AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of May 22, 2009
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery
This week's issues:
1. Women (and Other Minorities) in Science and Engineering:
A Personal Perspective
2. New Study Ponders the Effect of Professors' Gender on Students' Success
in Science
3. Negotiating the Ideal Faculty Position - Workshop
4. Sue V. Rosser to be Provost at SFSU
5. Astronomer in the Classroom
6. Astronomy Blogger for July
7. Meet the Scientist
8. Short Survey: Leaving One Job for Another
*** FOLLOWING POSITIONS TAKEN FROM WIPHYS ***
9. Gus Weiss Professorship in Theoretical Physics, George Washington
University
10. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
11. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN
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1. Women (and Other Minorities) in Science and Engineering: A Personal
Perspective
From: Andrea Dupree [adupree
cfa.harvard.edu]
Professor Kathryn Johnston of Columbia University gave a special seminar at
CfA on Tuesday, May 12, 2009: Women (and Other Minorities) in Science and
Engineering: A Personal Perspective. According to Johnston: This seminar
consists of a set of slides summarizing what I have learned (through
committee work and attending talks) about the social and psychological science
literature that might be relevant to understanding the slow progress of women
in science. My intention is not to give a thorough review (my field is Local
Group Science) but rather to use the slides as a starting point for
discussion.
The slides are available here:
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/cfawis/kathryn_johnston.pdf
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2. New Study Ponders the Effect of Professors' Gender on Students' Success
in Science
From: WIPHYS May 19, 2009
Female students -- or, more specifically, female Air Force cadets -- are
more likely to succeed in introductory-level science courses if those courses
are taught by female professors, according to a study by a trio of
economists. The researchers examined the academic records of every student
who graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy from 2000 to 2008 -- more
than 9,000 students in all. They found that women, and especially those with
high mathematics-SAT scores, performed significantly better in introductory
science courses if women taught the courses.
http://chronicle.com/news/article/6492/new-study-ponders-professors-gender-
and-students-success-in-science
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3. Negotiating the Ideal Faculty Position - Workshop
From: Maryam Modjaz [mmodjazastro.berkeley.edu]
A recent study of diversity in engineering notes that "the most accurate
predictor of subsequent success for female undergraduates is the percentage
of women among faculty members at their college" (Trowers and Chait;
Harvard Magazine, 104:33, 2002). At Rice University we are strongly
committed to increasing the diversity of science and engineering faculty
and students. As part of this goal we are sponsoring an exciting workshop
for senior women graduate students and post-docs who are interested in
pursuing an academic career. The workshop, Negotiating the Ideal Faculty
Position, (October 18-19, 2009), is designed to provide participants
hands-on experience to enhance their knowledge of and ability to find the
right faculty position. Through support from the National Science
Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award, all travel,
meals, and lodging costs will be provided for workshop participants.
Applications are due August 13. The online application can be found at:
http://advance.rice.edu/negotiatingtheidealfacultyposition/form_intro.cfm
Topics Covered in Negotiating the Ideal Faculty Position Workshop
1. Finding the right institutional fit
2. Understanding what a search committee looking for
3. Putting together a successful faculty application
4. Standing out in the interview
5. Maximizing the impact of your interview seminar
6. Negotiating a good start up package
7. Finding out about the culture of the department & college
8. Choosing good collaborators
9. Obtaining funding
10. Building your lab/research program
11. Understanding the tenure process
12. Balancing work and family
Please pass this information on to qualified female candidates who are
interested in an academic career.
Thank you,
Jan Rinehart
Executive Director
NSF ADVANCE Program
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4. Sue V. Rosser to be Provost at SFSU
From: WIPHYS May 19, 2009
From the Chronicle of Higher Education: "A New Provost Promotes Diversity
and Women in the Sciences". Sue V. Rosser, who will become provost of San
Francisco State University on August 15, has built a career around her
passion for women's issues, in particular the participation of women in
science.
http://chronicle.com/temp/email2.php?id3DBkcMhrrgWgtyWvhbrkdygkRpzbtVKhrc
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5. Astronomer in the Classroom
From: Andrea Schweitzer [schweitzfrii.com]
The Astronomer in the Classroom program needs your help; please take a look
at the website and sign up to help our youth learn more about astronomy
and all the different fields of research.
www.astronomerintheclassroom.org
For more information, please contact:
Anita Ingrao
Interstellar Studios
11 Ilahee Lane
Chico, California 95973
(530) 343 5635
anitainterstellarstudios.com
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6. Astronomy Blogger for July
From: Andrea Schweitzer [schweitzfrii.com]
We are building a grassroots collaborative Web site, the Year of Science 2009:
http://www.yearofscience2009.org
where we highlight -- according to 12 scientific themes -- who scientists
are, why science matters, and how science works. Each months' content begins
with a series of blog postings from a great science communicator talking a
bout the importance of the theme to our society and lives. Thus far, our
guest bloggers have included individuals like Carl Zimmer of Discover
Magazine and Steve Mirsky of Scientific American.
The July blogger would focus on the theme "Why We are Celebrating
Astronomy". The sum request for participation is to write a series of
blog posts (at least one per week) during the month of July with a minimum
length of 400-500 words per posting. The first posting would be due June
27th. The target audience is the general public, and the site is being
promoted through schools, libraries, participating organizations, science
bloggers, and public broadcast orgs.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Sheri Potter
COPUS Network Project Manager
941-923-6320
c. 941-321-1573
spotteraibs.org
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7. Meet the Scientist
From: Andrea Schweitzer [schweitzfrii.com]
We are currently seeking to identify four scientists that will be featured
on our Meet the Scientist page in August. See our January highlighted
scientists here for an example:
http://www.yearofscience2009.org/themes_process_nature/meet-scientists/
The types of individuals we are looking for would be:
- active scientists
- represent diversity of fields of study with respect to the months theme -
- energy
- represent diversity of personality, background, and culture
The commitment to serve as a meet the scientist is a small one -- requiring
about a half hour of time now and another half hour the third week of the
month.
If you would please take a moment to consider who might be a good candidate
for this activity and share your recommendations with us, we would be very
appreciative! We would like to confirm all four scientists this week.
For more information, please contact:
Sheri Potter
COPUS Network Project Manager
941-923-6320
c. 941-321-1573
spotteraibs.org
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8. Short Survey: Leaving One Job for Another
From: WIPHYS May 20, 2009
I'm writing to ask you if you would be willing to participate in a study
that I am conducting at Rice University.
It is important research and is attempting to understand the experiences
and decision-making processes that occur when talented faculty voluntarily
decide to leave their academic institutions and go elsewhere (e.g., either an
other academic institution or a nonacademic alternative).
If you have EVER been employed at one university/college and voluntarily
left this one for another academic (or nonacademic) job (not just those who
left for another job, those who left and stopped working should be included
as well), you are eligible to take part. In taking part in the survey, you
should consider the most recent academic job you left and why you decided
to leave that institution. We are NOT interested in the experiences of those
who retired or reached the end of a predetermined contract.
The survey takes 15-20 minutes to complete and is located at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm3DAZLp0HbOdJSY97nrZ6pePA_3d_3d
The survey has been approved by Rice University's Institutional Review Board.
Thank you so much for possibly being willing to help our team of researchers.
Jan Rinehart, Executive Director Advance Program
PO Box 1892-MS 105
Rice University
Houston, Texas 77251-1892
713-348-3345
jan.rinehartrice.edu
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9. Gus Weiss Professorship in Theoretical Physics, George Washington
University
From: WIPHYS May 19, 2009
The George Washington (GW) University Department of Physics seeks
outstanding candidates for its newly created endowed professorship in
energy research, the Gus Weiss Professorship in Theoretical Physics.
Energy is among the research focus areas that GW has identified and the
University has invested significantly in the establishment of a new
interdisciplinary institute for energy research. The Gus Weiss Professor
is a founding member of the institute and will play a central role in
the realization of its scientific vision and in the planning of its
growth through future hires.
The institute is one of a cluster of interrelated centers and institutes
for advanced study at GW's Research and Technology Campus in Ashburn,
Virginia, about 45 minutes from Washington, DC. The research programs at
this campus support and interact with those at GW's main campus in Foggy
Bottom. Within the institute, the Weiss Professorship is envisioned as
the leader of the effort to link theoretical research from physics to
help solve the energy and environmental problems facing the nation and
the world in the coming century.
The overarching charge for the Gus Weiss Professor is to help develop the
goals and future activity of an important institute defining a subject with
great relevance and consequence to society. GW seeks an innovative, highly
collaborative, and successful theoretical physicist whose interests focus
on solving problems related to energy, for example the production, storage,
and delivery of energy.
To apply: GW has retained Isaacson, Miller to assist in the search. Please
send an electronic version of your Curriculum Vitae and cover letter,
addressed to Dr. Barry Berman, Chair, Department of Physics, to pjaegerimsea
rch.com . For any questions or to discuss the position, please contact
Philip Jaeger, Managing Associate at Isaacson, Miller or Michael Baer,
Vice President and Director. 202-216-2276.
The George Washington University is an equal opportunity, affirmative
action employer and is strongly committed to diversity; women and
minorities are especially encouraged to apply.
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11. 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.
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