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Washington Wire
Edited by
Trudy L. Jackson Bosilovic, MS
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This week the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Research and Technology resumed heavily delayed conversations about the bill which reauthorizes the funding of government scientific organizations, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
In the past year's AWIS in Action!, we have kept you up to date on these developments and the objections of the scientific community, including AWIS, to some of the initiatives being put forth in the legislations. These proposed changes have included heavy cuts to social, behavioral, and economic research funded by the NSF as well as Congressional oversight as to what counts as research in the national interest. Additionally, the NSF ADVANCE program, which supports the retention and promotion of women in academia, was lumped in with other programs that support informal learning at the K-8 level, creating confusion about the implications for the program and what the mandated priorities for the program are expected to be. In conjunction with the Society for Women Engineers, we have been working hard to get the bill amended to remove that from the language in the next round of discussions about the bill.
The scientific community argues that the bill does not indicate a serious commitment to continued investment in advancing basic research as well as innovation in federal science agencies in a way that helps remain competitive in the face of investments currently being made by other countries in science and technology.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at Cadwalader@awis.org.
Best Regards,
Erin Cadwalader, PhD
Phoebe S. Leboy Public Policy Fellow (2012-2014)
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 Careers |
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Contributed by Sarah Ferrante
Navigating Office Gossip
Office gossip: many of us have participated in it or have been affected by it. A University of Amsterdam study found that 90% of office conversation is gossip, and the weight of research and experience demonstrate that gossip often creates a climate of fear and resentment leading to stress. So what can we do?
Danger: office gossip
Women Who Can Do Math Still Don't Get Hired
Economist Larry Summers famously suggested that few women become scientists and engineers because of discrimination, preference, or even innate ability. A recent study, three business school professors confirmed that bias and stereotypes still play to the detriment of women, even when considering mathematic ability. Managers were still twice as likely to hire a man over a woman.
Remove the bias
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Contributed by Trudy Jackson Bosilovic
When Smartphone Is Near, Parenting May Falter
The constant use of smartphones by parents and caregivers is diminishing their face-to-face interactions with kids, which are important for cognitive, language and emotional development. In our current society, we not only need to be concerned about children's exposure to media, but also about their lack of exposure to parents and caregivers.
Drop the phone
STEM Career Shelf Life?
Concerned that your STEM career may have a shelf life? The National Journal says there may be reason for your concern. While many Americans are looking to STEM for job safety and financial stability, they are increasingly experiencing a "culture that...favors the young". Experience in the field is being passed over in favor of younger workers with more recent education and less outside responsibilities.
Ageism in action
CO-ED, Not For Us!
Chatham is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based all girls college. The university believes that going completely co-ed will save the university and increase enrollment. Alumni, students, and staff have a different take on things.
Girls, girls, girls
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 Science & Technology |
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Contributed by Demetra Farley, PhD
The Pros and Cons of Personal DNA Testing
As DNA testing becomes more affordable, interest in determining one's own genetic makeup has also piqued. At-home DNA tests are now easier, faster, and more informative. But are they truly useful?
Friend or foe?
No Vote of Confidence
A new article in Psychological Science refutes the findings of a controversial study which found that hormonal fluctuations in women have the potential to affect their voting preference and religious beliefs. Christine Harris and Laura Mickies, lead authors of the study, "Women Can Keep the Vote: No Evidence that Hormonal Changes during the Menstrual Cycle Impact Political and Religious Beliefs", attempted to reproduce the original study's findings, but could not replicate its results.
Rocking the vote
Genetics May Define Musical Tastes
Scientists from the University of Helsinki in Finland have discovered a correlation between certain genes and musical aptitude. Specifically, the GATA2 and PCDH15 genes were associated with higher "musical scores". Study authors caution, however, that genetic makeup alone is likely not sufficient to determine one's musical capabilities.
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 Work-Life Satisfaction |
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Contributed by Catherine Moorwood, PhD
Men and Women Think Work-Life Balance is a Women's Problem
New research on male and female executives by faculty at the Harvard Business School reveals that attitudes towards work and life are still vastly different between men and women. Men don't feel guilty about working long hours, while women agonize over time away from their families. One thing in common between the genders, though, is that both still view work-life balance as a women's issue.
It's her problem
Can More Work Lead to a Better Balance?
Work-life balance discussions usually center around reducing work commitments to leave more time for family or other interests. However, studies have shown that success at work leads to greater happiness overall, suggesting that for those who love their jobs, the right balance could mean more 'work' and less 'life'.
Tipping the scales
Myth Busting: Remote Working
A recent survey on remote working produced surprising results. Contrary to popular belief, women are no more likely to work from home than men, teleworkers are not more likely to have children, and there is no generational difference in the percentage of people working remotely.
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 Health |
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Contributed by Natalia Sanchez, MS
The Hidden Dangers of "Skinny Fat"
Today's women (and men) focus a lot of energy on being skinny. However, being a size 2 does not imply being healthy. Skinny people with a really fast metabolism may look good but they can have the same medical issues as obese people.
Unhealthy skinny
BPA Linked to Breast Cancer Tumor Growth
Current research at the University of Texas, Arlington has obtained evidence that BPA contributes to cancer growth by disrupting the genes that defend against that growth. Previous studies have linked BPA to problems with reproductive development, early puberty, obesity and cancer.
Bad plastic
Women Still Left Out of Medical Research
Despite the evolution of women's health past the reproductive health, the effect of gender is still being ignored in research. Less than one third of participants in cardiovascular clinical trials are women, less than 45% of animal studies on anxiety and depression use female animals. In fact, even though women's risk for certain diseases (cardiovascular, depression, Alzheimer) is greater than men's, studies looking at these conditions have not looked at the effect of gender.
Research equality?
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____________________
At Takeda, we continue to transform the future of healthcare by bringing important medicines to market. We are driven to improve lives. www.takedajobs.com
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AWIS 2014 Winter Webinar Series
Mark Your Calendars!
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Featured Jobs
Reno or Las Vegas, NV
Chicago, IL
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Member Spotlight
Kamana Misra, PhD
Director R&D, Celvive and AWIS Central NJ Chapter President
Congratulations to AWIS Central Jersey Chapter President, Kamana Misra, PhD, who was invited to speak at the 101st Indian Science Congress. While in India, she met ministers for science and technology, and the Prime Minister of India.
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New AWIS Book
Available Now!
Equitable Solutions for Retaining a Robust STEM Workforce: Beyond Best Practices, a new book from AWIS (Association for Women in Science) addresses many of the work/life issues faced by those in STEM careers. It was developed to provide both academic and private sector STEM work environments with the tools they need to retain their workforce, especially women.
Interested in ordering?
Current AWIS members receive a 30% discount.
Contact AWIS at awis@awis.org to get your 30% discount code.
Click here to order.
Sign up to hear author Dr. Donna Dean discuss the case studies used for this book on April 2. Click here to register.
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1321 Duke Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(703) 894-4490
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 Editor's Choice |
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The Editor's Choice is a new Washington Wire section and will be filled with reports and articles that the AWIS National Staff and other AWIS members would like you to see. In this issue we have an additional article that we thought you might be interested in reading.
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 Events |
 Opportunities |
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Henrietta H. Fore Women in Science Fellowship
The CRDF Global Henrietta H. Fore Women in Science Fellowship will be awarded for the first time in Summer 2014. The first fellow will focus on expanding opportunities for women scientists around the world to collaborate in science and engineering. Specifically, the fellow will conduct research on opportunities and impediments to international collaboration involving women scientists; advise CRDF Global on ways to strengthen existing program opportunities; and/or recommend possible new programs. For more information and to apply: http://www.crdfglobal.org/about-us/careers/fellowships#sthash%2EKJ1cCiTm%2Edpuf
19th AWIS Central Jersey Chapter Annual Scholarship Competition
Female high school seniors who reside in New Jersey (only), who are entering college, university, or any educational institution in the fall of 2014 and who are interested in studying any area of STEM- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The AWIS NJ Annual Scholarship Competition offers cash grants to 3 applicants each year. Awards may be used for any purpose at any college, university, or other education institution.
The Application Package includes an original Essay/Scientist Profile that requires potential scholarship recipients to reach out and interview one of the many thousands of female scientists who have a connection to New Jersey (live here, work here, study here, etc). All interested students need to preregister if they intend to apply at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e8umhe8e0d51ddf6&oseq=&c=&ch= by April 14, 2014 by 11 p.m. Winners will be announced on May 7, 2014. Contact info@awisnj.org if you have any questions. NEW OPPORTUNITY!
2014 National Medal of Science - Call for Nominations
The National Medal of Science, established in 1959, is the Nation's highest honor for American scientists and engineers. The Medal is given to individuals deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding cumulative contributions to knowledge in the chemical, physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, or behavioral or social sciences, in combination with exemplary service to the Nation. It is administered by the National Science Foundation and, to date, has been awarded to over 450 individuals. Nominations must be submitted by April 1, 2014. A complete submission consists of a nomination form and three letters of support. These items must be received via the National Science Foundation's FastLane system at https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/honawards. If you have any questions, please contact the program manager at nms@nsf.gov or 703-292-8040. For more information, please visit http://www.nsf.gov/od/nms/medal.jsp.
White House OSTP Summer Internship Program
The Office of Science and Technology Policy advises the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. The office serves as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans and programs of the Federal Government. Interns are accepted for one of three annual terms (Spring, Summer, or Fall), which each last no more than 90 days. While these positions are without compensation, the assignments provide educational enrichment, practical work experience, and network opportunities with other individuals in the science and technology policy arena. For questions, please contact Rebecca Grimm rgrimm@ostp.eop.gov.
Career Exploration Scholarship
In support of our mission, MASS AWIS strives to provide their members the opportunity to receive and explore valuable resources beneficial to their scientific career. After a very successful collaboration with Propel Careers last year, MASS AWIS is excited to continue the Career Exploration Scholarship program for the second year.
Five MASS AWIS members will be awarded an admission to one Propel Careers' 2014 Future in Life Sciences Series event through this Career Exploration Scholarship. For more information, please visit http://mass-awis.org/career-exploration-scholarship-2014/. 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. (or its equivalent) in hand one year prior to the beginning of the appointment. (Applications accepted throughout the academic year)
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.
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. Each research fellow will receive a stipend of at least $75,000 plus health insurance benefits.
NSF's Career-Life Balance (CLB) Initiative
Scientists now have the opportunity to submit supplemental funding requests to support additional personnel (e.g., research technicians or equivalent). This will help sustain research when the Principal Investigator is on family leave.
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