AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of May 9, 2008
eds. Joan Schmelz, Hannah Jang-Condell & Caroline Simpson
This week's issues:
1. January 2008 AAS Meeting Session: Advice on When to Raise a Family
2. Update on the Pasadena Recommendations
3. CSWA web site
4. Kepler Guest Office - Research Scientist
5. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
6. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. January 2008 AAS Meeting Session: Advice on When to Raise a Family
From: Geoff Clayton [gclayton
fenway.phys.lsu.edu]
The CSWA convened a panel at the Austin AAS meeting in which astronomers at
various stages in their careers described the way in which they made their
decisions about when to raise a family and how their choices have had an
impact on their careers. The panel members were: Hannah Jang-Condell
(University of Maryland & GSFC), Margaret Hanson (University of Cincinnati),
Orsola De Marco (American Museum of Natural History), Charles Liu (CUNY)
and John Debes (DTM).
One of the most difficult decisions facing professional women is whether to
have children and, if so, when. In practice women in astronomy have chosen
a variety of solutions, ranging from delaying or interrupting graduate
school or postdoctoral fellowships, delaying child rearing until after tenure,
or even abandoning the idea of having children. These decisions usually
have a considerable impact on the career path of a professional woman. The
following points summarize the views of the panelists and members of the
audience:
When is the best time to have kids?
1. All times are equally good, meaning that you need to have kids when the
time is right for you. Women cannot always count on waiting until 'the time
is right' to get pregnant. Nature doesn't always oblige on a schedule and
if you wait too long into your late 30's or early 40's, it may be too late.
2. If you have a choice in the matter, then having kids during grad school
might have the least impact on your career because it is easier to take
some time off. When you are a postdoc you are usually on a two-year clock and
when you are tenure track, you usually on a five-year clock.
3. Finding a daycare situation you really trust and that your child loves
is critical to your peace of mind that they are well taken care of and you
are not a 'bad parent' for not raising them yourself.
4. Men need to be proactive and ask about benefits and policies with regard
to parental leave, delay of tenure, etc., and make use of these opportunities
themselves, so it is not always associated with female astronomers (to
reduce biases), and to become a more fully engaged new parent.
5. During the hiring process you may want to be open about your two-body
(or N-body) problem during job interviews. But the best time to bring it up,
whether at the beginning of the process or when on the short list, will
vary with the situation. It would be nice to get hired at places that are
family friendly in order to pressure institutions to change, but most people
don't have the luxury of choosing between multiple offers.
6. Don't listen too much to anyone's advice (including ours!). Everyone's
kid is different; everyone's personal circumstances are different;
everyone's parenting style is different. You know what's best for your
family, and don't let anyone else tell you differently.
7. A supportive partner and/or a circle of support from friends and family
is extremely helpful.
8. Having kids is really hard, let alone trying to work at the same time,
but it may be the most rewarding thing you ever do.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Update on the Pasadena Recommendations
From: Geoff Clayton [gclaytonfenway.phys.lsu.edu]
The following letter has been send from the AAS President to Department
Chairs encouraging them to publicly endorse the Pasadena Recommendations.
Dear Department Chairperson,
In January 2005, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) unanimously
endorsed a series of recommendations aimed at promoting gender equity in
astronomy. We are writing your department to encourage you to follow suit.
We all want to increase the diversity of our field, for the betterment of the
science, for fairness to non-traditional students (women, minorities), to
continue to be supported by a diverse public, and because equal opportunity
is the law (Title IX). Universities are aware of the continued barriers
that women face in academia, as noted by the "Statement on Gender Equity in
Academic Science and Engineering" signed by nine universities in 2001 and
reaffirmed by the same institutions on December 6, 2005. National
laboratories and other institutions are also concerned with achieving a
diverse and fair working environment.
The AAS has long been a proponent of diversity in science. To this end, the
AAS created a Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy in 1972, and a
meeting was held to address ways to promote equity in 1992. That meeting
resulted in the Baltimore Charter for Women in Astronomy (see
www.stsci.edu/stsci/meetings/WiA/BaltoCharter.html), an initial set of
recommendations to improve the environment for women in astronomy. A second
meeting was held in Pasadena in 2003, and led to another set of
recommendations that extend those in the Baltimore Charter. The Pasadena
Recommendations suggest concrete steps that can be taken by individual
institutions.
The AAS has been very forward thinking and pro-active in increasing the
number of women - and we are finally seeing results; since 2003 over 50% of
AAS members between the ages of 18-23 have been women. Now we ask you to
come together and consider the Pasadena Recommendations - discuss them,
endorse them officially (notify us, we will post endorsements on our web
site www.aas.org/cswa), post them prominently (a brochure, suitable for
printing, is available at our web site), advertise them to your university
administration, and take proactive steps to promote equity in your own
institution. We also welcome comments and feedback.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. CSWA web site
From: Geoff Clayton [gclaytonfenway.phys.lsu.edu]
We are continuing to upgrade the CSWA's presence on the web. We plan more
improvements in the coming year including, making the AASWOMEN newsletter
available via RSS and the introduction of a CSWA Blog. You can find us at,
www.aas.org/cswa
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Kepler Guest Office - Research Scientist
From: Natalie Batalha [nbatalhascience.sjsu.edu]
A current mission of the University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) is to
support the Kepler Guest Observer (GO) office, responsible for creating
and managing a program through which scientists will be able to request and
receive observing time and resulting data from NASA's Kepler planet-search
mission. US participation in the MOST GO program will also be managed
through the Kepler GO office. We are seeking an experienced Research Scientist
who understands the Kepler mission and can communicate to the astronomical
community the nature and limitations of data produced by the Kepler
instrument. This technical knowledge is also needed to enable technical
evaluation of the GO proposals and to guide the GOs in preparation of their
proposals and analysis of the data. The incumbent will have an opportunity to
carry out a scientific investigation using data from Kepler.
The incumbent will: work with NASA HQ to create and manage the Kepler Guest
Observer Office at NASA Ames Research Center; develop an understanding of
the instrument and its expected data products; deliver Guest Observer
target lists to the Kepler Science Office for scheduling and upload; oversee
technical review of GO proposals; produce written documents and web-based
facilities for Guest Observers describing the Kepler mission and its data
products, including a GO Users Manual containing information regarding the
instrument, target catalog(s), and procedures for obtaining results from the
Data Management Center (DMC); establish written policies regarding Kepler
target availability, target conflicts, proprietary periods and other such
issues; guide GOs in making best use of their Kepler data, including
building and maintaining an FAQ list; organize and host Kepler GO science
symposia; coordinate US participation in the Canadian MOST satellite GO
program; produce written documents and web-based facilities linking Guest
Observers with the MOST documentation; assist GOs in making best use of
their MOST data; and organize and host tutorial workshops for prospective
GOs. Minimum requirements are: a PhD in astronomy or related discipline;
experience with telescope Time Allocation Committees (e.g. a record of
writing successfully competed observing proposals, service on TAC
committees, participation in GO programs associated with other space-based
missions, etc); Experience with CCD/instrument characterization and with
the reduction and analysis of CCD photometry.
Special Condition of Employment: In order to comply with security measures
at the University Affiliated Research Center, the selected candidate will
be required to be fingerprinted, and wear a photo I.D. badge.
You may submit a letter of interest and resume to uarchrucsc.edu .
The University of California (UC) provides exceptional benefits in addition
to the special intellectual and cultural advantages of being a member of
the UC Community. The University offers outstanding health and welfare
benefits and programs for secure retirement that are considered to be among
the finest in higher education. Our salary structure is highly competitive
and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-
5. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
[Please remember to replace "" in the below e-mail addresses.]
To submit to AASWOMEN:
send email to aaswomen.aas.org
All material sent to that address will be posted unless you tell us
otherwise (including your email address). *** Plain text submissions are
preferred***
To subscribe or unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
go to http://lists.aas.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aaswlist
and fill out the form.
If you experience any problems, please email itdeptaas.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-
6. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN
Past issues of AASWOMEN are available at
http://www.aas.org/cswa/AASWOMEN.html
Each annual summary includes an index of topics covered.
AASWList mailing list
AASWListaas.org