Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2004 18:03:09 -0400 (EDT)
To: aaswlist
stsci.edu
Subject: AASWOMEN for October 22, 2004
AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Weekly issue of October 22, 2004
eds. Patricia Knezek, Michael Rupen, & Jim Ulvestad
This week's issues:
1. Comments on AASWOMEN Job Postings, continued
2. Online Journal Statistics
3. Response to "Resources for studying astronomy in Argentina?"
4. Response to "Career Breaks/Re-Entry"
5. Chronicle article: Women Who Cite Sex Bias in Tenure Lawsuits Face High
Costs and Long Odds, Report Says
6. CNN article "Equal pay for women? Not till 2050"
7. Request for advice for prospective graduate students
8. Fellowship in Planetary Sciences Institute
9. Openings for two NGSC Assistant Astronomers/Scientists
10. Recruitment Notices from NOAO
11. How to submit, subscribe, or unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Comments on AASWOMEN Job Postings, continued
From: AASWOMEN Editors
[Eds. Note: This is in response to Sue Simpkin's comment as published item
#1 in the AASWOMEN of October 15, 2004.]
*********************
From: Jim Ulvestad julvestanrao.edu
RE: Job Postings in AASWOMEN
Hi Sue et al.
In fact, a discussion of these points is exactly what led to our question
of whether we should be including job ads at all. Namely, are we
just providing an easy way for people to check off a box on an
affirmative action form, when they really don't want to do anything
different than before?
Here at NRAO, we have an ad-hoc committee on increasing diversity
in hiring, and we have been working fairly diligently at trying to
put together plans to encourage women to apply for positions, at
determining what some of the issues are that prevent women from
applying or succeeding, etc. Unfortunately, it's hard to do a lot
about the dual-career issues and the small-town/isolation issues in
Green Bank and Socorro.
But the proof is in what an organization actually accomplishes. An
organization/observatory/university may succeed in increasing the number of
applicants from under-represented groups. But if their long-term record shows
that their practices have not, in fact, resulted in the HIRING of a higher
fraction of qualified women, one has to ask the following question(s).
Were they really making a significant effort, was the organization really
committed to achieving enhanced diversity, or did they do most of the
right things and just have a bad run of luck? If one looks at long-term
records and trends, "bad luck" probably is less of a valid reason than
it might be for any individual position.
- Jim -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Online Journal Statistics
From: Christiane Helling hellingstrw.leidenuniv.nl
Does somebody know where to obtain reliable statistics regarding the online
access of the various scientific journals? I'd be interested to see how
often a scientist searches online material per day / per month etc. It would
also be interesting to see this listed per country.
Thanks for the help,
Christiane Helling
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Response to "Resources for studying astronomy in Argentina?"
From: Jay Pasachoff Jay.M.Pasachoffwilliams.edu
[Eds. note: This is in response to item #2 in the AASWOMEN of October 15,
2004.]
In our Commission on Education and Development of the International
Astronomical Union, we have National Liaisons for all the member countries of
the IAU. Your correspondent can find the contact information for the
Argentinian National Liaison at our Website at:
http://www.astronomyeducation.org.
We also have a series of International Schools for Young Astronomers, meant
for graduate students and recent Ph.D.'s. The next is in Mexico this summer.
The URL for further informationon the school is:
http://www.inaoep.mx/~isya28/
Perhaps that situation is not yet appropriate for your correspondent, but she
can also find information the Website, or she can contact me.
Jay Pasachoff, as president of IAU Commission 46 on Education and Development
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Response to "Career Breaks/Re-Entry"
From: Christiane Helling hellingstrw.leidenuniv.nl
[Eds. Note: This is in response to item #3 in the AASWOMEN of October 15,
2004.]
On Elizabeth Freeland's mail on career breaks:
I've looked up with great interest your website about the career break issue.
The compiled suggestions and ideas sound very idealistic to me since I never
met a conference organiser even considering some childcare solution for
attending mothers.
Christiane Helling
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Chronicle article: Women Who Cite Sex Bias in Tenure Lawsuits Face High
Costs and Long Odds, Report Says
From: Meg Urry meg.urryyale.edu
[Eds. Note: The Chronicle article may now only be available to subscribers,
but could still be downloaded for non-subscribers as of Sunday, October
24, 2004.]
This is a brief, extremely interesting article summarizing a study by the
AAUW on what happens to women who sue universities for sex discrimination
because they were denied tenure. Of the 19 cases considered, 2 won, 7 settled,
8 lost at trial, and 2 are still pending. Some cases took more than a decade
to resolve, and plaintiffs incurred costs from $20,000 to $200,000 or more.
"The burden of proof for plaintiffs is onerous," says the report, and "in most
cases that reach trial, universities win." This had always been my impression
but this is the first study I've seen to document a broad range of cases. It
would be interesting to see the AAUW report (I have only read the short CHE
article about it).
Meg Urry
*****************************
This article, "Women Who Cite Sex Bias in Tenure Lawsuits Face
High Costs and Long Odds, Report Says," is available online at
this address:
http://chronicle.com/temp/email.php?id=ttj5r3jduutu7w7urf9ifujq2tnh19pw
This article will be available to non-subscribers of The
Chronicle for up to five days after it is e-mailed.
The article is always available to Chronicle subscribers at this
address:
http://chronicle.com/daily/2004/10/2004101902n.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. CNN article "Equal pay for women? Not till 2050"
From: Amy Simon-Miller lepasm.gsfc.nasa.gov>
www.cnn.com/2004/US/Careers/10/22/equal.pay/index.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Request for advice for prospective graduate students
From: Fran Bagenal bagenalcolorado.edu
Dear AASWOMEN readers,
For the next issue of STATUS I am gathering advice for women - and men -
thinking of applying to graduate school in astronomy. Please send me your
top 3 pieces of advice to prospective grad students. For example, my advice
is:
(1) Visit the grad schools to which you are accepted and make a decision
based on your gut reaction to the people, place and program (rather than
perceived national ranking).
(2) If you take the physics GRE then study seriously for the exam. If you do
not take the physics GRE recognize that unless you have good grades in
physics courses at a well known college/university, then the places you are
applying to will not have this simple quantitative basis to judge your
application compared with the 150 others.
(3) If you do an REU at a non-academic institution (e.g. govt. lab) make sure
the person writing your recommendation letters can make a useful comparison
of your performance with those of other students. (General statements such as
"I was amazed how quickly Amanda learned how to analyze the data" are nice but
useless for admission committees. We are looking for "I was impressed that
within a month Amanda taught herself IDL, learned how to extract and calibrate
data from the BLAH database and re-plot them in the new co-ordinate system she
developed with my assistance. I have worked with 10 students over the past 3
summers and the only student of her caliber is now finishing a PhD at Top
Notch U.")
Fran Bagenal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Fellowship in Planetary Sciences Institute
From: Theresa Gallagher terrymso.anu.edu.au
Australian National University
PLANETARY SCIENCES INSTITUTE
Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics / Research School of Earth
Sciences
Two positions in Cosmochemistry / Planetary Science
Research Fellow (5 years fixed term) and/or Fellow (continuing)
REFERENCE: RSAA2569
The Planetary Sciences Institute (PSI) of the Australian National University
seeks to understand the formation, evolution, diversity and fate of planetary
systems in the universe and their relationship to our own Solar System. The
PSI is a newly-funded undertaking between the Research Schools of Astronomy
and Astrophysics (RSAA) and Earth Sciences (RSES) building on the strengths
of their respective programs to develop new directions for planetary research
that will shape our future understanding of the origin and evolution of
planetary systems including: remote and direct analysis of extraterrestrial
materials, extrasolar planet search and characterization programs, and
theoretical modelling of planetary system processes.
PSI currently has a dozen associated faculty including an initial joint
appointment. We are now seeking to fill two further joint positions.
Appointees will be able to thrive in an environment characterized by the
challenges and opportunities of an exploding field of cross-disciplinary
research.
Anticipating the rapid accumulation of new observations of our and other
planetary systems we are looking for cosmochemists and planetary scientists
whose research complements, extends and connects existing research at RSAA
and RSES. The appointee's research program could include: cosmochemistry,
experimental petrology or microscale geoscience, numerical modelling of the
dynamical evolution of proto-planetary material, disk mineralogy, planet
formation and/or the detection, analysis and characterization of exoplanets.
Level of appointment will depend on level of qualifications and experience.
Selection Criteria: http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/jobs
or email: academic.services.rsaaanu.edu.au
Enquiries about the position: Dr Charley Lineweaver, Coordinator, PSI
(charleymso.anu.edu.au); or Professor Penny Sackett, Director, RSAA
(director.rsaaanu.edu.au); or Professor Mark Harrison, Director, RSES
(director.rsesanu.edu.au)
Planetary Sciences Institute website: http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/PSI
Closing date: 15 December 2004
Candidates should arrange for a minimum of 2 referees to submit their reports
directly by email to: academic.services.rsaaanu.edu.au by the closing date.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Openings for two NGSC Assistant Astronomers/Scientists
From: Sally Adams sadamsnoao.edu
AURA/NOAO
Two Assistant Astronomer/Scientist Positions - NOAO Gemini Science Center
The National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) invites applications for
two scientific staff positions that will be filled either on the tenure track
(50% research) or on the scientist track (20% research), depending on the
candidates' interests and qualifications. The successful candidates will be
expected to pursue a significant research program in observational astronomy
as well as to actively participate in the NOAO Gemini Science Center. One
position will be located at NOAO's headquarters in Tucson, Arizona and the
other at NOAO South in La Serena, Chile.
An excellent opportunity exists for candidates to use their scientific
interests and experience to assist the U.S. community in exploiting the
cutting-edge facilities of the Gemini Observatory. World-class observing
capabilities that are available or nearing readiness on the Gemini telescopes
include mid-infrared imaging and spectroscopy, adaptive-optics-enhanced
infrared imaging and spectroscopy, integral-field spectroscopy in both the
infrared and optical, and multi-slit spectroscopy in both the infrared and
optical. Interested applicants are invited to contact any member of the
Search Committee (Chair is Dr. Taft Armandroff, NGSC Director; see NOAO
Employment Opportunities Web site for full committee membership) with
questions about this position or to discuss how their research interests may
overlap with NGSC activities and plans.
The NOAO Gemini Science Center (NGSC) supports the U.S. astronomical community
in its use of the twin Gemini 8-m telescopes. Specifically, NGSC fosters open
and direct communications with the U.S. astronomical community; provides
support to U.S. Gemini proposers, users, and instrument builders; organizes
U.S. opinion on Gemini matters; provides selected operations support at the
Gemini telescopes; and assists in defining future scientific directions for
Gemini.
The successful candidates will reside in the active research environments of
either NOAO's Tucson headquarters, which is located on the University of
Arizona campus, or NOAO South, which is located in the AURA campus in
La Serena, Chile. The city of La Serena is a seaside resort in South America,
with a climate very similar to San Diego, California. The AURA campus in
La Serena includes the offices of CTIO, SOAR and Gemini South, with the
offices of Las Campanas Observatory nearby.
Applicants should submit electronically to the email address below a
curriculum vitae, a statement of current research interests, and a
description of how the applicant would contribute to the NOAO Gemini Science
Center. Please include in the cover letter an indication of whether you
would like to be considered for the Tucson NGSC position, the La Serena NGSC
position, or both. Applicants should also arrange for three professional
references to send letters of recommendation electronically to the address
below by the due date.
Applications received prior to Saturday, January 15, 2005 are assured of
full consideration.
NOAO fosters a diverse research environment, including attention to the needs
of dual-career couples within the field of Astronomy. Women and candidates
from underrepresented minorities are particularly encouraged to apply.
Send materials to:
Email: hrnoaonoao.edu
In the subject line, please reference NGSC Assistant
Astronomer/Scientist #693.
Human Resources Manager
National Optical Astronomy Observatory
Attn: NGSC Assistant Astronomer/Scientist #693
P.O. Box 26732
Tucson, Arizona 85726-6732
FAX: 520-318-8456
NOAO is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
Hiring preference is given to qualified Native Americans living on or near
the Tohono O'Odham reservation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Recruitment Notices from NOAO
From: Cindy Burnett burnettnoao.edu
The following job openings at NOAO and NSO may be of interest. For further
information, please go to:
http://www.noao.edu/cas/hr/jobs/jobs_list.html
Assistant Astronomer/Scientist, NOAO, La Serena, Chile
Engineering Project Manager, NOAO, Tucson, AZ
Leo Goldberg Fellowship, NOAO, Tucson, AZ
NGSC Assistant Astronomer/Scientist, NOAO, Tucson, AZ & La Serena, Chile
Postdoctoral Fellow & REU Director, NOAO, La Serena, Chile
Postdoctoral Research Associate, NOAO, Tucson, AZ
WIYN Project Scientist, NOAO, Tucson, AZ
ATST Project Manager, NSO, Tucson, AZ
Post Doctoral/Visiting Scientist, NSO, Sunspot, NM
Scientific Programmer, NSO, Tucson, AZ
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. How to submit, subscribe, or unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
To submit to AASWOMEN:
send email to aaswomenstsci.edu
All material sent to that address will be posted unless
you tell us otherwise (including your email address).
To subscribe to AASWOMEN:
send email to majordomostsci.edu, with message in the BODY
subscribe aaswlist yourusernameyouraddress
To unsubscribe to AASWOMEN:
send email to majordomostsci.edu, with message in the BODY
unsubscribe aaswlist yourusernameyouraddress
----------------------------------------------------------------------------