Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 10:47:34 -0400 (EDT)
To: aaswlist
stsci.edu
Subject: AASWOMEN for Friday, September 13, 2002
AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Weekly issues of Sept. 13, 2002, eds. Meg Urry, Patricia Knezek,
& Michael Rupen
This week's issues:
1. Another view of the impact of giving birth
2. Friends of CSWP
3. "Polite Women Find it Tough in Physics"
4. Hoffleit query - a request for help from those who were summer students
with Dorrit Hoffleit
5. Stories solicited for Notes from a Life
6. Return-to-Science Scheme for Mums in UK
7. Item about girls and AAUW
8. Clare Boothe Luce Assist. Professorship of Physics, College of Wooster,
Ohio
9. Air Force Institute of Technology, tenure track faculty positions in
applied physics
10. Faculty Positions in Physics, Penn State, University Park Campus
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1. Another view of the impact of giving birth
From: Vera Rubin rubindtm.ciw.edu
[Eds. note: This refers to the 09/06/02 AASWOMEN issue that published
K.D. Leka's view of the impact of adoption versus birth on the careers
of women.]
I write to protest the message that having kids is bad for the brain, and I
hope that younger women astronomers will write in to support the view that
pregnacy, nursing, and raising a family has no more effect on the brain than
other daily activities.
While pregnant with my first child, I (an astronomy major) studied physics
with Feynman, Morrison, and Bethe, took my Masters' orals one month before
our first child was born, read ApJ sitting at the nearby playground sandbox
with a 1 year old; had a second while working for my Ph. D. An almost-4 and
almost-2 year old came to my Ph.D commencement. The next two came 1 yr and
5 years later while I worked parttime (officially), which was parttime
financially, but more than full time in hours worked at home.
My brain was no better nor worse during these times, but how do you really
know? Boredom is the worst brain represser I know, and raising a family is
never boring! And it's also never done, in some sense, and always
stimulating. Now I know brilliant young astronomers, working, observing,
achieving, and also pregnant.
Maybe the moral of this is to ignore all advice, and decide what you want
for your life, and go after it.
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2. Friends of CSWP
From WIPHYS posting of 09/09/02:
NEW LISTSERVE FOR APS MEMBERS
Friends of the CSWP is a moderated listserve for all APS members interested
in working with the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics (CSWP).
Friends will receive e-mail notices of Committee activities, reports, etc
and will be asked for suggestions of issues for the Committee to address,
and topics/speakers for CSWP symposia at APS meetings. Details at:
http://www.aps.org/educ/cswp/friends.html
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3. Guardian article: "Polite Women Find it Tough in Physics"
From WIPHYS posting of 09/09/02:
The following forward of a posting of Jerry Becker on the Math-Learn
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/math-learn/ discussion list may be of interest:
"'Polite' women find it tough in physics", by Donald MacLeod. See The
Guardian, Wednesday, September 4, 2002.
http://education.guardian.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4494313,00.html>
(Thanks to Richard Hake, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Indiana University,
rrhakeearthlink.net who shared this)
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4. Hoffleit query - a request for help from those who were summer students
with Dorrit Hoffleit
From: Karen Kwitter Karen.B.Kwitterwilliams.edu
Did you spend a summer at the Maria Mitchell Observatory between 1956 and
1978, under the guidance of Dorrit Hoffleit? As part of our efforts to honor
Dorrit on the occasion of her new book, "Misfortunes as Blessings in
Disguise: The Story of My Life," the CSWA is creating a web page that will
list all of the currently active astronomers she mentored at MMO. If you are
one of them, please send your name, the year you were at MMO, your current
professional affiliation, and any comments about your experience, to Karen
Kwitter (kkwitterwilliams.edu). The URL for the website will be posted in a
future issue of AASWomen.
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5. Stories solicited for Notes from a Life
From: Meg Urry meg.urryyale.edu
Had a frustrating because-I'm-female incident lately? Share the story with
others in STATUS, in the Notes from a Life column. We make them anonymous
so that no one (not you, not the offender) gets upset, but it gives
outsiders a view into the occasional indignities of being a woman in a
male-dominated field. Hey, we could also start a new trend, and include
stories from men struggling with the need to treat women normally as
colleagues and yet not run afoul of all sorts of oft-unspoken rules. Guys,
how about it?
All stories and contributions are welcome (and needed). For the January 2003
issue of STATUS, entries must be received by October 1, 2002. Email them to
one of the editors: meg.urryyale.edu, frattarestsci.edu, or
jhinzas.arizona.edu.
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6. Return-to-Science Scheme for Mums in UK
From WIPHYS posting of 09/17/02:
A new pilot scheme to help mothers wishing to return to science engineering
and technology (SET) jobs was announced Sept 16 by UK Dept of Trade and
Industry (DTI) Secretary Patricia Hewitt.
The scheme will be run by Coventry University in conjunction with the DTI
and will provide business-based training and experience to help women SET
graduates return to jobs where they can use their knowledge and expertise.
It is estimated that 50,000 women SET graduates are not working at any one
time. Of those who do return to work, only around 8,000 return to a job that
makes use of their university education and training. Copies of the report,
"Maximising Returners", are available from the website
http://www.set4women.gov.uk/
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7. Item about girls and AAUW
From the Women Tech Educators Newsletter, 9/12/02:
AAUW in Illinois has a great Web site full of best practice information on
gender equity in technology for girls. Highlights in the fall issue includes
"Power Stuff: Girls" (www.aauw-il.org/wwfg/camp.htm) - hear from girls who
attended local technology summer camps and learn what turns girls on to
technology, and Chicago's Only All-Girls Public School Focuses on Science,
Math and Technology (www.aauw-il.org/wwfg/ywlcs.htm)
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8. Clare Boothe Luce Assist. Professorship of Physics, College of Wooster,
Ohio
From WIPHYS posting of 09/09/02:
The College of Wooster invites applications for a tenure-track position as
Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor beginning fall of 2003. The Clare
Boothe Luce Program is "the single most significant source of private support
for women in science, engineering and mathematics," and the Luce bequest
restricts the search to women who are U.S. citizens. The successful candidate
will have access to the research support provided by this Professorship. She
will teach a variety of physics courses and labs, guide student research
projects, and develop a publishable research program involving students. She
will be expected to teach in the College's interdisciplinary programs,
including First-Year seminar. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in physics,
astrophysics, or a related field. Experimentalists are preferred.
If an appointment suitable for the Luce Professorship cannot be made, the
College would try to make an appointment as Assistant Professor of Physics.
Our department educates students in the fundamental fields of physics and
prepares them for careers in industry, government, or academia. Wooster ranks
in the top 3 percent nationally as the baccalaureate origin of Ph.D.s when
compared with other 4-year institutions. Consideration of applications will
begin 22 November 2002 and continue until the position is filled. Send a
resume and three letters of recommendation to: Dr. John Lindner, Chair,
Department of Physics, The College of Wooster, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster,
OH 44691-2363 or jlindnerwooster.edu.
The College of Wooster is an independent college of the liberal arts and
sciences with a commitment to excellence in undergraduate education. The
College values diversity, strives to attract qualified women and minority
candidates, and encourages individuals belonging to these groups to apply.
The College of Wooster is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer.
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9. Air Force Institute of Technology, tenure track faculty positions in
applied physics
From WIPHYS posting of 09/11/02:
The Department of Engineering Physics of the Air Force Institute of
Technology is seeking applications from qualified individuals for several
anticipated tenure track faculty positions in applied physics at the
assistant and associate professor level. Specific areas of interest include
laser and optical physics, directed energy weapons, remote sensing, nuclear
weapon effects, space and atmospheric physics, simulation and modeling,
condensed matter physics, photonics, and infrared systems. Candidates
selected for the positions will be expected to develop a vigorous and
externally funded research program that is well suited for students working
at both MS and PhD levels. Selected candidates will also be expected to
provide strong support for teaching a variety of introductory and advanced
graduate level applied physics courses. Opportunities for interaction with
Air Force Research Laboratory scientists at Wright-Patterson AFB and
Kirtland AFB occur frequently and are encouraged. U.S. citizenship and a PhD
in applied physics or related field are required for the position.
The anticipated starting date is September 2003. Applicants are encouraged to
apply by February 1, 2003, however all applications will be considered until
the positions are filled. More information is available on the internet at
http://www.afit.edu. Interested candidates should send a cover letter
expressing interest in the position, a curriculum vita with the names and
contact information of three references, and a statement of research
interests to Prof. R.L.Hengehold, AFIT/ENP, 2950 P Street, Wright-Patterson
AFB OH 45433-7765; e-mail Robert.Hengeholdafit.edu. The Air Force Institute
of Technology is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.
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10. Faculty Positions in Physics, Penn State, University Park Campus
From WIPHYS posting of 09/17/02:
The Department of Physics of Penn State University expects to make several
appointments effective August 2003. Applicants should have a Ph.D.,
significant postdoctoral experience and an outstanding research record.
Rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
We intend to recruit in the areas of AMO and biological physics. However,
exceptional candidates in any of the current areas of research in the
department will be considered. These are AMO physics, condensed matter
physics, gravitational physics and particle physics and astrophysics. Job
application assistance is available for dual career situations.
Candidates at the junior level should submit a letter of application, a
curriculum vitae, a brief description of research plans and arrange for
four letters of recommendation to be sent to Jayanth Banavar, Box 262,
Department of Physics, 104 Davey Laboratory, Penn State University,
University Park PA 16802. Nominations and applications for senior positions
should be sent to the address above together with a list of at least six
references. Applications completed by January 31, 2003 will be assured of
consideration. However, applications will be considered until the positions
are filled. AA/EOE
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