AASWOMEN for March 27, 2009

AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of March 27, 2009
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery

This week's issues:

1. National Women's History Month

2. AAS Women In Astronomy Blog - What Brought You Into This Field?

3. ADVANCE Grant Program

4. Astro2010

5. M. Hildred Blewett Scholarship

6. Childcare Grants for APS Meetings

7. CSWP/DPF Networking Luncheon, May 3

8. CSWP/COM Dessert Reception, May 4

9. CSWP Co-Sponsors Invited Talks at Denver Meeting

10. Astronomy &/or Physics Lecturers, University of Central Florida-Orlando

11. Astronomy & Physics Lecturer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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1. National Women's History Month
From: Michele Montgomery [montgomery_at_physics.ucf.edu]

March is National Women's History Month. Contributions of women to astronomy and space science exploration can be found at

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

More information on Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet, the 2009 National Women's History Month project, can be found at

http://www.nwhp.org/.

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2. AAS Women In Astronomy Blog - What Brought You Into This Field?
"Positive Reinforcement"
From: Hannah_at_Women in Astronomy Blog, March 25, 2009

[Hannah asks AASWomen readers what brought you into field of astronomy? To read more on what brought Hannah into the filed of astronomy, please see

http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/2009/03/positive-reinforcement.html.]

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3. ADVANCE Grant Program
From: Cynthia A. Hudgins [hudgins_at_umich.edu]

[The ADVANCE Program began as a five-year, grant-funded project promoting institutional transformation with respect to women faculty in science and engineering fields. With the University?s commitment to continue funding through June 2011, the program is gradually expanding to promote other kinds of diversity among faculty and students in all fields. ADVANCE is housed at the Institute for Research on Women and Gender.]

The University of Michigan ADVANCE Program, with support from the National Science Foundation, invites your participation in the third annual Science and Technology Excellence Program (STEP). Designed specifically for science, engineering, and mathematics departments, STEP will offer leadership training and support for teams of faculty to make positive changes in the work environment within their academic units.

We are inviting colleagues from educational institutions across the nation to create departmental teams of two to four faculty members to participate in an intensive, three-day workshop to be held at the University of Michigan in May 2009. The goal of STEP is to equip teams to lead efforts within their home departments to improve departmental effectiveness and the environment for faculty, staff, and students. Teams must include at least two and no more than four members from a single department at each institution. There are NO registration costs for any team member. Travel and accommodation costs for two team members from each institution will be covered by the grant. Participating institutions must cover travel and accommodation for all other members of the team.

The "Call for Participation" is attached in PDF and registration can be done via Survey Monkey at the following link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=zinyV2_2bjz4yoU8lZYBwlwA_3d_3d

Teams should apply as soon as possible but no later than March 30. Please email

advanceprogram_at_umich.edu

to indicate an intention to apply or if you have any questions.

Cynthia A. Hudgins, Senior Program Administrator ADVANCE Program at the University of Michigan 204 South State Street 1247 Lane Hall Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1290 734-647-9359 hudgins_at_umich.edu http://sitemaker.umich.edu/advance

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4. Astro2010
From: Michele Montgomery [montgomery_at_physics.ucf.edu]

Your Astro2010 Science Subcommittee, Subcommittee on State of the Profession, and Subcommittee on Programs would like to hear your ideas. The members of each subcommittee can be found at

http://www7.nationalacademies.org/bpa/Astro2010_Survey_Committee.html.

To see all 320 white papers submitted to date, please see

http://www8.nationalacademies.org/Astro2010/publicview.aspx.

Two white paper submissions are still open: 1) Technology Development and 2) Theory, Computation, and Laboratory Astrophysics. The white papers are to be no more than 10 pages and can be submitted March 17-31, 2009. For more information, please see

http://www7.nationalacademies.org/bpa/Astro2010.html.

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5. M. Hildred Blewett Scholarship
From: WIPHYS of March 26, 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

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6. Childcare Grants fro APS Meetings
From: WIPHYS of March 25, 2009

There are funds remaining for childcare grants of up to $400 to APS meeting attendees who are bringing small children or who incur extra expenses in leaving them at home i.e., extra daycare or babysitting services). Details can be found at

http://www.aps.org/meetings/april/events/index.cfm

for the April meeting in Denver. A grant from the Elsevier Foundation augments existing funds from the APS.

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7. CSWP/DPF Networking Luncheon, May 3
From: WIPHYS of March 25, 2009

The Committee on the Status of Women in Physics (CSWP) and the Division of Particles and Fields (DPF) will co-sponsor a buffet luncheon for women in physics from 12:00-1:30 pm on Sunday, May 3, 2009 at the APS meeting Denver, Colorado. The speaker will be Catherine Fiore, MIT, former CSWP chair. The luncheon is open to all: both men and women are welcome to attend. This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy a full buffet lunch and network with colleagues! Cost: $20. Students are $5, thanks to the generosity of DPF.

Space is limited, so please pre-register by April 15 at

http://www.aps.org/meetings/april/events/receptions/index.cfm.

After April 15, you must purchase tickets ON SITE at the Balances Due desk at the APS Registration Area as long as tickets are available.

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8. CSWP/COM Dessert Reception, May 4
From: WIPHYS of March 25, 2009

The Committee on Minorities and the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics will co-sponsor a dessert reception on Monday, May 4, 7:30-9:00 pm in the Sheraton Hotel at the APS meeting in Denver. Enjoy delicious desserts while you network with colleagues and hear about the work of these committees!

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9. CSWP Co-Sponsors Invited Talks at Denver Meeting
From: WIPHYS of March 25, 2009

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.

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10. Astronomy &/or Physics Lecturers, University of Central Florida-Orlando
From: Michele Montgomery [montgomery_at_physics.ucf.edu]

The Department of Physics at the University of Central Florida invites applications for Lecturer positions to teach physical science, introductory astronomy, and both algebra-based and calculus-based introductory physics starting in Fall 2009. UCF is a leading, fast growing, metropolitan research university located in Orlando with 50,000 students and 40 Physics faculty. Successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in physics, astronomy or a very closely related field, have appropriate teaching experience, and be accustomed to using multimedia teaching aids. Interested individuals should send a letter of application, current curriculum vitae, and a statement of teaching philosophy and experience to Dr. Talat S. Rahman, Chair, Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Boulevard, Orlando, FL, 32816-2385 (email: talat_at_physics.ucf.edu ), and have three letters of reference sent to the same address. Review of applications will begin immediately, and continue until the positions are filled. Further information is available at

http://www.ucf.edu/jobs/vacancies.

The University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity, equal access, and affirmative action employer committed to excellence through diversity.

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11. Astronomy & Physics Lecturer, College of Arts & Sciences,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
From: Ed Schmidt [eschmidt_at_unlserve.unl.edu]

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln (UNL) is seeking a full-time Lecturer to teach Introductory Astronomy and Physics courses beginning 17 August 2009. This is a non-tenure track 3-year position with a 9-month academic year appointment and full benefits. There are no assigned duties during the summer months, but there are opportunities for summer teaching for additional salary. Responsibilities will include teaching multiple sections of introductory astronomy and physics lecture courses using interactive engagement methods in class and online, managing Teaching Assistants assigned to the courses, and holding at least three office hours per week.

A Ph.D. in Astronomy or Physics is required, and a demonstrated ability or potential to teach astronomy is essential. Experience teaching large-enrollment (100 to 150 students) introductory courses is highly desirable. We are seeking an individual who has an abiding interest in teaching, and who can motivate students to learn through interactive-engagement techniques. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates must apply online at

http://employment.unl.edu

(Requisition# 090090). Applications should include a letter of application, curriculum vitae, a statement regarding teaching philosophy, and a list of at least three references. Review of applications will begin on 13 April 2009, however, the search will continue until the position is filled.

The University of Nebraska has an active National Science Foundation ADVANCE gender equity program, and is committed to a pluralistic campus community through affirmative action, equal opportunity, work-life balance, and dual careers.

Lincoln, Nebraska, a community of more than 250,000 people, offers the ambiance of a friendly small town while offering attractions and entertainment opportunities of a metropolitan area. Lincoln is a young city with a bright future of planned growth and expansion. It is one of the fastest growing non-Sun Belt cities in the U.S. and one of the fastest growing metro areas in the Midwest. The capital city of Nebraska, Lincoln is home to state government and the flagship campus of the University of Nebraska system. The city also hosts Nebraska Wesleyan University, Union College, Southeast Community College, Doan College-Lincoln and the Lincoln School of Commerce. Lincoln has an excellent educational system and ranks in the top 20 least stressful cities in the nation for children. Residents enjoy nationally ranked sporting events, world famous performing arts, and a variety of cultural activities. Among the attractions: the 2,200-seat Lied Center for Performing Arts, the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden, four history museums, a planetarium, observatory, many private art galleries, four live-stage theater venues, a civic auditorium, the 76,000-seat Memorial Stadium, 14,400-seat Devaney Center and new baseball stadium facilities. Cost-of-living ranks 3 to 5 percent below the national average of comparable cities with among the nation?s lowest health care costs, utility bills and insurance rates. Lincoln?s low crime rate, efficient transportation, stable business environment and advanced health care technology are few reasons why Lincoln ranks high in livability studies. You are invited to explore Lincoln on-line for the most current information.

www.unl.edu - University of Nebraska-Lincoln homepage

www.nebraska.edu - Website for the University of Nebraska four-campus system

www.lped.com - The Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development offers extensive information on demographics, education, healthcare, cost of living and tax structures.

www.lcoc.com - The Lincoln/Lancaster County Convention and Visitors Bureau offers information on attractions, entertainment, recreation, dining, shopping and transportation.

www.state.ne.us - The official web site of Nebraska State Government

www.ci.lincoln.ne.us - The official site of Lincoln City Government

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12. 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

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13. 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.

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Updating the Blogroll

I've added a few blogs to the good ole' blogroll. Updates included a few regular commenters, like Alice of Alice's Astro Info, Astronomum of Astronomoms, and Mrs. Comet Hunter.  I've also included Dr. Isis of On Becoming a Domestic and Laboratory Goddess because she's a hoot to read.

If you'd like your blog to be included too, leave a comment here!

Rising to the Challenge

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?

I almost didn't blog this story, because it's intensely personal. But then I thought, what's the point of separating my personal experiences from my scientific ones? After all, trying to pretend that astronomers don't have personal lives is a complete fallacy. Sometimes our personal lives spill over into our scientific lives, and that's just part of being a whole human being.

So, my story of rising to the challenge is about the year of 2004. My younger child was born in late February that year, and my defense was in mid-May. I've blocked out most of that time period, except for a vivid recollection of attempting to work from home one day while taking care of the baby and breaking down in tears and asking my husband to come home from work to help me out.

On top of that, I was preparing to move my family to another state to take up my post-doc position in the fall. So immediately after my defense, we put our house up for sale and began flying down every other weekend to another city to go house-hunting.

Now, all this time, I was dealing with post-partum bleeding. I only mention this because around about mid-June, I was diagnosed with choriocarcinoma, a type of pregnancy-related cancer.

It's funny how serious health problems can really make you re-evaluate your priorities in life.

It turned out that treatment was pretty easy. I did not require major surgery or radiation therapy, and did not suffer hair loss or much discomfort beyond minor bouts of nausea from the chemotherapy, which itself consisted only of shots every other day rather than lengthy IV drips. By fall, I was declared cured. In fact, I find it difficult to think of myself as a cancer survivor, because I didn't really suffer much at all. Still, "cancer" is a scary word, no matter what form it comes in.

I was glad simply to get through 2004 with my health, sanity, and family whole and intact. Did that year make me a better scientist? Arguably, no. While I managed to publish the papers from my thesis within a year from my graduation, I still have a significant gap in my publication record, which has probably hurt me in job searches. Do have a clear idea of what my priorities in life are? Yes. I value my career in science, but not to the exclusion of all else. This may come across as a lack of dedication to some, but their lives don't count upon my well-being.

Am I some kind of Superwoman for having gotten through all this? No. It was an extremely hard year for me, but my life was never in any real jeopardy, and my marriage and kids remained healthy and whole. Not everyone gets off that easy. We all have our battles to face, and we face them with the resources we can muster. My internal resources consist mostly of sheer stubbornness, but I am also lucky to have good friends, supportive family, and the best husband a woman can have.

And now you all know why I think work-life balance is so important.

scientiae-carnival

Positive Reinforcement

I feel like I've been awfully glum in some of my recent posts, so perhaps it's time to look at the bright side of things. Maybe it's just because it feels like spring is right around the corner, but I've been feeling a little more hopeful lately.

One of the things I've been thinking about is what brought me to astronomy to begin with? For me, it wasn't some kind of a lifelong dream. I never gazed at the stars much as a child: living in the suburbs of large city made that difficult. In fact, I never really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. When I was in 8th grade, I got inducted into some honor society, so the principal interviewed all us inductees and asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. I thought for a bit, and replied, "Happy."

I was always good at math and science, so by high school I had narrowed my choices down to science. I spent most of my college years torn between physics and biology. My senior year, I took both an introductory astrophysics class and an advanced biochemistry class. One day, in my astro class, we were going over galaxy classifications and I naively asked the professor, "okay, but how do those galaxies form?" "We don't know," he said, and smiled at my bemusement.

This was something of an epiphany. The universe was filled with these enormous objects, and we didn't know how they get there. How do stars form? We don't know. How do planets form? We don't know. This was a huge change from all my physics classes up to this point. In virtually every other topic, there was an established answer, whether it was electromagnetism or quantum or relativity. In astronomy, I saw the possibility of doing unique, creative research. And you know what? To large extent, I am now doing unique and creative research.

What brought you into your field?

AASWOMEN for March 20, 2009

Issue of March 20, 2009
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery

This week's issues:

1. AASWOMEN Advice

2. Astro2010 Infrastructure Study Groups

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

4. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN

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1. AASWOMEN Advice
From: Joan Schmelz [jschmelz_at_memphis.edu]

AASWOMEN was asked for advice recently on two different topics: (1) suggestions for dealing with situations where your ideas are ignored or dismissed; and (2) questions one might ask or be asked during an interview for a job in academia.

(1) 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 at meetings and/or having their ideas dismissed? Are there ways to enlist support of colleagues? What if you do not have supportive colleagues? I have read and heard of various strategies:

-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; offer more than a quick quip; -Should you embellish with 'authoritative phrases'? -Should you remind the group that this was your idea? ("As I suggested earlier..."); -Should you help out other women? ("As colleague-X suggested...").

Are these effective strategies? What is your experience? What else can we do?

(2) About questions one might ask or be asked during an interview for a job in academia. I found a couple of pretty good links:

http://www.disccrs.org/reports/interviewhints.pdf

http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/careerprep/jobsearch/interviewquestions.html

I think these are a good place to start, but I would like to ask for help from AASWOMEN readers in creating (1) advice for those who find themselves being ignored; and (2) a set of questions that would be appropriate for jobs in astronomy and physics.

I’ll compile the lists and post them on the CSWA web site under ‘Advice’ at:

http://www.aas.org/cswa/advice

FYI: Advice listings already in place are:

1. Top Ten Ways to be a Better Advisor for Graduate Students 2. Advisors, How Do You Deal with Student Tears? 3. Yes, Virginia, Discrimination and Harassment Do Still Happen 4. Advice on When to Raise a Family 5. Advice for Postdocs Applying for Tenure-Track Positions 6. The 2-Body Problem: New Advice for an Old Problem?

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2. Astro2010 Infrastructure Study Groups
From: Joan Schmelz [jschmelz_at_memphis.edu]

After last week’s item about Astronomy Life After the Post-Doc Phase, there was quite a bit of activity on the Women in Astronomy Blog:

http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/

related to the two original items:

"The Post Postdoc Phase" From: Joan_at_Women in Astronomy Blog, March 9, 2009

"Something I Would Like to See the Decadal Report Address But Am Afraid It Won't" From: Hannah_at_Women in Astronomy Blog, March 9, 2009

as well as a new related post from our blogger-in-chief: “Career Path Networking” From: Hannah_at_Women in Astronomy Blog, March 16, 2009

All this is happening as the Astronomy Decadal Survey gears up and the State of Profession Position Papers come due. These are available at:

http://www8.nationalacademies.org/astro2010/publicview.aspx

What is now also in the public domain is the membership of the various Astro2010 Infrastructure Study Groups, which includes demographics (DEM). The job of the DEM Study Group is to estimate the numbers of astronomers and astrophysicists working in different environments and subfields. Consider diversity, geography and student populations. In academia, consider diversity among different academic ranks. Examine the individual grants programs in NASA, the NSF and DOE and break down resource allocation by field, discipline and cost category where possible. Collate oversubscription rates for programs. Examine publication rates by field and discipline.

I am member of the DEM Study Group as are several former members of CSWA. We are ‘consultants,’ which means that our role is to gatherer information rather than to make decisions. We have weekly telecons and are actively considering issues of gender and ethnic representation as well as the ‘postdoc problem,’ which is discussed in Hannah’s blog post as well as in many of the State of Profession Position Papers.

I’ve read several of these Position Papers so far, and especially for issues related to AASWOMEN, I can recommend:

-Challenges Facing Young Astrophysicists by Zakamska et al. -Employment and Funding in Astronomy by Seth et al. -Training the Next Generation of Astronomers by Williams et al.

I’ll keep reading. If you have a comment or concern about DEM issues, we invite you to post it to one of the blog items. If you want or need to remain anonymous, you can e-mail it to me directly.

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3. 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

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4. 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.

Back to top.

Being Ignored

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 at meetings and/or having their ideas dismissed?  Are there ways to enlist support of colleagues? What if you do not have supportive colleagues? I have read and heard of various strategies:

-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; offer more than a quick quip;

-Should you embellish with 'authoritative phrases'?

-Should you remind the group that this was your idea? ("As I suggested earlier...");

-Should you help out other women?  ("As colleague-X suggested..."). 

Are these effective strategies?  What is your experience?  What else can we do?

Career Path Networking

In the comments on my post about job prospects (and lack thereof), Arti made an excellent suggestion:

Perhaps we can try to build up some sort of network to share ideas about career paths (both in and out of "astronomy")? One of the things I find is many astronomers have very little idea of where to even begin looking for other types of jobs...or how applicable their skills might be in other fields. It would be great for people to have a forum to share their findings...and for people who've found success in other arenas to share their experiences.

How about we start a discussion right here and on the AASWOMEN newletter about alternate career paths? Would a wiki or Facebook page be useful, too? (Would someone be willing to start one up?)

I'll start by sharing this anecdote: On one of my darker days, I got to talking with my brother, who studies biophysics. I lamented, "All the science funding seems to be in bio these days. Maybe I should jump ship." His answer was immediate: "That would be great! Your computer modeling expertise would be perfect for doing all sorts of modeling of kinetic processes. And medical imaging isn't all too different from astronomical imaging: you're trying to decipher blurry things that you can't necessarily access directly."

I came away from that conversation feeling a lot better about my future. Somehow, just knowing that I had a possible alternative that would allow me to still be a scientist, albeit not an astronomer, made me feel a whole lot better.

What ideas do you have?