| Greetings!
I, and all of the members of the AWIS Governing Board, wish you a Happy 2012. It promises to be a fast-paced and exciting year.
Presidential elections will heat up the action in our nation's capital and AWIS will be out in front of the issues impacting women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM.) And, we will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Title IX. Over the past four decades, there has been tremendous progress in opening up and advancing opportunities for women to pursue careers in the STEM disciplines. Science and society have, and continue to benefit from the participation of women.
But more than ever, women need a professional organization to help successfully navigate the challenges and opportunities across the entire career lifespan. As I begin my presidency, and reflect on the women who have come before and who have contributed so much to the progress that has been made, I keep asking myself what will AWIS accomplish during its next 40 years? I have my own vision which I will be sharing with you over the next few months. But what do you see when you look 10, 20, 30 and 40 years into the future of AWIS?
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Best regards,
Susan M. Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Vice President, James S. McDonnell Foundation
President, Association for Women in Science
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| Careers | |
Self-Promotion Key to Job Promotion for Women
A report by Catalyst disputes the notion that the gender gap persist because women and men adopt different strategies to advance their careers or that women lag because of lower aspirations or time taken to have children. Even when women used the same career advancement strategies they advanced less than their male counterparts and had slower pay growth. What made the difference for women? Making their achievements known by ensuring managers know about their accomplishments, seeking credit when due, and asking for a promotion as deserved.
Beyond being the ideal worker
10 Ways to Be a Powerful Leader
Reclaim your voice by trying these 10 ways to become a powerful leader at work. Although it may be tempting to keep quiet but executive coach Joel Garfinkle warns that silence is not always golden.
Business Needs Women of Color
Only two Fortune 500 companies -- Xerox and PepsiCo -- are run by women of color, writes Roger O. Crockett. He suggests companies are not helping minority women achieve their potential, with negative results for both the women and the companies. Women of talent |
| Education | |
Myths About Gender and Math Performance Debunked
A study published in the American Mathematical Society journal Notices reviews international data on school math performance and debunks the myth that women have less mathematical ability due to a difference in biology. The study suggests that achievement gaps are due to changeable sociocultural factors.
Gender achievement gap not biological
Equity as the Driver of Education
Since the 1980s, the staple of Finnish education policy has been the idea that every child should have exactly the same opportunity to learn, regardless of family background, income, or geographic location.
STEM Education Agenda
A report by the National Governors Association highlights the need for better STEM education in order to drive economic growth. The report outlines the challenges states have faced including lack of preparation for postsecondary STEM education and defines the goals of the STEM agenda.
State actions
Math Classes Get Makeover
Gone is the lecture approach to remedial math. A new method of teaching, the emporium class, is one in which students work on computer-based math software and move at their own pace. Professors track their progress online, and answer questions individually, both online and in the lab.
Emporium model
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| Health | |
Personalized Care through Genome Sequencing
The Mayo Clinic plans to initiate a pilot trial to sequence the genome of thousands of volunteers in a move towards "proactive genomics." Doctors will have access to the genetic information via the patients' records and will use it to help choose the most effective treatments.
Diabetes and Its Toll on Education
A new study published in the journal Health Affairs used data from a 14 year study that followed 15,000 people to conclude that diabetes is contributing to high school dropout rates and reducing the lifetime earning potential for young adults. One reason is likely due to higher rates of absenteeism due to illness.
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| Science and Technology | |
Study Reveals How Universities Fail Women Inventors
An experimented that included 239 technology licensing officers at 88 leading research universities concluded that technology licensing officers (both male and female) on university campuses were significantly more likely to report that they would dissuade the female inventor from starting a company.
The Image of a Scientist
What comes to mind for many people when conjuring up the image of a scientist is often fit more for the big screen than the lab. Aside from misrepresenting the STEM professions, stereotype images of the infallible scientist may stifle children's interest in science. Students who learned about the real life struggles of scientist developed more of an interest in science and remembered the material better than students introduced to the material from an achievement perspective. Reality better than idealized |
| Work Life Satisfaction | |
Stop Sabotaging your Productivity
While you might believe spending less time sleeping, multitasking and eating at your desk can increase your productivity, those activities actually sap your energy and will hurt you in the long run, Ali Luke writes. She notes 7 ways you can become more efficient and effective.
Most Relaxing Song Ever
Scientists from the United Kingdom clinically determined the most relaxing song recorded. The track is titled "Weightless" and uses many of the musical principles that have been shown to have a calming effect.
14 Ways to Make Work More Enjoyable
Here are some tips to help reduce stress and increase satisfaction. Chosen with our entrepreneurial and small business AWIS members in mind, this advice can be applied broadly.
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| AWIS News and Events | |
AWIS STEMiNARs
STEMiNARs© are online educational opportunities designed with your interest and comfort in mind. Using a webinar platform, AWIS hosts STEMiNARs© where members can hear live presentations and interact with the presenters from the comfort of their computer or mobile devices. Can't participate at the designated time? No problem. The STEMiNARs© are recorded and posted online.
Other Events
AWIS DC Metro, Greater Baltimore, Bethesda ChaptersEvent: New Year's Networking Party! Date: January 18 Time: 6:30PM - 8:30PM RSVP Now
AWIS Los Angeles/Ventura County ChapterEvent: Empowering Today's Women: The Role of Feminism in the 21st Century Date: January 18 Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM Register Now
AWIS Seattle ChapterEvent: Science Communication Forum Date: January 19 Time: 6:00PM - 8:30PM Learn More AWIS Greater Cincinnati ChapterEvent: New Year: New Networks Date: January 19 Time: 6:00PM - 9:00PM Register Now
AWIS Massachusetts and Central New Jersey ChapterEvent: Integrating New Technologies Into the Lab (webinar) Date: January 19 Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM More information to come
AWIS Massachusetts ChapterEvent: Mass-AWIS Annual Holiday Party Date: January 19 Time: 6:00PM - 9:00PM Register Now AWIS Philadelphia ChapterEvent: Cognitive Effects of Hormones Across the Female Lifespan Date: January 24 Time: 6:00PM - 8:30PM Register Now
AWIS Hershey ChapterEvent: Career Forum: Advancing Women Towards Success Date: January 25 Learn More AWIS Indianapolis Chapter & IUPUI Women in ScienceEvent: Meet and Greet Date: January 26 Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM Learn More
AWIS Los Angeles/Ventura County ChapterEvent: Work-Life Satisfaction Workshop Date: January 27 Time: 4:00PM - 6:00PM Learn more AWIS Greater Cincinnati ChapterEvent: A Highlight of Scientific Careers Date: January 31 Time: 6:30PM - 8:00PM Learn More |
| Opportunities | |
Sharon Keillor Award for Women in Engineering EducationThe award is to recognize and honor a woman engineering educator who has an outstanding record in teaching engineering students, and reasonable performance histories of research and service within an engineering school. It consists of an honorarium of $2,000 and an appropriately inscribed plaque which is presented annually at the ASEE Annual Conference. Nominees will hold an earned doctoral degree in an engineering discipline, or in an engineering related field of natural science, including mathematics, and will have at least five years of teaching experience in an engineering school. All nominations must be received by January 15, 2012. The Summer Cancer Research Fellowship/Internship The program provides a unique opportunity for eligible current sophomore, junior or senior undergraduate students to engage in innovative integrative biology approaches to cancer research through the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Integrative Cancer Biology Program (ICBP). Selected student participants are paired with a faculty-mentor from a participating ICBP Center based on the student's indicated research interests. The program begins June 4, 2012 and ends August 3, 2012. An applicant must live in the U.S. and be a U.S. citizen or hold a permanent resident visa to be eligible to apply. Priority will be given to students who have at least a 3.0 GPA computed over the last three semesters and who have successfully completed relevant course work in the areas of biological, chemical, physical, computational, mathematical or statistical sciences, or engineering. Students from under-represented minority groups and women are encouraged to apply. Application deadline is Tuesday, January 17, 2012.
NIH Director's Early Independence Award ProgramThe NIH Director's Early Independence Award to provide a mechanism for exceptional, early career scientists to omit traditional post-doctoral training, and move into independent research positions at U.S. institutions directly upon completion of their graduate degrees (PhD, MD or equivalent). The application deadline is January 30, 2012.
NIST Summer Fellowships/ InternshipsThe National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is opening applications for summer Fellowships/Internships to undergraduates. Fellowships are available in all NIST laboratories: Physical Measurement Lab (PML); Material Measurement Lab/NIST Center for Neutron Research (MML/NCNR); Engineering Lab (EL); Information Technology Lab (ITL); and Center for Nanoscale Science & Technology (CNST). Applicants must be undergraduates at a U.S. university or college with a scientific major. Application deadline is February 15, 2012.
DOE 2012 Enrico Fermi AwardThe Department of Energy invites nominations for the Enrico Fermi Award. This is a Presidential award and recognizes outstanding contributions and achievements that are particularly distinguished and demonstrate scientific, technical, management or policy leadership that are related to all basic and applied research, science and technology supported by the DOE and its programs. The Award consists of a citation signed by the President of the United States and the Secretary of Energy, a gold medal, and a $50,000 honorarium. A diverse pool of candidates is encouraged. Nominations for the 2012 Fermi Award must be submitted by March 15, 2012. DOE 2012 Ernest Orlando Lawrence AwardsThe Department of Energy invites nominations for the 2012 Ernest Orlando Lawrence Awards. The Award is awarded to mid-career scientists and engineers in recognition of exceptional scientific, technical, and/or engineering achievements related to the broad missions of the U.S. DOE and its programs. The Award consists of a citation signed by the Secretary of Energy, a gold medal, and a $20,000 honorarium. An award is given in each of the following eight categories: Atomic, Molecular, and Chemical Sciences, Biological and Environmental Sciences, Computer, Information, and Knowledge Sciences, Condensed Matter and Materials Sciences, Energy Science and Innovation, Fusion and Plasma Sciences, High Energy and Nuclear Physics, and National Security and Nonproliferation. A diverse pool of candidates is encouraged. Nominations for 2012 Lawrence Awards must be submitted by March 15, 2012. |
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| AWIS Member Spotlight |  | |
Mary Beth Adams
An AWIS member for 20 years, Dr. Adams' recent research related to gas well drilling is relevant to policy debate in West Virginia and nationwide.
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AWIS
In the News |  | |
AWIS was featured in a
STEM education insert
in USA Today.
See page 3.
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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 activities of the National Office and the Executive Board.
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