Friday, February 24, 2017

AASWomen Newsletter for February 24, 2017

AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of February 24, 2017
eds: Nicolle Zellner, Heather Flewelling, Cristina Thomas, and Maria Patterson

This week's issues:

1. "Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science - and the World"... and why you should read it
2. Women, People of Color and People with Disabilities Still Underrepresented in Science and Engineering
3. Women in Astronomy IV conference
4. Join us in congratulating Gabriela González, David H. Reitze, and Peter R. Saulson!
5. Women aren’t failing at science — science is failing women
6. Remembering Vera Rubin
7. Information Session at LPSC on Postdoc Opportunities at NASA Goddard – March 21 at Noon
8. Job Opportunities
9. How to Submit to the AASWomen Newsletter
10. How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the AASWomen Newsletter
11. Access to Past Issues of the AASWomen Newsletter

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1. "Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science - and the World"... and why you should read it
From: Daryl Haggard via womeninastronomy.blogspot.com

By guest blogger Stella Offner

Stories help bring science to life in the classroom. Unfortunately, most scientific protagonists included in textbooks are heroes rather than heroines. Contributions from women (and minorities) are often overlooked.

After teaching introductory astronomy for several semesters, I decided to diversify my lectures by highlighting the contributions of more female scientists. However, I was brought short by a discomfiting realization: despite being an enthusiastic graduate of a women’s college and organizer of various programs for girls in STEM, I knew few stories about pioneering women of science.

Read more at:

http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/2017/02/headstrong-52-women-who-changed-science.html

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2. Women, People of Color and People with Disabilities Still Underrepresented in Science and Engineering
From: Jessica Kirkpatrick via womeninastronomy.blogspot.com

The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics recently released the 2017 Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering report, the federal government's most comprehensive look at the participation of these three demographic groups in science and engineering education and employment.

The report shows the degree to which women, people with disabilities and minorities from three racial and ethnic groups -- black, Hispanic and American Indian or Alaska Native -- are underrepresented in science and engineering (S&E). Women have reached parity with men in educational attainment but not in S&E employment. Underrepresented minorities account for disproportionately smaller percentages in both S&E education and employment.

Read more at:

http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/2017/02/women-people-of-color-and-people-with.html

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3. Women in Astronomy IV conference
From: Nancy Morrison [nancyastro126_at_gmail.com]

Registration is now open for "Women in Astronomy IV: The Many Faces of Women Astronomers,” a conference sponsored by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and the American Astronomical Society (AAS), with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The conference will take place June 9 - 11, 2017, following the 2017 AAS Summer Meeting in Austin, Texas.

Through extensive use of workshops, panels, and small group discussions, WiA IV will focus on issues that affect a broad spectrum of women in astronomy. It will address the challenges specific to women and what institutions can do to create welcoming, equitable workplaces. Workshops and breakout sessions will be structured with the aim of producing policy white papers, tool kits, and resource lists.

Our website (go.nrao.edu/wiaiv) now includes: registration; a preliminary program; a travel grant application form; a hotel reservation form for the conference venue, the JW Marriott; and a poster abstract submission form. Deadlines are as follows: travel grant application April 2, early registration April 15, abstract submission May 9, late registration May 11.

Please help spread the word by circulating this announcement to your departments and networks. Astronomy professionals at all career levels and in all settings are invited to participate. Questions can be addressed to wiaiv@nrao.edu or to the Organizing Committee chair, Nancy Morrison.

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4. Join us in congratulating Gabriela González, David H. Reitze, and Peter R. Saulson!
From: Nicolle Zellner [nzellner_at_albion.edu]

Dr. Gabriela González, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Louisiana State University, and her colleagues will receive the 2017 Award for Scientific Discovery from the National Academy of Science. Awarded every two years, it recognizes an accomplishment or discovery in basic research - this year it recognizes the spokespeople who have led the organization that established and carried out the scientific program of LIGO.

Read the full citation at

http://www.nasonline.org/programs/awards/2017/Gonzaelz-Reitze-Saulson.html

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5. Women aren’t failing at science — science is failing women
From: Nicolle Zellner [nzellner_at_albion.edu]

In a study of female science faculty members in Mexico, Lorena Rivera Leon and her team at the United Nations University, reported that "women produce higher quality research than men, often publishing in more prestigious scholarly journals with longer term impacts in the field." Yet, they are considered less productive than their male colleagues.

Read more at

https://theconversation.com/women-arent-failing-at-science-science-is-failing-women-71783

Find the original article at

http://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/working-papers/abstract/?id=6327

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6. Remembering Vera Rubin
From: Heather Flewelling [heather_at_ifa.hawaii.edu]

Renowned astronomer and National Medal of Science awardee Vera Rubin passed away in Princeton, NJ, the evening of December 25, 2016, at the age of 88.

Rubin provided the observational evidence in support of the existence of dark matter—the invisible material that makes up more than 80 percent of the mass of the universe. She was also an ardent feminist, advocating for women observers at the Palomar Observatory, women at the Cosmos Club, and at Princeton, and she even advised the Pope advocating for more women in the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

She was a retired staff astronomer at the Carnegie Institution’s Department of Terrestrial Magnetism in Washington, DC.

To donate to the Vera Rubin Fund, which supports postdoctoral fellowships at Carnegie's Department of Terrestrial Magnetism and the Carnegie Observatories, visit: https://carnegiescience.edu/donate/online?project=Vera%20Rubin%20Fellowship

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7. Information Session at LPSC on Postdoc Opportunities at NASA Goddard – March 21 at Noon

Are you interested in a postdoctoral position at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center?

Join scientists from Goddard’s Solar System Exploration Division (http://science.gsfc.nasa.gov) for an information session at LPSC on Tuesday, March 21st at Noon in the Grogans Mill Room. We’ll discuss available opportunities and pathways, through the NASA Postdoctoral Program, cooperative agreements, and the NAI and SSERVI , as well as professional development opportunities like the Planetary Science Winter School, and other aspects of Goddard that make it a great place to work.

If you can't make the lunchtime meeting, we will also hold an informal gathering prior to the Tuesday evening poster session for those that would like to talk more, or who can’t make the noontime meeting. We will meet at Grimaldi’s Pizza at 5:00 PM for food and discussion.

Please email Noah Petro (Noah.E.Petro@nasa.gov) if you have any questions.

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8. Job Opportunities

For those interested in increasing excellence and diversity in their organizations, a list of resources and advice is here: https://cswa.aas.org/diversity.html#howtoincrease

-Astronomical Optics Scientist, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD
https://rn11.ultipro.com/SPA1004/JobBoard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*1041FEACD2D84A0C

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9. 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.

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10. 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 aaswlist+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:

https://groups.google.com/a/aas.org/group/aaswlist

You will have to create a Google Account if you do not already have one, using https://accounts.google.com/newaccount?hl=en

Google Groups Subscribe Help:

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11. Access to Past Issues

https://cswa.aas.org/AASWOMEN.html

Each annual summary includes an index of topics covered.

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