AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of March 2, 2007
eds. Patricia Knezek, Joan Schmelz, Geoffrey Clayton, & Hannah Jang-Condell
This week's issues:
1. Red Hot Debate: PHYSICS TODAY and the Image of Women in Science
2. Red Hot Debate: Deja vu all over again!
3. Association of Women in Science Names 2007 Fellows
4. Dresselhaus Wins L'Oreal-UNESCO Award
5. Physical Science Assistant Professor at Columbus State University
********** The following position was taken from WIPHYS **********
6. Assistant Professor in Subatomic Theory at Arizona State University
7. How to submit, subscribe, or unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
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1. Red Hot Debate: PHYSICS TODAY and the Image of Women in Science
From: Marc Brodsky [brodsky
aip.org]
A subscription to Physics Today (PT), the flagship magazine of the American
Institute of Physics, is a free on-membership benefit to most members of the
American Astronomical Society. In the January 2007 issue of PT, a quarter
page ad appeared which raised justified concern about how the image of
women is portrayed in a scientific environment.
Usually PT is very sensitive to such concerns in advance of publication, but
the sad fact is that until pointed out to us after publication, no one at
PT or elsewhere in AIP noticed a reclining woman in a red skirt that
appeared on the cover of a catalogue pictured in the ad. I speculate that
this was because the catalogue cover was a very small thumbnail insert in
an ad that was not so large to begin with. The insert was of the cover of a
catalog and the woman was even smaller. When called to my attention I had
to squint to see what it was.
The publisher of PT received a complaint and was preparing to address the
issue. But, before he could contact the advertiser, he heard from the
advertiser (within 24 hours of the first information he had) that they
were changing the ad and that all future ads in PT would not have such
an image.
AIP is acutely aware that the opportunities for women in science can be
undermined by inappropriate stereotypes. PT strives for accurate and
positive images of all scientists, including women and other under-represented
groups. PT is very sensitive to the images it publishes and has had lively
internal debate on the appropriateness of certain images that most would
have found inoffensive, but others might not. We will strive to be even
more vigilant in the future.
Marc H. Brodsky
Executive Director and CEO
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740-3843
E-mail: brodskyaip.org
Phone: (301) 209-3131
Fax: (301) 209-3133
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2. Red Hot Debate: Deja vu all over again!
From: Meg Urry [meg.urryyale.edu]
Concerning the "Red Hot" topic: as Yogi Berra put it so well, "Deja vu all
over again!"
A few years back, we went through exactly the same dialog re, I think, Edmund
Scientific. It was discussed in AASWOMEN, I believe, and it must have been
in the late 1990s. Same thing: attractive woman jazzing up telescope ad.
Does anyone remember the details? I guess the protests (letters, complaints)
at that time were singularly ineffective. Let's hope 10 years later, the
public attitude is different.
As the French say, "Plus que ca change, plus que c'est la meme chose!"
(The more things change, the more things stay the same.)
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3. Association of Women in Science Names 2007 Fellows
From: Amy Simon-Miller [simonlepasm.gsfc.nasa.gov]
The Association of Women in Science (AWIS) has named its 2007 Fellows,
honored for their contributions to the advancement of women in science.
We would like to congratulate all the recipients, including our own Dr.
Pat Knezek. The full list of Fellow is:
Ben Barres, Stanford University, Jeannette E. Brown, educational consultant,
Susan L. Forsburg, University of Southern California, Jong-on Hahm, George
Washington University, Patricia B. Hyer, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University, Elizabeth S. Ivey, University of Hartford, Patricia M. K
nezek, NOAO/WIYN Consortium, Inc, Margaret M. Murnane, JILA/University of
Colorado-Boulder, Kathie L. Olsen, National Science Foundation, Susan
Staffin Metz, Stevens Institute of Technology
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4. Dresselhaus Wins L'Oreal-UNESCO Award
From: WIPHYS February 26, 2007
MIT Institute Professor Mildred Dresselhaus is the North American winner of a
2007 L'Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science. She and four other
recipients, each representing a different continent, were named at a ceremony
today at UNESCO House in Paris where Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, chairman of
L'Oreal, and Koïchiro Matsuura, director-general of UNESCO, presented each
laureate with her $100,000 award. Full press release at
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/dresselhaus.html
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5. Physical Science Assistant Professor at Columbus State University
From: Zodiac Webster [webster_zodiaccolstate.edu]
The Department of Chemistry and Geology at Columbus State University invites
applications for a full-time, tenure-track appointment at the level of
Assistant Professor to begin teaching in August 2007. Teaching duties will
include developing and teaching a new Physical Science course and laboratory
for elementary and middle-school teachers. The Physical Science course must
be developed according to strict Georgia Board of Regents guidelines. The
faculty member will also be expected to teach other introductory and/or
advanced courses within the department in the discipline of the candidate's
Ph.D.
Other job duties include academic advising, helping with existing programs
to recruit and retain secondary science and math teachers, active
involvement with and leadership in educational outreach activities such
as Engineering Night, Science Olympiad, Science Fair, and/or Astronomy
Night, and other service duties necessary to build and maintain a vibrant
and collegial department. Candidates must also be committed to quality
teaching and to continued scholarly and instructional development. This
position is available pending budget approval from the Board of Regents.
Minimum requirements: Applicants should possess a strong and demonstrated
interest in teaching and hold a doctorate degree by the time of appointment.
The doctoral degree should be in Physics, Astrophysics, Engineering,
Geology, Chemistry, or related field. Possession of a doctorate in Science
Education is also considered acceptable training if at least 18 hours of
graduate education were obtained in a science discipline relevant to the
hiring department.
The successful candidate will demonstrate outstanding oral and written
communication skills and exhibit a commitment to excellence in science
education in a student-centered environment. The successful candidate
will be able to teach and work with persons from culturally diverse
backgrounds. Familiarity with the use of performance standards and
assessment is preferred. Applicants must satisfy the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools (SACS) requirements in order to gain employment
at Columbus State University.
Application Procedures: This search will remain open until a suitable
candidate is selected. Review of applications will begin March 12. For
full consideration, applicants should submit a letter of interest describing
relevant experience and qualifications for this unique position, recent
letters from at least three references who may be contacted, a
curriculum vitae, a comprehensive statement of teaching philosophy, a
statement of research interests applicable to a primarily undergraduate
institution, a reprint of a recent publication(s) and/or conference
papers, unofficial transcripts, and evidence of successful teaching
experience to:
Z. T. Webster, Chair, Physical Science Search Committee, Department of
Chemistry and Geology, Columbus State University, 4225 University
Avenue, Columbus, GA 31907.
Applicants must provide official transcripts at the time of interview.
Columbus State University embraces its diverse student body and the
College of Science strongly values outstanding teaching and those who
educate future teachers. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.
Columbus State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity
Employer. A SUCCESSFUL CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK WILL BE REQUIRED AS
A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT. See details about the department at
http://chemgeo.colstate.edu
and more information about the class to be developed at
http://facstaff.colstate.edu/webster_zodiac/physicalscience.
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6. Assistant Professor in Subatomic Theory at Arizona State University
From: WIPHYS March 1, 2007
The Department of Physics at Arizona State University (ASU) seeks candidates
for a tenure-track assistant professorship in particle-astrophysics
theory and related areas starting August 2007. Applicants must have a
Ph.D. in physics or a closely related discipline by time of appointment,
a strong demonstrated research history in these areas of theoretical
physics, the potential to attract external funding, and a commitment to
effective teaching.
The initial appointment will be a cooperative fellowship with the RIKEN
BNL Research Center (RBRC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) for
a period of up to five years. During this period the faculty member
will spend about half time at ASU and the remaining time at RBRC.
The Department of Physics has completed an extensive strategic planning
initiative in which theoretical particle-astrophysics is identified as
an area of emphasis for the development of significant expertise. We
are especially interested in candidates who both complement and extend
our current particle physics theory research efforts. This position
must overlap some regime of interest to RBRC, from QCD to the TeV scale.
Applicants must submit a curriculum vitae, publication list, and a
statement describing their current and future research interests, and
arrange to have at least three letters of recommendation sent on their
behalf. Initial review of applications will begin after April 15, 2007,
and if not filled will continue every two weeks until the search is closed.
Application materials and reference letters may be submitted to:
Particle Astrophysics Search Committee
Department of Physics
Arizona State University
P.O. Box 871504
Tempe, AZ 85287-1504
or by email to particle-astrophysics.searchasu.edu,
Applicants must also submit copies of these materials to Dr. Nicholas
P. Samios, Director, RIKEN BNL Research Center, Building 510A,
Brookhaven National Laboratory, PO Box 5000, Upton, Long Island,
NY 11973-5000.
ASU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, and actively
seeks diversity among applicants and promotes a diverse workforce. A
criminal background check is required for employment.
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