducted in both women and men demonstrate gender differences. Protein showed no performance benefit in women as it does for men, and even seemed to cause sore muscles in women. Other studies into "carbo-loading" before a race revealed that women do not pack fuel into their muscles the same way men do. Scientists have only recently begun to appreciate the effects estrogen has on muscle metabolism, and the article argues that women should approach male-focused exercise research with skepticism before changing their workout routine.
Work it out before you work out
Severe Angina Triples Coronary Artery Disease Risk for Women Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in developed countries, but is still often viewed as a man's disease. Because women and men show different symptoms and risk factors for CAD, physicians need to decipher the most predictive factors to guide diagnosis and treatment. A retrospective Canadian study, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, followed nearly 24,000 patients over six years and found that although chest pain is more common in men, severe angina poses three times the risk for developing CAD in women. The study also showed that women at risk for CAD were more likely than men to have high blood pressure or diabetes, and less likely to smoke.
Risky business
Chromosome Variation in Female Human Embryonic Stem Cells Human female cells regularly "turn off" one of their two X chromosomes to control the expression of X-linked genes. This X chromosome inactivation is critical for normal embryonic development. Stem cell scientists at UCLA examined the X chromosome inactivation state of newly cultured female human embryonic stem cells as part of safety studies. They observed variations that could be due to cell culture conditions, or coincidence, but that would need to be well controlled before human female embryonic stem cells could be used in regenerative medicine.
Turning off x-factor
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Work-Life Satisfaction | Contributed by: Sarah Rhodes
Female Foods & Male Munchies No one would argue that some drinks such as cocktails are seen as 'girlie' and others such as beers as 'manly', or as it is put in this article 'real men don't eat quiche'! But why is this so? How did this dichotomy evolve? Could it have a genetic component, or is it entirely cultural? The answer is likely to be both. Sensory psychologist, Maria Pelchat, argues that women are genetically predisposed to prefer sweeter tastes, which might account for their love of the sweeter things in life such as chocolate and fruity cocktails. Yale University's David Katz adds that some of our gender-driven eating can be explained by evolution, with gender-driven roles affecting our need of, and access to, different foods, which in turn has lead to a difference in the way our physiology has adapted. But cross-cultural studies show that culture also plays an important role too, making the roots of food-gender a truly a mixed bag.
How food gets assigned a gender Stress Busting Techniques Folk psychology states that we all have control of our own happiness, and researchers from the Universities of Stanford & Wisconsin tend to agree. They suggest that in the modern world where stress is such an inherent problem, one can combat the effects of stressors by retraining the brain and literally rewiring it. The net result is that in stressful situations the body's stress response is no longer triggered and you remain calm. This is what therapy aims to achieve, but cheaper alternatives such as meditation, visualization exercises, and self-hypnosis work in the same way. The article goes on to describe a few useful techniques that you can easily employ (such as the 'fear button') to combat stress.
Think away stress
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AWIS News and Events | AWIS DC Metropolitan Chapter Event: Fun Time Event At National Museum of American History Date: July 17, 2010 Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM
AWIS Palo Alto Chapter Event: 4th Annual Potluck Picnic Date: August 14, 2010 Time: 12:00 PM-3:00 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 |
Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations. Such activities should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. Full Proposal Deadline Date: July 20, 2010
GE & Science Prize for Young Life Scientists The Grand Prize winner of the GE & Science Prize for Young Life Scientists will receive: a cash prize of US $25,000, trip to Stockholm, Sweden, where you will make your acceptance speech at the Grand Hotel, an invite to participate in a seminar with Nobel Laureates and other prize winners, and publication in Science of the winning essay. To enter, submit your 1,000 word essay by August 1, 2010. For full details and more information, visit www.gescienceprize.org.
Nominations for the AAAS Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award Deadline:
September 1, 2010 The award is given to scientists or engineers or their associations whose exemplary actions have served to foster scientific freedom and responsibility. Such achievements can include: acting to protect the public's health, safety or welfare; focusing public attention on important potential impacts of science and technology on society by their responsible participation in public policy debates; or establishing important new precedents in carrying out the social responsibilities or in defending the professional freedom of scientists and engineers. For more information visit: http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/awards/freedom
Institut Pasteur Offers Fellowship Grants Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants to work at the Institut Pasteur Fellowship package is $70,000 per year for three years for a grand total of $210,000. Deadline September 17, 2010
NIH National Graduate Student Research Festival An annual two-day
event held on the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. This year's Festival,
to be held on October 25 and 26, will introduce 200 advanced graduate
students in the sciences to the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP)
with the aim of recruiting them to do postdoctoral training at the NIH. Learn more
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

Esther Takeuchi, PhD
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AWIS turns the spotlight toward Dr. Esther Takeuchi for being the woman with the most U.S. patents. Dr. Carlson is known for developing batteries for implantable biomedical devices. More about Dr. Takeuchi |
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
| WHO'S HIRING?
| Deputy Division
Director National Science Foundation
Chemist Postdoc
Fellow Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory
Assistant/Associate
Professor University of Maine
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SUPPORT AWIS
| Help other women in science! Donate to AWIS for its programs and awards.
Your tax-deductible donation to AWIS supports the wide-ranging advocacy
and career development activities of the National Office and the
Executive Board.
| Learn more
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AWIS Partners with USA Science & Engineering Festival
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More Info Here!
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