Issue of August 23, 2013
eds. Michele M. Montgomery, Daryl Haggard, Nick Murphy, & Nicolle Zellner
This week's issues:
2. Why So Few? An Introduction
4. Addressing Sexual Harassment in Astronomy
5. Astronomy Ambassadors Workshop for Early-Career AAS Members
6. International programs on international collaborations for women from AAAS
7. Revealing Lives: Women in Science 1830-2000: Conference and Call for Papers
8. How to Respect a Transgender Person
9. The Magnifying Glass Ceiling: The Plight of Women in Science
11. How to Submit to the AASWomen Newsletter
12. How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the AASWomen Newsletter
13. Access to Past Issues of the AASWomen Newsletter
1. Relocating to NSF
From: Joan Schmelz via womeninastronomy.blogspot.com
I am moving to NSF for a one-year position. I feel like I should tell you this because after years as a CSWA member, an AASWOMEN editor, and a Women-in-Astronomy blogger, you readers are closer to me than some members of my own department! The first question I asked was, “Can I finish out my term as CSWA chair if I come to NSF?” Fortunately, the answer was, “Yes.” My husband and I will be moving to Arlington, VA, in two weeks. I start work on Sept. 9. Since there are a lot more astronomers in DC than there are in Memphis, it will be absolutely great to see colleagues, both old and new, a lot more often.
To read more, please see
http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/2013/08/relocating-to-nsf.html
Back to top.2. Why So Few? An Introduction
From: Joan Schmelz via womeninastronomy.blogspot.com
The 2010 report entitled, Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is based on interviews with top researchers and a review of the large body of academic research literature on gender and science. It presents eight separate research findings on the nurture side of the nature-nurture debate. Each of these findings demonstrates that social and environmental factors clearly contribute to the underrepresentation of women in science and engineering.
http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/2013/08/why-so-few-introduction.html
Back to top.3. Postdoc-hood & Infertility
From: Anonymous via womeninastronomy.blogspot.com
My husband and I have been actively trying to conceive for over a year and a half and working with a fertility specialist for over a year. We’re both postdocs in STEM. I’m in astronomy.
As a postdoc, I know I’m not alone in feeling a lack of control over ‘the next step’ in my career. Having another important piece of my life feeling as though it’s outside of my control has at times been too much. It’s particularly hard at the beginning of each new cycle. I’m a naturally optimistic person, and so each month I get excited about the possibility, and then when it doesn’t happen, I’m still learning how to cope with the loss.
I’m extremely grateful for the flexibility that comes with being a postdoc. Because of this, I’ve been able to arrive late or leave early for the multiple appointments each month (1x during the first week of the cycle, 1-3x mid cycle, and 1-2x at the end of the cycle). I’ve also been thankful that I can choose whether to travel or not for research. Although I love to travel, we saw early on that, even if I don’t feel stressed while traveling, it has a significant impact on the length of my cycle, when I ovulate, etc. But I do worry about the impact this has had on my research and forward progress in this career.
To read more, please see
http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/2013/08/postdoc-hood-infertility.html
Back to top.4. Addressing Sexual Harassment in Astronomy
From: Debra Fischer
We’ve all been witnessing the embarrassing charges of sexual harassment by San Diego mayor, Bob Filner. As the number of women coming forward continued to increase, it seemed surprising that this could have gone on for so long. However, the women subjected to his predatory behavior were generally subordinates or emotionally compromised; they were not on equal footing with this man. They may not have even realized that this was a pattern of misconduct rather than a particular, and perhaps flattering interest in them. Bob Filner’s behavior was egregious and should have been easy to recognize – yet it was years before he was exposed.
Fortunately, sexual predators are rare. The problem is that these individuals can also be difficult to recognize. The offenders can be charismatic and may well have high social IQ’s, even though their behavior is actually manipulative and sociopathic. They hide in plain sight in either large or small departments because their behavior is not directed toward their peers – it is directed toward those who would find it difficult to come forth or who might lack credibility.
Students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty can all be vulnerable targets if inappropriate attentions come from someone who is in power. The conundrum is that networking is a critically important part of carrying out the business of science. The vast majority of leaders in our field are activists who try to seek out and encourage new talent and this recognition of your talent is an affirmation that you are an emerging scientist and a valued colleague. However, if the attention begins to feel too flattering or if you are the target of inappropriate behavior, it is in your best interest to find the ear of someone you trust. If multiple allegations of misconduct begin to pile up, departments should see this as a red flag for behavior that is detrimental to a vibrant academic climate.
Back to top.5. Astronomy Ambassadors Workshop for Early-Career AAS Members
From: Rick Fienberg [rick.fienberg_at_aas.org]
The AAS Astronomy Ambassadors program supports early-career AAS members with training in resources and techniques for effective outreach to K-12 students, families, and the public: http://aas.org/outreach/aas-astronomy-ambassadors-program
The next AAS Astronomy Ambassadors workshop will be held 4-5 January 2014 at the 223rd AAS meeting in Washington, DC. The number of participants is limited. We will have sessions appropriate for both those who have done some outreach already and those just starting their outreach adventures, and we especially encourage applications from members of groups that are presently underrepresented in science. If interested, please complete the online application form by 18 October 2013.
More workshop information: http://aas.org/aas-223rd-meeting/aas-astronomy-ambassadors-workshop
Online application: http://aas.org/content/aas-astronomy-ambassadors-program-2014-application
Back to top.6. International programs on international collaborations for women from AAAS
From: Nancy Morrison [nmorris_at_utnet.utoledo.edu]
The International Office of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) provides information on funding and other opportunities for international collaborations by women. 'In particular, AAAS is currently seeking to improve STE networks between and among women in the Middle East and North Africa with similar networks in the United States.'
To learn more:
http://www.aaas.org/programs/international/wist
Back to top.7. Revealing Lives: Women in Science 1830-2000: Conference and Call for Papers
From: Helen Mason [hm11_at_damtp.cam.ac.uk]
International Conference 2014: Call for Papers Thursday 22 May - Friday 23 May 2014 The Royal Society, London
How are we to recover, interpret and understand women's experiences in science? Popular history delivers stories of a few 'heroines' of science, but perhaps these narratives do more to conceal than reveal? Where were the workaday women scientists - now largely invisible - whose contributions have helped shape science today?
This conference aims to locate and examine women's participation in science, to identify areas for further research and to reflect on how historical interpretations can inform the role of women in science today. The programme will include contemporary science-led panels to provide context and help build connections between the past and the present.
'Science' and 'participation' will be defined to encourage maximum inclusivity and we welcome contributions from a broad, multidisciplinary perspective. Themes may include (but are not limited to):
Women and learned societies Scientific collaboration Women and spaces of scientific production Women within familial amp; social networks of science Women and scientific education and learning Historiography, archives and hidden women of science Representations of women scientists: media, fiction, film, art Science today: issues amp; challenges Gendered roles in science The 'leaky pipeline': women leaving science
Selected papers from the conference will appear in a special issue of the Royal Society's history journal Notes and Records (final papers to be submitted by end of September 2014).
Proposals for panels and for individual papers are encouraged. Please send abstracts for papers (max 20 minutes) of no more than 200 words, and for panels of no more than 400 words, along with brief biographical details, to Dr Claire Jones: C.G.Jones2_at_liverpool.ac.uk and Dr Sue Hawkins: S.E.Hawkins_at_kingston.ac.uk by the deadline of Friday 1 November 2013.
For more information, please visit the meeting website: http://womeninscience.net/?page_id=438
Best wishes, The WISRNet Project Team www.womeninscience.net
Back to top.8. How to Respect a Transgender Person
From: Nick Murphy [namurphy_at_cfa.harvard.edu]
If you have recently learned of a transgender person in your life, you might not understand their identity and you may be unsure of how to act around them without offending or hurting their feelings. The term "transgender person" in this article means a person who does not identify with the gender they were assigned with at birth. There are transgender people all over the world and in a wide variety of cultures - in fact, it'd be hard to name a country in the world or culture where transgender people aren't present. For such people, it is not always easy to explain their gender situation in today's society. Here's how to understand and respect someone who challenges your ideas about gender, and who does not easily fall within the category of "male" or "female."
To read more, please see
http://www.wikihow.com/Respect-a-Transgender-Person
Back to top.9. The Magnifying Glass Ceiling: The Plight of Women in Science
From: Nick Murphy [namurphy_at_cfa.harvard.edu]
By Jane Hu
Scientists frequently reference a quote attributed to Einstein: “You do not truly understand something unless you can explain it to your grandma.” Whether or not these words were actually Einstein’s, they’ve been used again and again to encourage students to explain highly technical details in a simple way so that even your grandma could understand it. The assumption is that your dear old grandma is a feeble-minded lady who doesn’t know anything about phishing or bitcoin or Bayesian statistics.
What’s interesting here is that it’s always your grandma you’re asked to explain things to, not your grandpa. This subtle difference seems innocuous, but it reflects the age-old stereotype that men are more competent than women in math and science. Luckily, we’ve moved forward from the days when women in science like Rosalind Franklin, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, and Lise Meitner had their ideas overlooked or even blatantly stolen, but the undercurrent of sexism has not disappeared – it has just become subtler.
To read the full article, please see
http://blogs.plos.org/thestudentblog/2013/08/16/glass-ceiling-women-in-scienc
Back to top.10. Job Opportunities
For those interested in increasing excellence and diversity in their organizations, a list of resources and advice is here:
http://www.aas.org/cswa/diversity.html#howtoincrease
* Jansky Fellow https://careers.nrao.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=50951
* North American ALMA Science Center (NAASC) Postdoctoral Fellow https://careers.nrao.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=50949
* Program Director, Astronomical Sciences Division, NSF http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=ast13002
Back to top.11. How to Submit to the AASWOMEN newsletter
To submit an item to the AASWOMEN newsletter, including replies to topics, send email to aaswomen_at_aas.org
All material will be posted unless you tell us otherwise, including your email address.
When submitting a job posting for inclusion in the newsletter, please include a one-line description and a link to the full job posting.
Please remember to replace "_at_" in the e-mail address above.
Back to top.12. How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the AASWOMEN newsletter
Join AAS Women List by email:
Send email to aaswlist+subscribe_at_aas.org
from the address you want to have subscribed. You can leave the subject and message blank if you like. Be sure to follow the instructions in the confirmation email. (Just reply back to the email list)
To unsubscribe by email:
Send email to aawlist+unsubscribe_at_aas.org
from the address you want to have UNsubscribed. You can leave the subject and message blank if you like.
To join or leave AASWomen via web, or change your membership settings:
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You will have to create a Google Account if you do not already have one, using
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Google Groups Subscribe Help:
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Back to top.13. Access to Past Issues
http://www.aas.org/cswa/AASWOMEN.html
Each annual summary includes an index of topics covered. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to aaswlist+unsubscribe@aas.org.
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