AWIS
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ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE

Washington Wire

 

May 2012
Issue II

Greetings!

  
As seen in the latest edition of AWIS in Action!...
We are pleased to announce the new Phoebe S. Leboy Public Policy Fellow of 2012, Dr. Erin Cadwalader, who comes to AWIS with a research background in neurobiology and recent experience as a Science Policy Fellow at Research!America.  You can contact Erin at cadwalader@awis.org.
 
Erin Cadwalader at CNSF  
  
Best regards,
  
Janet
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Janet Bandows Koster
AWIS Executive Director 
In This Issue
Careers
Education
Health
Science and Technology
Work Life Satisfaction
Events
Opportunities
Careers

11 Tips to Better Public Speaking

Public speaking is critical to move ahead in today's workplace.  You can become a better public speaker by making sure you understand the purpose of each speech that you give, to rehearse your speech, and to vary your style throughout the presentation to hold your audience's attention. And, let your passion show.

 

Speak like a pro

  

Is Your Boss Married?

A group of researchers from several universities recently published a report on the attitudes and beliefs of employed men, which shows that those with wives who did not work outside the home or who worked part-time were more likely than those with wives who worked to: (1) have an unfavorable view about women in the workplace; (2)think workplaces run less smoothly with more women; (3) view workplaces with female leaders as less desirable; and (4) consider female candidates for promotion to be less qualified than comparable male colleagues.


Married managers


Close Gender Gap, Boost Economic Growth
A new report released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development argues that greater educational and career opportunities for women will bolster global growth. Female employment participation has generally increased, and gender gaps in labor force participation have narrowed, but occupational segregation has not improved, gender pay gaps persist and women are still under-represented at more senior job levels, especially among managers and in company boards. Women continue to face a "glass ceiling" that has blocked their career advancement.  Norway's success in boosting female representation in the boardroom through quotas suggests such policies can be effective, the report said.

 

Limits of occupational segregation

Education

Top Ranked STEM High Schools

U.S. News & World Report has released its 2012 rankings of the Best High Schools for STEM-or science, technology, engineering, and math.  New Jersey's High Technology High School tops the list thanks to its agreement with Rochester Institute of Technology that allows students to rack up college credits.


Kick-starting an Experiment
Initially used mainly by artists and nonprofits, crowdfunding-appealing to the online community for funds for projects-appears to be growing in popularity with young scientists and graduate students who are struggling to obtain funds through traditional routes like foundation grants despite concerns in the science community that the projects seeking funds have not been peer-reviewed.
Health
Contributed by Anahita Hamidi
  
Psychiatrist Robert Spizter Apologizes for Study on "Gay Cure"
For decades, well-known psychiatrist Dr. Robert Spizter perpetuated the notion that homosexuality is a disease to be cured.  Dr. Spizter spearheaded studies that demonstrated the power of reparative therapy to reverse homosexuality. The problem? The studies were poorly designed, not well controlled and extremely biased--damaging to the health and wellbeing of individuals struggling over their sense of sexual identity.  In a recent publication Dr. Spitzer publicly apologized for the misinterpretation of his data.
  
Sitting all Day? Get up!
You've been sitting at your desk, in front of your computer, catching up on emails, sending out reports, analyzing data...hours have gone by and while your mind may have been busy working, your body has been sitting in more or less the same position since you started. What if someone were to tell you that sitting for prolonged periods of time has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes - even cancer? Don't panic. Get up and stretch. Review these tips from the Huffington Post that can help you make your workstation more ergonomically friendly.

 

Eight Friends Every Woman Needs
It's no secret that friendships are essential to health and wellbeing. In fact, a ten-year study of individuals in Adelaide, Australia demonstrated that satisfying friendships are more predictive of longevity than are family ties. The health benefits of friendships range from preventing obesity, depression and even heart disease. Thus, it would do every woman good to have an essential set of friends on her speed dial.

Science and Technology
Contributed by Anahita Hamidi
  
Epigenome Sequenced
European scientist Manel Esteller - the director of the Epigenetics and Cancer Biology Program at Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) - has recently mapped the entire epigenome. The study of epigenetics is central to cancer biology research and indeed to various disciplines interested in investigating the underlying biology of various developmental diseases. Thus, this is an important step forward in further elucidating the genetic underpinnings of cancer and other potentially debilitating diseases.

 

Climate Skeptics Are Not Scientifically Illiterate
Some topics are known to be polarizing and climate change is definitely one such topic. For years now, scientists have been trying to convince policy makers that climate change is a real phenomenon. The resistance against accepting its existence has mostly been attributed to scientific illiteracy. The thought has been: if only people understood this data, they would believe in climate change. Yet a recent article published in Nature Climate Change reports that, in fact, individuals who are "climate skeptics" are not scientifically illiterate. Their viewpoint is driven by their interdependent versus individualistic perspectives.

 

You say tomato, I say tomahto  

Work Life Satisfaction
No Laughing Matter
New research shows that women leaders are often met with silence when they crack jokes.  Men, on the hand, get a laugh at least 90percent of the time.


Awkward silence


Eliminate Your Mental Enemies
You can learn to conquer self-sabotage yourself and others by exposing and intercepting your saboteurs. Once you have intercepted and labeled a saboteur thought and let it go, take a deep breath and redirect your attention.


Saboteur!

AWIS News and Events
 
AWIS Central Jersey Chapter
Event: Mentoring Essentials for Career Enhancement
Date: May 31
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Learn More

AWIS Los Angeles/Ventura County Chapter
Event: Members-Only Wine Tasting/Candidate Meet-and-Greet
Date: June 2
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm 
Learn More

AWIS DC Metro Chapter
Event:'Happy Hour'
Date: June 6
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm 
Learn More

AWIS Chicago Chapter
Event: AWIS Chicago 6th Annual Innovator Award and the 1st Annual Motivator Award Dinner
Date: June 6
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm 
Learn More

AWIS RTP Triangle Area Chapter
Event: Networking and Social Event
Date: June 7
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm 
Learn More

AWIS West Texas Chapter
Event: 2012 Champion of Women (C.O.W) and Outstanding Woman Leader (O.W.L) awards
Date: June 8
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm 
Learn More

AWIS San Diego Chapter
Event: AWIS Work-Life Satisfaction Program
Date: June 9
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm 
Learn More

AWIS Massachusetts Chapter
Event: Finding the Joy: How to Choose Your Next Lab or Workplace
Date: June 25
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Learn More
 
Opportunities
BBRG Affiliated Scholars Program

The BBRG Affiliated Visiting Scholars Program is designed to accommodate scholars who would like to spend a relatively short period of time in residence, ranging from one month to six months. The BBRG Affiliated Visiting Scholars Program is open to senior and junior faculty (tenured and untenured), visiting scholars, postdoctoral scholars and independent scholars, from the U.S. and abroad, whose work is centrally on women and gender. Applicants must have the Ph.D. in hand one year prior to the beginning of the appointment. The BBRG accepts applications for the BBRG Affiliated Visiting Scholars Program throughout the academic year.

Marie Curie Fellowship
Have you ever wanted to do research in Europe? Apply for a Marie Curie Fellowship. The goal of the Marie Curie Fellowship is to strengthen the human potential in research and technology by stimulating people to enter into the profession of research and attracting researchers from the entire world to Europe. This Fellowship addresses researchers at all stages of their careers, in the public and private sectors, from initial research training, specifically intended for young people, to lifelong learning and career development. Proposals are welcomed from all areas of scientific and technological research and the fellowship covers your salary plus your research expenses. To apply, you must have either a doctoral degree or at least 4 years' full-time equivalent research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting you to embark on a doctorate.  

Small Business Postdoctoral Research Diversity Fellowship
The Small Business Postdoctoral Research Diversity Fellowship program aims to encourage creative and highly-trained recipients of doctoral degrees in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematical disciplines to engage in hands-on research projects in their areas of expertise at the kind of small innovative businesses that historically have fueled the nation's economic regime. This fellowship program offers small businesses the opportunity to attract top scientific and technological talent at a fraction of the usual cost, while recruiting postdoctoral fellows to work for at least a year outside an academic setting on cutting-edge research aimed at promoting scientific excellence and strengthening our nation's technological prowess. Each research fellow will receive a stipend of at least $75,000 plus health insurance benefits.

NSF: Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring
The National Science Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2013 PAESMEM Awards. This program seeks to identify outstanding individual mentoring efforts or organizational programs designed to enhance the participation and retention of individuals who might not otherwise have considered or had access to opportunities in STEM fields. The awardees serve as exemplars to their colleagues and are leaders in the national effort to develop more fully the nation's human resources in STEM. Nominations are due June 6, 2012.
 
NASA G.I.R.L.S. Virtual Mentoring Program
Women@NASA has created a virtual mentoring project that offers a one-of-a-kind experience to middle school girls across the country. Once accepted into the G.I.R.L.S. (Giving Initiative and Relevance to Learning Science) 5-week program, participants will be mentored by Women@NASA using Skype or Google Chat, and complete online lessons to learn what it takes to change the world through STEM fields. Applications are due June 15, 2012.

 

Department of Energy Fellowships in Climate Change
The Office of International Climate Change Policy and Technology Fellowship Program is an opportunity to contribute to a multilateral initiative to promote industrial efficiency in major economies through the Clean Energy Ministerial. The Fellowship position would involve frequent interactions with international counterparts and some international travel. MS/MA or PhD Graduates and recent Alumni in Engineering, Physical Sciences, or Public Policy may apply.  Applications are due by midnight EDT, Sunday, June 17, 2012. 


The Elsevier Foundation Calls for 2012 Grant Proposals
The Elsevier Foundation is seeking new grant proposals for the 2012 New Scholars and Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries programs. Grants will be awarded in December 2012 and provide one-three year award between $5,000-$50,000 per year for a total of $100,000. The Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries program provides grants to libraries in the developing world helping to improve access to scientific, technical, and medical information. The New Scholars Program supports projects to help early- to mid-career women scientists balance family responsibilities with demanding academic careers and addresses the attrition rate of talented women scientists. The application process has two rounds--the deadline for the first is June 24, 2012.


2012 BBVA Foundation of Frontiers of Knowledge Awards
The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards seek to recognize and encourage world-class research and artistic creation, prizing contributions of lasting impact for their originality, theoretical significance and ability to push back the frontiers of the known world. These international awards span eight categories including Basic Sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics), Biomedicine, Ecology and Conservation Biology, Climate Change and more. The award includes a €400.000 prize. The closing date for submissions is June 30, 2012

 

UNESCO - L'OREAL International Fellowships - 2013
The UNESCO-L'ORÉAL fellowships scheme focuses on UNESCO's premise that people are the world's greatest resource and that innovation and excellence, especially among the young women community, deserve to be supported and encouraged through the concerted efforts of the international community. The UNESCO-L'Oréal International Fellowships are designed to identify and reward fifteen deserving, committed and talented young women scientists, from all over the world, active in the field of life sciences. The award of the fellowships constitutes a key strategy through which impetus is being given to the enhancement of the role of women in devising scientific solutions to problems confronting humankind in the twenty-first century. With a view to ensuring that a balanced geographical representation is made, a maximum of three young women, from each of the five geo-cultural regions of the world, will be awarded fellowships. Applications are due by July 15, 2012.

 

AAAS Mentor Awards Nominations
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is seeking nominations for its 2012 Mentor Awards: the Lifetime Mentor Award and the Mentor Award. The awards honor individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the science and engineering PhD workforce. Questions can be directed to Gerard Boulin, and the deadline is July 31, 2012.

Science Case Network Meeting
The SCN, a new Research Coordination Network for Undergraduate Biology Education, is hosting a networking meeting to help strategize how case study and problem based learning approaches could be used to address perceived gaps in undergraduate biology education. The meeting, called "Networking Strategies to Bridge Perceived Gaps in Biology Education: Content, Reaching Diverse Students, Faculty and Future Faculty Development, and the Biology Curriculum Continuum," is hosted by the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science and will be in Buffalo, NY on August 6-7, 2012.
 
Travel Award Program for Early Career Investigators
Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology will offer a limited number of travel awards to early career investigators at the Assistant Professor or equivalent industry scientist level. The travel awards are to attend Keystone Symposia meetings. The purpose of these travel awards is specifically for early career investigators at the Assistant Professor or industry scientist equivalent level. At times researchers find that attending a Keystone Symposia meeting might substantially further a current research project or assist in problem solving around a particular experimental issue. These travel awards are specifically designed to address this situation. The emphasis is on URM scientists who are pursuing research careers. The application process opened March 1, 2012 for all of meetings between now and February 28, 2013. However, the awards will be made upon review, on a first come basis.

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AWIS Benefactor Spotlight

Photo of Donna Dean 

 

The AWIS Bethesda Chapter recently honored Dr. Donna J. Dean with a Mentoring Award.  Her motto "Move Forward, Reach Back" has been exemplified in her dedication to mentoring other women in STEM fields and advocating inclusion in the science workforce.  She is the author of "Getting the Most out of Your Mentoring Relationships: A Handbook for Women in STEM."

 

Mentoring Handbook

Featured Jobs
 Nanofabrication Facility Manager
University of Delaware

Director of Surgical Pathology
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Leder Professor of Genetics
Harvard Medical School

 

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