Women In Astronomy: April 2009

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Mothers in Science: 64 Ways to Have it All

Sorry about the light posting lately, I've been crazy busy.

For now, I'll leave you with this link: Mothers in Science: 64 Ways to Have it All. (Reviewed by Astronomum at Astronomoms)

Someday I will also get around to commenting on an NPR story I heard a few weeks ago about gender and language, once I'm done being crazy busy.

Friday, April 24, 2009

AASWomen for April 24, 2009

AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of April 24, 2009
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery

This week's issues:

1. IYA She is an Astronomer Press Release

2. M. Hildred Blewett Scholarship

3. On-Ramps into Academia Workshop, October 2009

4. Travel Support to ICMP

5. Visiting Assistant Professor â€" Ohio University

6. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN

7. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN

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1. IYA She is an Astronomer Press Release
From: Andrea Schweitzer [schweitz_at_frii.com]

The She Is An Astronomer project seeks to break down misconceptions and
gender issues in astronomy and science

21 April 2009, Paris: The highly anticipated International Year of
Astronomy 2009 Cornerstone project, She Is An Astronomer, was launched
today. She Is An Astronomer aims to help achieve several of the United
Nations Millennium Development Goals, including promoting gender equality
and empowering women.

The official SIAA website, www.sheisanastronomer.org, provides a
one-stop-shop for gender issues in astronomy and science. The site boasts
five sections: profiles of living and historic astronomers; resources for
female astronomers; events taking place during IYA2009; an SIAA
Ambassadors' Area; and a forum where issues, lessons and challenges can be
discussed, including the opportunity to question experts. The website
provides neutral, informative and accessible information and will be used
to advertise new events, keeping interested parties at the forefront of
developments. Examples of best practices and relevant statistics will be
pooled, making them accessible to the wider community. Content will be
regularly added during 2009, resulting in a vast depository that will
remain online long into the future, acting as an ongoing legacy.

The complete press release is at:
http://www.iau.org/public_press/news/release/iau0909/

She Is An Astronomer website:
http://www.sheisanastronomer.org

Andrea Schweitzer, Ph.D.
U.S. Project Manager for the International Year of Astronomy
www.Astronomy2009.us
aschweitzer_at_Astronomy2009.us
and
Little Thompson Observatory
www.starkids.org
schweitzer_at_frii.com
cell: 970-691-4747
Fort Collins, Colorado

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2. M. Hildred Blewett Scholarship
From: WIPHYS April 22, 2009

The M. Hildred Blewett Scholarship for Women in Physics consists of an
award of up to $45,000 to enable women to return to physics research
careers after having had to interrupt those careers for family
reasons. Details on the scholarship and how to apply can be found at
http://www.aps.org/programs/women/scholarships/blewett/index.cfm
Applications are due June 1, 2009.

Please share this information with a woman in physics who may be interested!

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3. On-Ramps into Academia Workshop, October 2009
From: WIPHYS, April 24, 2009

Workshop seeks to lure women researchers from industry to academia.
A series of national workshops at the University of Washington will
try a novel approach to boost the number of women faculty in
university science, technology, engineering and mathematics
departments. It will seek to lure women from industry â€" in other
words, help women who have established careers in the private sector
to consider applying for academic jobs.

The On-Ramps into Academia workshops are funded by a new grant from
the National Science Foundation. The program is geared to provide an
alternative to the intense competition that exists when hiring
talented women faculty to tenure-track positions.

The first workshop, to be held in Seattle over two days in October,
will provide practical tools and support to women who are interested
in making a transition. Senior women researchers who have made the
jump to successful academic careers will provide information,
networking opportunities and support to others who might be
considering a similar move. Topics to be covered will include the job
application process, interviewing and start-up negotiations. This
fall's event will be the first of three annual workshops.

Women with at least three years of experience after completing a
Ph.D. or postdoctoral position are invited to apply. The workshop is
free and, because of the weak economy, participants for the fall
workshop can apply for stipends to cover travel costs to Seattle. The
online application, at
http://www.engr.washington.edu/onramp/Application.htm, takes less than
an hour to complete. Priority will be given to applications submitted
before May 15.

For more information, contact Eve Riskin at 206-685-2313 or
riskin_at_u.washington.edu.

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4. Travel Support to ICMP
From: WIPHYS, April 24, 2009

There is a block travel grant from the US National Science Foundation
to provide travel support for US based participants to go to Prague
for the International Congress of Mathematical Physics in August,
2009. The deadline to apply is April 30.

For information on the grant and how to apply see
http://www.math.ucdavis.edu/~bxn/icmp2009-nsf-travel.html

For information about the ICMP and its satellite meetings, see
http://www.icmp09.com/

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5. Visiting Assistant Professor â€" Ohio University
From: Joseph Shields [shields_at_phy.ohiou.edu]

The Department of Physics and Astronomy and Astrophysical Institute
at Ohio University is seeking a Visiting Assistant Professor in
Astronomy/Astrophysics. The individual hired to this position will
be responsible for teaching one course per term during the three-
quarter academic year, and will be expected to participate in the
Astrophysical Instituteâ€™s public outreach and research activities.
The appointment will begin September 1, 2009 for a period of one
year, with renewal for additional years contingent on satisfactory
performance and availability of funding.

Ohio University is a public institution with an enrollment of 21,000
students. The Department of Physics and Astronomy has 27 permanent
faculty and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, including a
PhD in physics with a concentration in astrophysics. The University
and the Department are committed to excellence in teaching at all
levels. Ohio University is a partner in the MDM Observatory, and
members of the Astrophysical Institute maintain a vigorous program of
theoretical and multi-wavelength observational research.

Applicants for the position should have completed a PhD by September
2009 in astronomy or a closely related field. Applications should be
submitted via email to Prof. Joseph Shields at shields_at_phy.ohiou.edu,
and should include a cover letter with a statement of teaching
interests, a curriculum vitae, and names of at least three
individuals who can be contacted to provide letters of reference.
Review of applications will begin May 15 and will continue until the
position is filled. Ohio University is committed to quality,
diversity, and equal opportunity.

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6. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN

[Please remember to replace "_at_" in the below e-mail addresses.]

To submit to AASWOMEN: send email to aaswomen_at_aas.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 itdept_at_aas.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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, April 20, 2009

Dreaming Dreams

Has anyone not seen and heard Susan Boyle? I cry every time I watch this video, and I won't tell you how many times I've watched it. Her performance is truly inspiring. It proves that you don't have to be young or pretty to succeed, as long as you have talent, hope, and great deal of perseverance. I also think that's ironic that the song she sang was all about despair at one's lot in life, and she managed to fulfill her dreams by singing it.

Of course, watching this also makes me want to rewrite the lyrics:

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When grad school was a life worth living
I dreamed I could be a PI
I dreamed reviews would be forgiving

...

But your proposal was reviewed
And they've denied you any funding
As they tear your ideas apart
As they turn your dreams to shaaAAAAAME!

And just to assuage any concerns, I'm actually quite a bit more upbeat about things than the above lyrics might suggest. I'm just having a little fun.

Friday, April 17, 2009

AASWOMEN Newsletter 04/17/09

AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of April 17, 2009
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery

This week's issues:

1. Get Involved on Earth Day April 22, 2009

2. PAESMEM Program

3. Hating Women Scientists

4. Sofja Kovalevskaja Award

5. Visas for Brazil - IAU General Assembly

6. CSWP Co-sponsors Invited Talks at APS Denver Meeting

7. Lunar and Planetary Institute Postdoctoral Fellowships

*** FOLLOWING JOB POSTING TAKEN FROM WIPHYS ***

8. Assistant Research Scientist, University of Iowa

9. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN

10. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN

1. Get Involved on Earth Day April 22, 2009
From: Michele Montgomery [montgomery_at_physics.ucf.edu]

The 40th anniversary of Earth Day will be April 22, 2009 and will mark the beginning of "The Green Generation Campaign." Earth Day 2009 is a day of action and civic participation to:

* work towards building a more carbon-free future,

* further develop and use renewable energy sources,

* help end our common dependency on fossil fuels,

* create a new green economy,

* encourage responsible and sustainable consumption.

NASA is getting involved in Earth Day. NASA is hosting an Earth Day Poll for the most important contribution the space agency has made in exploring the Earth and improving the way we live on our home planet. Make your choice at

http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2009/04/a_nasa_earth_da.html .

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center's Digital Learning Network is hosting a live webcast that marries art with science. You can read the NASA Education Office status report and more information at

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.rss.html?pid=31021 .

To find Earth Day activities in your area, enter in your city and/or state at

http://www.earthday.net/search/node .

2. PAESMEM Program
From: NSF

The PAESMEM Program seeks to identify outstanding mentoring efforts that enhance the participation of groups (i.e., women, minorities, and persons with disabilities) that are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The awardees serve as leaders in the national effort to develop fully the Nation's human resources in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The NSF full application deadline is April 21, 2009. For more information, see

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5473 .

3. Hating Women Scientists
From: Women in Astronomy blog [womeninastronomy.blogspot.com]

[Hannah Jang-Condell tells us that ...] Christina Hoff Sommers is at it again: claiming that applying Title IX to science will ruin America, just as she did around this same time last year, as discussed in previous issues of AASWOMEN: see here, here, and here.

She starts off like this: What's good for women's basketball will be good for nuclear physics. To most Americans, that statement will sound odd.

Well, yes, how can you possibly fairly compare a gender-segregated sport to a field of science? Apples and oranges, anyone?

(click on

http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/2009/04/christina-hoff-sommers-is-at-it-again.html

to read the rest and to respond to this hatred of women scientists!)

4. Sofja Kovalevskaja Award
From: WIPHYS April 14

The Sofja Kovalevskaja Award is open to highly acclaimed scholars and scientists from all countries and disciplines. Applicants must have completed a doctoral degree with distinction within the past six years and have published in prestigious international journals or academic presses. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation particularly welcomes applications from qualified, female junior researchers.

This award, granted by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, is one of the most generously endowed research awards in Germany.

Award Funding: The funding - up to 1.65 million EUR per award - enables exceptionally promising junior scientists and scholars with outstanding research records to concentrate on high-level, innovative research in Germany, virtually without administrative constraints. The funds provided by the Sofja Kovalevskaja Award over five years allow recipients to:

* Conduct independent research. * Finance a research team at a German university or research institution of their choice. * Cover their living expenses while in Germany.

Application Information: The next announcement for applications is planned for the first half of the year 2009 and the deadline for application will probably be in the beginning of 2010. The selection meeting is scheduled for early summer 2010. The Foundation plans to grant up to eight awards in 2010.

Application forms and detailed information are available on the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation webpage

http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/7360.html

5. Visas for Brazil - IAU General Assembly
From: AAS Electronic Announcement #195

Because the United States requires Brazilian nationals to obtain visas before travel to the US, Brazil requires the same of US nationals. To complete an application, a letter of invitation is needed from the organizers. The link is www.fisica.ufmg.br/~iau2009/lettervisa.html

The IAU and Brazilian organizers have arranged an automatic invitation letter generator on their web page. AAS members traveling to Brazil for the General Assembly should use this tool to print their letter of invitation prior to applying for a Brazilian visa. More importantly, please allow ample time for the Brazilian consular officials to process your application. At least three months lead time is necessary to ensure the timely delivery of your properly endorsed passport. Additional information about Brazilian visas is available here:

http://www.astronomy2009.com.br/visas.html

6. CSWP Co-sponsors Invited Talks at APS Denver Meeting
From: WIPHYS March 31

Sunday, May 3, 10:45am -12:33 pm. Invited Session H6: Sponsored by the CSWP and the Division of Particles and Fields (three women talking on experimental high physics collaboration).

Monday, May 4, 1:30-3:18 pm. Invited Session R5: Women and Minorities in Multi-Messenger Astronomy of Gamma-Ray Bursts. Sponsored by the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics, the Committee on Minorities, the Division of Astrophysics, and the Topical Group on Gravitation.

Tuesday, May 5, 1:30-3:18 pm. Invited Session X5: Women and Minorities in Gravity: Science and Career Paths. Sponsored by the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics, the Committee on Minorities, the Division of Astrophysics, and the Topical Group on Gravitation.

7. Lunar and Planetary Institute Postdoctoral Fellowships
From: David King, LPI [kring_at_lpi.usra.edu]

The Universities Space Research Association's Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), in Houston TX, invites applications for several postdoctoral fellowships in lunar science and exploration.

Successful candidates will join Dr. David A. Kring and over two dozen other scientists in the new Center for Lunar Science and Exploration (CLSE), which was recently selected to form part of the science core of the NASA Lunar Science Institute (NLSI). The goals of the Center's activities are to address NASA's highest lunar science priorities and assist with anew generation of exploration activities in preparation of a crewed landing in 2020. Successful candidates will work at LPI and/or in the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) group at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in one of three areas: * Petrologic and geochemical analyses of lunar impact lithologies * Petrologic and geochemical analyses of the lunar regolith * Spectral and/or image analyses of the lunar surface using orbital data

Successful candidates must have a recent Ph.D. in petrology, geochemistry, or planetary remote sensing. The positions will be for two years. Applicants should send * a letter of interest citing this CLSE advertisement * a curriculum vita with a list of publications * a two to three page statement of research interests * a list of three references

to resume_at_lpi.usra.edu. There is no firm application deadline although the first review of applications will begin May 1, 2009.

Candidates should send an e-mail to kring_at_lpi.usra.edu. Additional details of the new lunar science and exploration program are available at

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/nlsi

USRA Point of Contact: Dr. David Kring Lunar and Planetary Institute (281) 486-2119 kring_at_lpi.usra.edu

8. Assistant Research Scientist, University of Iowa
From: WIPHYS, April 16

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Iowa invites applications for an Assistant Research Scientist to organize the detector upgrade projects on the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) Hadronic Calorimeter for high Large Hadron Collider (LHC) luminosities as well as the R&D studies on Cerenkov calorimeter techniques and data analysis on CMS experiment for SM Higgs boson search. Duties for this position include the design, construction, and testing of radiation hard calorimeters for high luminosity LHC runs; participation in the Higgs boson search with CMS data by test beams, and radiation damage studies; write computer codes for data acquisition systems, analyze mass data, write papers for publication in scholarly journals, prepare presentations for conferences and workshops; develop independent research concepts for R&D studies; maintain local CMS laboratories, and instruct students on related projects.

Ph.D. in experimental high energy physics with at least 5 years of postdoctoral research in high energy physics, preferably in the CMS experiment with expertise on photo detectors, Cerenkov light detection techniques, and hadronic calorimeter systems. Experience on radiation damage studies, and Higgs boson mass reconstruction techniques are essential; experience on computer cluster maintenance and administration. In addition, the person will have demonstrated experience on leading independent research project and supervising students on their tasks. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required. Desirable qualifications include experience on optical fiber systems, fixed target experiments, flavor physics, computational GRID systems, and very low signal processing techniques.

Apply at

http://jobs.uiowa.edu

refer to requisition 56677. The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

9. 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

10. 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.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Christina Hoff Sommers hates women scientists

Christina Hoff Sommers is at it again: claiming that applying Title IX to science will ruin America, just as she did around this same time last year, as discussed in previous issues of AASWOMEN: see here, here, and here.

She starts off like this:

What's good for women's basketball will be good for nuclear physics. To most Americans, that statement will sound odd.

Well, yes, how can you possibly fairly compare a gender-segregated sport to a field of science? Apples and oranges, anyone?

(click on the "link to full post" to read the rest)

"Title IX has had an enormous impact on women's opportunities and participation in sports." Indeed, Title IX has contributed to significant progress in women's athletics -- but at what cost to male student athletics?

Okay, now we're getting somewhere: we are looking to open opportunities to women and increase their participation. What's wrong with that? And besides, men's college basketball does not seem to have suffered at all from the rise of women's college basketball. College basketball was all over the news last month, at least the men's tournament. Maybe once in a while you'd hear about the women's tournament, but it wasn't the big story.

Title IX could make "similar striking advances" for women in science and engineering. Indeed it could -- but at what cost to science?

Okay, now that's just insulting. She's basically just put right out there that she believes that women are not capable of doing math or science. Thank you, Ms. Sommers, for adding to the problem of gender bias in science.

Badly in need of an advocacy cause just as women were beginning to outnumber men on college campuses, well-funded academic women's groups alerted their followers that American science education was "hostile" to women.

Look, more insults! We women in science advocates are simply troublemakers looking for a cause. Gotta love the scare quotes around "hostile" too. Well, if people continue to assume that women cannot do good science, then American science education is going to continue to be hostile to women, won't it. I also love the idea of well-funded academic women's groups. And how much money does the American Enterprise Institute pay you, Ms. Sommers?

Is it true that women are being excluded from academic science programs because of sexist bias? Some researchers agree that bias is to blame; others, perhaps a majority, suggest that biology and considered preference explain why men and women gravitate to different academic fields. But researchers who dispute the bias explanation played little or no role in the Title IX conferences, summits or congressional hearings.

Oh really? And which studies are these? Do these studies actually definitively point to biological differences rather than cultural upbringing, because those are notoriously difficult to separate. Or perhaps it's all stereotype threat?

American scientific excellence, though, is an invaluable and irreplaceable resource. The fields that will be most affected -- math, engineering, physics and computer science -- are vital to the economy and national defense.

Look, a statement I can actually agree with. But that means we need to bring more people into STEM fields. If you limit those people to just the white males, you're not taking advantage of all your resources. This is not a zero-sum game. Believe it or not, women and minorities can make significant contributions to STEM, too. The white male culture of STEM does not necessarily produce the best science, and just because it's always been that way doesn't mean that it can't change.

Title IX is not just about sports: it's about ending sexual discrimination in universities as a whole. It just so happens that the only realm where this has been successful is sports. Title IX was passed 37 years ago: it's high time that it was applied more widely.

Hat tip to A, who alerted me to this article and ruined my morning. I forgive you, though.

Friday, April 10, 2009

AASWOMEN for April 10, 2009

AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of April 10, 2009
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery

This week's issues:

1. National Women's History Month

2. Stand and Be Counted - Demographics

3. The Effect of Demographics in Talk Dynamics

4. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN

5. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN

1. National Women's History Month
From: Joan Schmelz [jschmelz_at_memphis.edu]

[We realize that National Women's History Month is over, but we couldn’t resist the opportunity to highlight some of the women mentioned last week by Ivan King -- Eds.]

Williamina Fleming (1857–1911) was born in Scotland and immigrated to Boston. After her marriage broke up, she worked as a maid for Edward Pickering, director of the Harvard College Observatory. Pickering was frustrated with the inefficiencies of his male assistants and notoriously claimed that, ‘his Scotch maid could do a better job.’ Fleming became a ‘computer.’ She worked on the original spectral classification scheme for stars and created classes arranged alphabetically from A to Q based on the intensity of hydrogen lines. She also discovered 10 of the 24 known novae, 94 of the 107 known Wolf-Rayet stars, 59 gaseous nebulae, long-period variable stars, and the first spectroscopic binary, Beta Lyrae.

For more, see, e.g., http://www.answers.com/topic/williamina-fleming

Annie Jump Cannon (1863–1941) was the daughter of a Delaware state senator. She attended both Wellesley and Radcliffe and was appointed to the staff of the Harvard College Observatory. She revised Fleming’s classification system to produce the OBAFGKM sequence that we use today. Cannon developed a phenomenal skill: she could classify three stars a minute! She received an honorary doctorate from Oxford University, the National League of Women Voters listed her as one of the 12 "greatest living American women," and she was the first woman elected as an officer of the AAS. She was nicknamed "Census Taker of the Sky" for classifying over 230,000 stellar bodies, more than any other person.

For more, see, e.g., http://www.answers.com/Annie%20Cannon

Antonia Maury (1866–1952) was the niece of Henry Draper. She graduated from Vassar in 1887 and became an assistant at Harvard College Observatory. Her work was on the classification of stellar spectra for the Draper catalog, but she proposed an additional modification. She argued that not only was the presence of a particular spectral line important, but so was its appearance: sharp, normal, or fuzzy. This was the first time spectroscopic criteria were used to determine the luminosities of stars. Ejnar Hertzsprung was quick to see the significance of her classification system and pointed out that some of her sharp spectra were indeed from giant stars.

For more, see, e.g., http://www.answers.com/topic/antonia-maury

Henrietta Swan Leavitt (1868–1921) graduated from Radcliffe College in 1892 and became a research assistant at the Harvard College Observatory in 1895. She is most famous for her work on Cepheid variable stars. Leavitt realized that brighter Cepheids in the Magellanic Clouds had longer periods. Since all the Cepheids were at approximately the same distance, the period of the variable must be related to the star’s luminosity. The period-luminosity relation, or Leavitt Law, is now used to determine distances of galaxies millions of light-years away.

For more, see, e.g., http://www.answers.com/Henrietta%20Leavitt

2. Stand and Be Counted - Demographics
From: Joan Schmelz [jschmelz_at_memphis.edu]

AAS member information such as birth date and gender are optional and used only for demographics, but these data are invaluable for studies on the state of the profession like those being done for Astro 2010.

Why should you include this optional information? For one thing, if the AAS has these data in its own records, then it does not have to commission expensive studies to gather this information. (This is what the AAS has done in the past to get data on gender.)

Stand and be counted!

It’s easy: just log in to the AAS members web site:

https://members.aas.org/

Click on ‘Member Profile’ on the horizontal blue bar that runs across the top. If gender and birth date are already listed properly, then congratulations, you count! If not, click the grey ‘edit’ button and add the information. Click ‘submit’ and you’re done. Please encourage your friends and colleagues to add their information too.

Let’s make sure that everyone counts.

For recent information on AAS demographics, please see the article in the Jan issue of Status by Kevin Marvel:

http://www.aas.org/cswa/status/Status_Jan09.pdf

3. The Effect of Demographics in Talk Dynamics
From: Hannah_at_Women in Astronomy Blog, April 3, 2009

I recently attended a talk on a subject within my area of expertise by someone who is not an expert in this field. He argued that the physics he was solving should still apply to the problem, but it quickly became abundantly clear that his understanding of the basic issues was insufficient. In any case, he became quite defensive, alternating between dismissing criticism by saying he wasn't an expert in the field and challenging the audience to produce better explanations. I began to feel like he was asking for advice but then refusing to take any of it.

It was only afterwards that it dawned on me that his three main critics were young (under 40) women (yes, one of them was me), while he was an older (50s? 60s?) man. It made me wonder if he responded to us that way because of our youth and gender. Unfortunately, I don't have a good baseline for judging whether there was gender bias or not, because we women pretty much dominated the discussion.

Then again, young women dominated the discussion! It seems to be a peculiarity of my subfield of astronomy that lots of young women are in it, especially in my research group. It's nice, but it makes me wonder if I'm shielded from a lot of gender bias because of it.

4. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN

To submit to AASWOMEN: send email to aaswomen_at_aas.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 itdept_at_aas.org

5. 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.

Friday, April 3, 2009

AASWOMEN for April 3, 2009

AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of April 3, 2009
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery

This week's issues:

1. National Women's History Month website link - Comment

2. Advice for 'Being Ignored'

3. Response to 'Being Ignored' post - Advice for Committees

4. Sheril Kirshenbaum's blog about sexism in science

5. Rising to the Challenge

5. APS Meeting: Childcare grants corrected link

*** FOLLOWING JOB POSTING TAKEN FROM WIPHYS ***

6. Job Openings at the IAEA

7. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN

8. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN

1. Comment on National Women's History Month website link
From: Ivan King [king_at_astro.washington.edu]

[This is in response to last week's post about National Women's History Month, which contained a link to a website with information about the contributions of women to astronomy and space science exploration -- Eds.]

http://space.about.com/od/biographies/a/womenshistory.htm.

The link above is to a sadly unbalanced page. Aside from the trivial error of misspelling Herschel, this page has a completely unjustified tilt toward the manned (and womanned) space program, at the cost of pushing science to the background. What about Antonia Maury, Henrietta Leavitt, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin -- all of whom made reallly important contributions -- and in our own era, Margaret Burbidge, Vera Rubin, etc.?

2. Advice for 'Being Ignored'
From: Joan Schmelz [jschmelz_at_memphis.edu]

[In an earlier newsletter, we asked for advice for the following situation. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the following list, compiled by Joan Schmelz. This list is also posted on the CSWA website along with other topics at http://www.aas.org/cswa/advice.html , and on the Women in Astronomy blog ( http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/ ) -- Eds.]

Have you ever been in this situation: you're sitting in a meeting and make what you think is a great suggestion; you're ignored. Ten minutes later, someone else makes a similar suggestion and everyone thinks it's just the greatest idea. Are you invisible? Did you imagine it? Were you really speaking out loud?

How can women deal with being ignored and/or having their ideas dismissed? Of course, this can happen to men too.

-Make sure you get an adequate seat at the 'table' (so that you are not hiding in a corner);

-Choose your timing: wait for the 'right opportunity' to jump into the conversation (not always easy);

-Speak slowly and clearly; offer more than a quick quip;

-Make sure everyone can hear you; this may be especially challenging if you are naturally soft spoken or if English is not your first language.

-Don't downplay your remarks: do NOT say, "I guess ..." or "This may not be important, but ..." or "This may be a stupid question, but ..." or end with " ...don't you think?"

-Don't be afraid to say something like, "I am glad that xxx agrees with my previous suggestion ..." if another person seconds your opinion.

-If you notice this happening to someone else, try to find a way to attribute the idea to the original speaker: "xxx said that 10 minutes ago!" may not be as effective as something like, "As xxx suggested ..."

-If possible, enlist the support of your peers. Example: a group of grad students meeting with their research advisor. Student xxx makes a suggestion and is ignored. xxx explains what happened off-line and asks his/her peers to look out for future examples. He/she suggests that they all try to back each other up at future group meetings.

-The situation is tougher when you do not have supportive colleagues; you might be the only female director, department chair, manager, etc. at the table. Most of the advice above applies, but it might be even more challenging to be heard. If you know the agenda ahead of time and have one important point to make, you may want to rehearse it out loud; you might even over prepare so you can answer questions in the same well-rehearsed way. There is, unfortunately, still some truth to the old adage that women have to work twice as hard to be considered half as good. This is especially true when you are pushing up against the glass ceiling.

3. Response to 'Being Ignored' - Advice for committees
From: Sue Simkin [simkin_at_pa.msu.edu]

Many years ago (back when even women - with astro PhDs - who were 8 months pregent were invisible!), I attended a meeting of 11 prominent astronomers who were in the early planning stages for a new telescope facility. (All identifying features have been deliberately suppressed!) I had ideas but was not even in a position to express them. However, I was able to carefully watch and listen to what went on. EVERY SINGLE ONE of the (all male) participants spent 10 minutes or more carefully explaining the same idea! (An idea I felt was not only obvious but missed the point of the meeting). They then spent the rest of the day carefully explaining why THEIR idea was right and every one else's (practicly identical) idea was mistaken.

I have always used this as an example of why most committee meetings make so little progress. Nowadays I find some rather aggressive women also play the same game with the men with the same results. It really does not advance any one's "visibility" because everyone does it and everyone else ignores it.

I believe what is needed is a lot more introspection on the part of all participants at meetings to sort out the "common" ideas from the truly useful ones and a procedural way to identify the ones everyone believes and put them aside in favor of ones that are new and useful. This requires a real cultural change. (Some people believe that a "strong man - or woman" can do this as a leader but I believe the only thing this does is replace the "strong man's" platitudes for those of the group.) If we can ever develop a society where this ritulastic "one man upmanship" is eliminated, it will be both a lot more interesting and a lot more productive! But it took many decades (and the invention of good counterceptives and cultural permission for their use!) before we (as women) arrived at where we are now. What will it take to revise society's ritulistic incorporation of (male) reproductive imperatives to free men from this impediment to creative development?? (I am equating this type of male behavior to that of stock traders and referring to the studies published in the following: Coates JM, Herbert J (2008), "Endogenous steroids and financial risk taking on a London trading floor." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105(16):6167-72 and the popular article based on this: "Trading on Testosterone" , DAN MITCHELL, NYT, April 19, 2008)

My point here is that most men ignore other men (as well as women) and also lack insight into their own motives. Women who try to play theis "game" are no more helpful in advancing science than are men. Not an encouraging point if what you are trying to do is advance your career - sorry.

4. Sheril Kirshenbaum's blog about sexism in science
From: Liz Bryson [bryson_at_cfht.hawaii.edu]

From Discover Magazine... Contains many links within that continue the discussion.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/03/25/singled-out/

5. Rising to the Challenge
From: Women in Astronomy blog [ http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com ]

Join the discussion and share your story about the challenges you have faced in your scientific career at the Women in Astronomy blog at womeninastronomy.blogspot.com. It's in response to the following:

The theme for April's Scientiae Carnival is Rising to the Challenge:

Tell us about that most firey fire through which you have had to walk in your scientific career. How did you overcome the challenge? Did you have help along the way, or was it a solo effort? And what did you learn? Why are you a better scientist given the difficulties that you have encountered?

Hannah Jang-Condell gets us started with her story:

http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/2009/03/rising-to-challenge.html

6. APS Meeting - Childcare grants corrected link
From: WIPHYS, March 31, 2009

[The link from the WIPHYS newsletter including in last week's AASWomen newsletter about the childcare grants was incorrect. The correct link is below -- Eds.]

There are funds remaining for childcare grants of up to $400 to APS April meeting (May 2-5) attendees who are bringing small children or who incur extra expenses in leaving them at home (i.e., extra daycare or babysitting services). A grant from the Elsevier Foundation augments existing funds from the APS. The deadline has been extended to April 20. Details are at: http://www.aps.org/meetings/april/services/childcare.cfm

7. Job Openings at the IAEA
From: WIPHYS, April 2

The latest job vacancies at the IAEA can be found at http://recruitment.iaea.org/phf/images/email/top_head.jpg . Should you know of potential candidates, please do not hesitate to share these vacancies with them. We particularly encourage women to apply. The full listing of open vacancies, as well as procedures for applying are available at http://www.iaea.org/About/Jobs .

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9. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN

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