AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of July 3, 2009
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery
This week's issues:
1. Draft AAS Statement On Professional Ethics
2. Lunar and Solar Eclipses in July
3. Most inspirational woman scientist revealed
4. Wiki on Women Astronomers
5. ASP Conference and Workshop Scholarship Deadline Extended
6. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
7. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Draft AAS Statement On Professional Ethics
From: AAS
The AAS has drafted a statement on professional ethics on June 7, 2009
(see below). AAS members are asked to login to the AAS Forum at
http://forums.aas.org/
and provide comments. The comments will appear online after a
moderator has approved them.
AAS Statement on Professional Ethics:
The mission of the American Astronomical Society is to enhance and
share humanity's scientific understanding of the Universe. We believe
the advancement of astronomy requires that we provide ethical
guidelines for AAS members and, for that matter, anyone involved in
professional astronomical activities.
Every astronomer is a citizen of the community of science. Each shares
responsibility for the welfare of this community. We endorse the
statement of the American Physical Society that "Science is best
advanced when there is mutual trust, based upon honest behavior,
throughout the community." All scientists should act ethically in the
conduct of their research, in teaching and education, and in relations
with both members of the public and other members of the scientific
community. We have a special responsibility to students and postdocs
to train them in ethical conduct.
The American Astronomical Society believes that the following are the
minimal standards of ethical behavior relating to the profession.
CONDUCT TOWARDS OTHERS
All people encountered in one's professional life should be treated
with respect. Discourse should be civil. Scientists should work to
provide an environment that encourages the free expression and
exchange of scientific ideas. They should promote equality of
opportunity and treatment for all their colleagues, regardless of
gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, age, marital status, sexual
orientation, disabilities, or any other reason not related to
scientific merit. This principle is clearly stated in our By-Laws.
More senior members of the society, especially research supervisors,
have a special responsibility to facilitate the research, educational,
and professional development of students and subordinates. This
includes providing safe, supportive working environments, fair
compensation and appropriate acknowledgment of their contribution to
any research results. In addition, supervisors should encourage the
timely advance of graduate students and young professionals in their
career aspirations.
It is also incumbent on senior members of our society to inform more
junior members of these ethical issues and of institutional and
government guidelines, policies and precedures related to the
oversight and maintenance of ethical standards for research and
conduct. It is the responsibility of all members of our society to
familiarize themselves with such guidelines, policies and procedures.
RESEARCH
It is an ethical responsiblity that research results be recorded and
maintained in a form that allows review, analysis, and reproduction by
others. It is incumbent on researchers involved in large,
publicly-supported studies to make results available in a timely
manner.
Fabrication of data or selective reporting of data with the intent to
mislead or deceive is unethical and unacceptable, as is the
appropriation of data or research results from others without
permission and attribution.
It should be recognized that honest error is an integral part of the
scientific enterprise. It is not unethical to be wrong, provided that
errors are promptly acknowledged and corrected when they are detected.
PUBLICATION AND AUTHORSHIP PRACTICES
All persons who have made significant contributions to a work intended
for publication should be offered the opportunity to be listed as
authors. This includes all those who have contributed intellectually
to the inception, design, execution, or interpretation of the
research. Other individuals who have contributed to a study should be
appropriately acknowledged. The sources of financial support for any
project should be acknowledged/disclosed. All collaborators share
responsibility for any paper they coauthor, and every coauthor should
have the opportunity to review a manuscript before its submission.
Proper acknowledgement of the work of others must always be given, and
complete referencing is an essential part of any astronomical research
publication. Authors have an obligation to their colleagues and the
scientific community to include a set of references that communicates
the precedents, sources, and context of the reported work. Deliberate
omission of a pertinent author or reference is unacceptable. Data
provided by others must be cited appropriately, even if obtained from
a public database.
All authors are responsible for providing prompt corrections or
retractions if errors are found in published works.
Plagiarism is the presentation of others' words, ideas or scientific
results as if they were one's own. Citations to others' work must be
clear, complete, and correct. Plagiarism is unethical behavior and is
never acceptable.
Authors, editors and referees should also be aware of the professional
and ethical standards that have been adopted for the AAS journals
(http://aas.org/ethicsPolicy).
PEER REVIEW
Peer review is an essential component of many aspects of the
scientific process such as evaluating research proposals, publishing
research results, and evaluating colleagues for career advancement.
Peer review can serve its intended function only if the members of the
scientific community are prepared to provide thorough, fair, and
objective evaluations based on requisite expertise. Although peer
review can be difficult and time-consuming, scientists have an
obligation to participate in the process.
Reviewers should disclose conflicts of interest resulting from direct
competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with those they are
reviewing and recuse themselves from cases where such conflicts
preclude an objective evaluation. It is unethical to seek to gain an
advantage by means of reviewing the work of others.
Privileged information or ideas that are obtained through peer review
must be kept confidential and not used for competitive gain.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Many activities of scientists and educators have the potential for a
conflict of interest. Any professional relationship or action that may
either be or be perceived as a conflict of interest should be fully
disclosed. Most organizations or activities have mechanisms for
managing conflicts, for example, through recusal. If a conflict of
interest cannot be properly managed, the activity should be avoided or
discontinued.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Lunar and Solar Eclipses in July
From: Michele Montgomery [montgomery
physics.ucf.edu]
July 7, 2009 is a penumbral lunar eclipse and July 22, 2009 is the
longest solar eclipse of this century. To check whether you are in
the right location to view these eclipses, see
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2009.html.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Most inspirational woman scientist revealed
From: Michele Montgomery [montgomeryphysics.ucf.edu]
NewScientist Magazine issue 2715 dated July 2, 2009 lists the top 10
most inspirational woman scientists of all time. Physics took the
number 1 spot and astrophysics took the 4th. Do you agree with this
list and the order? See
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327156.600-most-inspirational-woman-scientist-revealed.html.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Wiki on Women Astronomers
From: Michele Montgomery [montgomeryphysics.ucf.edu]
A wiki has been started on women astronomers. Is anyone missing? Are
you missing?
http://astronomycompendium.wikispaces.com/Women+Astronomers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. ASP Conference and Workshop Scholarship Deadline Extended
From: Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Although the regular abstract submission deadline to the September
12-16 ASP annual meeting has passed, limited space for late abstract
proposals may be available. Submit inquiries or your late abstract to
2009meetingastrosociety.org before July 31, 2009.
ASP is also hosting a series of workshops the weekend prior to the ASP
annual meeting. The workshops,
http://www.astrosociety.org/events/2009mtg/workshops.html,
are for teachers, informal educators, and amateur astronomers engaged
in public outreach. Thanks to the support of the Spitzer Space Center,
a limited number of up-to-$750 scholarships are available to eligible
participants to help defray travel and lodging costs. The workshop
scholarship deadline is July 22, 2009.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. 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 aaswomenaas.org All material
sent to that address will be posted unless you tell us otherwise
(including your email address).
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. 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