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Greetings!
March is Women's History Month!
Join us for some key events including:
The Future of Women in Chemistry and Science
This hour-long on-line event is part of the celebration of UNESCO's International Year of Chemistry, and it features videos from 60 women in chemistry and the sciences (including me). Hosted by Dow Chemical, the Future of Women in Chemistry and Science will be held on March 1st at 11am EST, and will explore how women can advance the field and industry of chemistry-as well as other sciences. It's a topic that's near and dear to my heart-and it couldn't be more important for the future of chemistry. To join me for the event, sign up at the URL below: http://www.futurewecreate.com.
International Women's Day at EPA
AWIS President Joan Herbers has been invited to join EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for an international panel discussion on Tuesday, March 8 at EPA Headquarters in Washington DC. For more information or to register for this event, please click here.
And, thanks again to everyone who made our 40th Anniversary kick-off a huge success!
Best regards,
Janet
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Janet Bandows Koster
AWIS Executive Director |
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Education
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Contributed by Sarah Rhodes
Obama Touts Education as being Key to US Competitiveness
During a tour of an Intel facility in Oregon, President Obama highlighted the importance of improving educational standards in the States. As emphasized in his State of the Union Address, he stated that we must focus on education to ensure the country's future competitiveness. "We can't win the future if we lose the race to educate our children. In today's economy, the quality of a nation's education is one of the biggest predictors of a nation's success." Obama also promoted his Race to the Top initiative, which challenges school systems across the country to raise standards in return for federal aid. He also emphasized his initiative to train 100,000 new teachers over the next decade, along with steps designed to make college more affordable and efforts to re-vitalize community colleges across the nation.
Education education education
Nations are United on Women's Education
From February 22 to March 11 2011, the Commission on the Status of Women will hold its 55th session at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York. This conference will bring together Government officials and representatives of the UN, the public, the media and the private sector. The session's main focus is "Access and participation of women and girls in education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women's equal access to full employment and decent work". The newly-created UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) will be highlighted.
United Nations
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Careers | |
Contributed by Beth Rose
Firms Outsource Research Programs Overseas
Corporate R&D is being outsourced at an increasingly rapid pace, a recent Ernst & Young report said. About 11% of companies in the U.S. commit a quarter or more of their research funding to emerging markets, a figure that is expected to rise to 23% within five years. "China, India, and Brazil are becoming true centers of innovation and research," said strategy professor Anil Gupta.
Make sure your passport is up-to-date
Turned Down for a Job? This May be Why.
Transitioning from a post-doc position to a faculty member can be a tough road. In today's world of increasingly competitive applicants vying for a dwindling number of positions, even the most qualified and accomplished scientists are finding it hard to get an academic position. Drawing from his vast experience as part of academic search committees, Timothy Larsen gives some insight as to why seemingly terrific applicants are often turned down by search committees.
Rejection
10 Fun Ways to Improve Leadership Skills
Some people are natural born leaders, but for others it doesn't come as easily. If you're in the latter group, take heart, for as John F. Kennedy once said, "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." In this fun article, Mike Michalowicz, gives 10 unexpected ways to work on improving your leadership skills. Not all of these activities may be right for you, but you can use the list to jump-start some creative thinking and come up with your own list of activities that will help you hone you leadership skills.
Leadership skills
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Science and Health | |
Contributed by Anahita Hamidi
DuPont Ramps Up Soybean Program
DuPont said it plans to spend more than $50 million over five years to expand its soybean research program and Delaware-based facilities. The investment is expected to "increase the speed at which we can bring new products to the market and help farmers around the world increase yields through tolerance to environmental stresses, insects and disease," company executive John Bedbrook said.
Chem to green
The Final Word on Mammograms?
In the past couple of years, many have questioned the usefulness of having yearly mammograms as recommended by doctors. A recent study headed by the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) may provide women - especially those who have received a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer in the past - with a good reason to continue with yearly mammograms. The study, published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), examined 12 years worth of information, from over 50,000 screening mammograms. The findings indicate that a yearly mammogram does aid in the early detection of recurring breast cancer. The study is the first large-scale comprehensive study of its kind and while it may not be the final word on mammograms, it certainly does lend credence to the advice doctors have been giving patients for years.
Mammogram debate
Weight Loss: Social Environment is Everything
Self-determination theory is based on the assumption that humans are naturally motivated toward growth and health, and that one's social environment can nurture or thwart this process. A recent study published in the Journal of Obesity evaluated self-determination theory in the context of a weight loss program for obese individuals. The 12-month intervention program, which was designed within the framework of self-determination theory, resulted in an 87% retention rate. The study provides further support to the idea that in order to empower individuals in the pursuit of goals (such as weight-loss), we need to create an environment that supports a sense of competence, autonomy and relatedness.
Self determination
Weight Loss in a Weight-Obsessed World
A recent review published in the Journal of Nutrition discusses an emerging paradigm shift in the ways in which individuals think about weight loss. The review contends that our society's emphasis on encouraging thinner individuals has not only proved ineffective, but it has also resulted in a culture filled with unhealthy yo-yo dieting cycles. A new program, Healthy at Every Size (HEAS) challenges individuals to change their dieting habits for wellness, without an emphasis on final weight numbers. It's certainly a new way to think about weight loss in a weight-obsessed world.
Weight loss
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| Work Life Management | |
Contributed by the AWIS National Office
Don't Grin and Bear It
Fake smiles should carry a health warning, according to a new study in the Academy of Management Journal. Researchers found that people who flashed fake smiles were more likely to withdraw from their work and became entrenched in negative thought, causing potentially harmful levels of stress.
Just smile
Women Forgive More Than Men
A new study suggests that women are better at forgiving than men. This is possibly related to the supposed higher capacity for empathy that is associated with women. The difference between sexes has important implications for techniques used in psychological treatments during counseling for issues ranging from abuse to marital infidelity.
Forgive and forget
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AWIS News and Events
| AWIS Northern California Chapters
Event: Winter Workshop 2011: Manage & Polish Your Brand
Date: March 5
Time: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Register Now
AWIS National
Event: AWIS and EPA Celebrate International Women's Day
Date: March 8
Time: 7:30AM - 10:00AM
Register Now
AWIS Massachusetts Chapter
Event: Salary Negotiation Workshop
Date: March 9
Time: 6:00PM - 9:00PM
Register Now
AWIS National
Event: Advancement of Women in STEM Leadership Summit
Date: March 16
Time: 8:00AM - 4:00PM
Register Now
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Opportunities
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Science Journalists Invited to Apply for Hands-On Science Fellowships
Professional health and science journalists can clone DNA, collect soil, water, and plant samples, and participate in cutting-edge research at the Marine Biological Laboratory from May 18-27, 2011; travel, room and board, and lab fees will be covered.
Posted on February 17, 2011
Deadline: March 1, 2011 For more information, click here. Women's Entrepreneurship Symposium
You are invited to attend a one-day event of education and celebration at the US Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) in Alexandria, VA. The event will be held in March, Women's History Month, and more specifically on March 11, 2011. The Women's Entrepreneurship Symposium will be a unique day which will focus on women entrepreneurs: the importance of intellectual property protection for their innovations, goods, and services, critical information on numerous aspects of entrepreneurship, and how to leverage economic opportunities for women owned businesses.
This exciting symposium brings together a number of national and local partners who will provide essential information for anyone planning to launch a business or anyone currently in business. Additionally, it will discuss barriers specific to women and promote ways to overcome such barriers.
Agenda topics range from intellectual property in the global marketplace, to strategies to leverage intellectual property assets, accessing financial resources, driving business growth by leveraging business relationships and federal contracting.
Attendees will meet with experts in the intellectual property field, from the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce to gain insight into all facets of the business cycle. Attendees will have numerous opportunities for networking and to ask individual questions throughout the event.
The symposium will be held at the USPTO Headquarters located at 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia from 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM. This event is for anyone interested in the issues facing women entrepreneurs looking to launch and grow their businesses.
Registration for this one-day event is $41.00 which includes all conference sessions and materials, light refreshments, luncheon with a keynote speaker and a networking reception.
For more information, contact the USPTO at 571-272-8850 or click here. |
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