ADVICE: Suggestions for Serving on a Scientific Organizing Committee

Today’s advice comes from Nancy Brickhouse, the Senior Science Advisor at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and a member of the AAS council. Her research interests include solar and stellar coronal physics, plasma spectral modeling, atomic data for astrophysics, UV to X-ray spectroscopy of diverse objects, and physical processes in astrophysical plasmas. She is a leader of the ATOMDB Project, which uses collisional and radiative atomic data to generate spectral models needed for high-energy astrophysics.

 

How do SOC members ensure an appropriate level of diversity among conference invited speakers if the committee chair does not provide leadership? Here are some suggestions.  

 

•When asked to serve on a SOC, make sure you understand the ground rules at the beginning.

 

•Ask what the schedule for decision-making is, and make sure there is enough time to think through issues of balance; put the schedule on your calendar and check with the SOC chair if you haven't heard back by the date promised.

 

•Make sure that you have time to participate fully.