Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 18:49:08 -0500 (EST)
To: aaswlist
stsci.edu
Cc: aaswomenstsci.edu
Subject: AASWOMEN for 03/23/01
AAS Committee on the Status of Women
weekly issue of 03/23/2001, ed. by Meg Urry and Patricia Knezek
This week's issues:
1. 20th Anniversary of the death of Beatrice Tinsley
2. A response to the report on women in Science and Technology in Sweden
3. A conference on women in science at UC Berkeley, 12-13 May 2001
4. Call for Nominations - AAS Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy
5. Call for Nominations - Maria Mitchell Women in Science award
6. Call for Nominations - Women of Color Government & Defense Technology
Awards Conference
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1. 20th Anniversary of the death of Beatrice Tinsley
From: Meg Urry & Pat Knezek
[Eds. note: Thanks to Sue Simkin and Horace Smith for bringing this to our
attention!]
March 23, 2001 marked the 20th anniversary of the untimely death of astronomer
Beatrice Tinsley. Those who are interested in her work may wish to read the
published version of her Ph.D. thesis, which is available from the ADS:
Tinsley, Beatrice M.
Evolution of the Stars and Gas in Galaxies
ApJ 151, 547 (1968)
This paper was selected to appear in the centennial book of Astrophysical
Journal papers which was published last year. If you wish to learn more about
Tinsley, you may want to read:
"My Daughter Beatrice: A Personal Memoir of Dr. Beatrice Tinsley, Astronomer"
-- by Edward Hill.
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2. A response to the report on women in Science and Technology in Sweden
From: Anja Andersen
Duilia de Mello wrote in the last issue of AASWOMEN about the lack of women in
Science and Technology in Sweden despite the effort from the management to
change the current status. As a foreign post Doc in Sweden I have also been
struck about the lack of women in a country that have had equal rights on the
agenda for years. But I think that there is one thing that we have to keep in
mind: The lack of women is most likely a lot bigger loss for the universities
than it is for the individual women. To get a university career one has to
work many hours, move around between different countries as a post Doc and be
employed on short term contracts for typically 5-15 years. This part of the
career takes place at the same age as women consider to have children
(25-40). So often (even in Sweden) if you want a scientific career you have
to choose between children or the career. At the same time there is no
unemployment for people with a higher education, this means that you can get a
job that is better paid with working conditions where you might be on part-time
while the kids are small, with better arrangement for maternity leave,
better benefits etc., if you go for a career outside the university. There is
a lot of interesting job opportunities so you could ask the question; if it
isn't naturally that women take this line of career instead of a university
career?
It is the same kind of question that one can ask when it comes to the lack of
female editors at astronomical journals, is it really that fun of a job
considering the time you have to take away from other things (like your own
research)? I think it is bad for the astronomical community that we lack women
in the field and that we lack female editors, but I do not find it so strange
if you consider the alternatives. Personally I do not see it as a great
career opportunity to become an editor of A&A! But maybe I am just too young
to appreciate the fun of it?
Anja C. Andersen
Post Doc at Uppsala University
Mother of three kids age 1-8.
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3. A conference on women in science at UC Berkeley, 12-13 May 2001
From: Meg Urry & Pat Knezek
A conference will be held on "Careers of Women in Science: Issues of Power
and Control" at UC Berkeley on 12-13 May 2001. The conference organizers
are Dr. Anne J. Maclachlan (maclachuclink4.berkeley.edu) and Professor Lorna
Erwin (lerwinyorku.ca). Below is a brief description of the goals of the
conference, taken from the conference web pages. For further information see:
http://ishi.lib.berkeley.edu/cshe/events/womenscience/
"Two Conferences in One"
This conference is designed to expand diversity in the scientific workforce
by encouraging young women, and particularly young women of color to pursue
scientific careers. It combines a broad recruitment conference coordinated
with schools and organizations for high school girls and undergraduate women
with a scholarly conference analyzing the extent to which women have obtained
power in scientific employment situations and control over their working life.
Both conferences offer large disciplinary area and special topic panels in
which two analytical papers will be presented along with one or two papers on
the speaker's experience as a scientist. The panels will be chaired by
distinguished women scientists.
-- Scholarly Conference
The Scholarly Conference will examine how successful women have been in
various scientific and technical careers in terms of position and prestige
within their respective areas. The sessions will analyze the structures that
essentially govern the structure of science such as academic departments,
industrial research and development, schools, federal scientific agencies,
national labs, scientific journals, scientific policy organizations and
explore the extent to which women participate in powerful positions within
these organizations.
-- Career Outreach Conference
The Outreach Conference is offered to encourage greater participation of young
women and especially women of color in scientific careers. It combines a
program of analysis with one of personal stories about how women, particularly
those of color, who earned doctorates in science shaped their careers and why.
The sessions present many of the organizations that support girls and women in
science by providing information about careers, science education programs,
support, access, and so on.
Many of the speakers in the Career Outreach Conference come largely from a
current research project on minority success in science and engineering Ph.D.
programs in the University of California system. The speakers have up to 20
years experience in the scientific workforce and have much to say about their
careers and personal choices.
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4. Call for Nominations - AAS Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy
From: Meg Urry
The membership of the AAS Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy
(CSWA), like all AAS committees, changes each June as people finish their
three-year terms. In any given year, 2 or 3 positions may become available.
If the CSWA is to be effective, it is essential that the AAS appoint members
who are interested, engaged, and willing to do a modest amount of work in
support of the CSWA agenda (at a minimum: participating in email discussions,
coming up with ideas, and attending CSWA executive committee sessions at AAS
meetings).
If you know anyone well suited to being a CSWA member (including yourself!)
please send the name(s) and a brief description of their suitability to Arlo
Landolt, the AAS secretary (aassecrouge.phys.lsu.edu), by May 28, 2001. I
would be pleased to be copied on this correspondence (cmustsci.edu) but it is
not necessary.
Meg Urry, CSWA Chair
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5. Call for Nominations - Maria Mitchell Women in Science award
From: Meg Urry
Nominations are sought for the Maria Mitchell Women in Science award, an
annual award to recognize an individual, program, or organization that
encourages the advancement of girls and women in the natural and physical
sciences, mathematics, engineering, computer science, and technology. The
award honors Maria Mitchell (1818-1889), the first woman astronomer and first
woman astronomy professor in the United States.
Nominations consist of a 1-2 page narrative by the nominator, a Curriculum
Vita (or annual report), two letters of reference from experts in the field,
and additional support materials. Nominations for the 2000 award must be
postmarked by April 30, 2001. For further details, see the Maria Mitchell
Organization web site at:
http:\\www.mmo.org
or call them at 508-228-9198.
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6. Call for Nominations - Women of Color Government & Defense Technology
Awards Conference
From: Michelle Wilson
[Eds. note: This is an shortened version of message sent. In order to obtain
a brochure outlining the nomination process, the various award categories and
the deadline for submission, please contact Michelle D. Wilson at 410-244-7101
ext.115.]
As a result of the growing number of women who are achieving and advancing
within the fields of engineering and technology across this country, Career
Communications Group, Inc., (CCG, Inc.) publishers of the nation's two most
widely read minority technical magazines USBE and Information Technology &
Hispanic Engineer and Information Technology magazines, and sponsors of the
largest minority technical conference in the country "Black Engineer of the
Year Awards Conference" is pleased to announce the nomination process for the
2001 Women of Color Government & Defense Technology Awards Conference has
officially begun.
Based on the overwhelming interest and excitement generated by the "Women of
Color" Technology Awards Conference in Atlanta, Georgia that attracts over
5,000 participants annually, CCG, Inc. has initiated this conference to
recognize and reward minority women - Native American, Hispanic, Asian,
African American - and their employers from both the public and private sector
whose outstanding achievements, despite the odds, have gone unrecognized. The
conference will take place July 19th, 20th & 21st at the Hyatt Regency Hotel
in our nation's capital, Washington, DC. This awesome three day event will be
filled with professional workshops, seminars, a college student program,
special events, a technology career fair, networking opportunities and our
highly anticipated awards ceremony.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call at 410-244-7101,
ext. 115. This superb opportunity will allow you to bring excellent national
recognition and publicity to the outstanding accomplishments of your fellow
colleagues. I look forward to your participation.
Sincerely,
Michelle D. Wilson
Director of Outreach & External Programs
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