Astronomy

AASWomen for May 14, 2010

AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of April 26, 2010
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson amp; Michele Montgomery

This week's issues:

1. Reader Response: Rude Students?

2. AASWomen Workplace sexism: Glass ceilings are supported by glass walls

3. Invitation for Nominations for the Fizeau and Michelson Prizes in Interferometry

4. Prize Women

5. This Week's Summary for the Facebook Page: Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy

6. M. Hildred Blewett Scholarship for Women in Physics

7. Women For Science Working Group Announced

8. APS: Women and Education Programs Administrator

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

10. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN

1. Reader Response: Rude Students?
From: Brenda Winnewisser via WIPHYS,
May 11, 2010

[This is in response to last week's item: "Chief Targets of Student Incivility Are Female and Young Professors", by Peter Schmidt, Chronicle of Higher Education, May 5, 2010

"When it comes to being rude, disrespectful, or abusive to their professors, students appear most likely to take aim at women, the young, and the inexperienced, a new study has found."

Story at http://chronicle.com/article/Chief-Targets-of-Student/65396

Response: This research merely confirms what I learned in 8th grade, when our class (of girls) drove two teachers out of the school: an older woman, close to retirement age, and an earnest young woman in her first position. It is deep in the genes: We attack the vulnerable. It is simply thoughtless juvenile behavior, adolescent group action, and we were thoroughly shamed when a fearless older teacher read the riot act on us after overhearing our folly one day, though that was too late to reverse the effects of our clever attacks.

This behavior is out of place in a college or university, but it is not surprising when some of the current behavior patterns in the schools are considered.

The best defense is a good offense, and we have to continue to support the self confidence of women in the academic world.

Brenda Winnewisser

2. AASWomen Workplace sexism: Glass ceilings are supported by glass
walls
From: Susana Deustua [deustua_at_stsci.edu]

you might be interested in reading this -- i thought it was pretty dead on.

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/career/?p=2001&tag=nl.e101

"Scene: I'm in a meeting with both female and male colleagues. Lots of information is flowing back and forth between the guys in the room. At one point a female colleague of mine begins to speak and, in unison, two of the male co-workers she's speaking to begin to check their iPhones and very obviously (though, I will concede, unconsciously) tune her out. The woman speaking had perhaps the most procedural knowledge of anyone in that room but for some reason, these guys didn't see fit to listen."

See the URL for the entire article.

3. Invitation for Nominations for the Fizeau and Michelson Prizes in
Interferometry
From: AAS Electronic Announcement #208 - May 2010

The IAU Commission 54 (Optical and Infrared Interferometry), The Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (OCA), and the Mt. Wilson Institute (MWI) are pleased to announce the creation of two prizes in Interferometry, the Fizeau Prize and the Michelson Prize. The two prizes are similar but complementary, with the Michelson Prize emphasizing application of interferometry to astrophysical research, and the Fizeau Prize emphasizing innovative technical and theoretical work.

An invitation for nominations for the first award of these prizes is hereby extended to the astronomy community, with a due date of 1 June 2010.

For the complete announcements with requirements and other information, see http://www.mtwilson.edu/michelson.php and http://www.oca.eu/fizeau-prize

4. Prize Women
From: Caroline Simpson [simpsonc_at_fiu.edu]

Found on FemaleScienceProfessor's blog:

"Some organizations, such as professional societies and universities, sponsor awards for scholarly achievements by women. I suppose that these awards, which are restricted to women, are motivated by the fact that women have traditionally been at a disadvantage relative to men in terms of awards for intellectual achievements and therefore such awards are necessary to help right this wrong.

This spring I went to an awards ceremony and felt my usual discomfort when a female student was given an award that is designated specifically for female students. The award always goes to a female student who is talented enough to get an award for which all students are eligible, so why should these women have to settle for what is in all ways (monetary, prestige) a lesser award?"

Read the entire thought-provoking post at http://science-professor.blogspot.com

5. This Week's Summary for the Facebook Page: Committee on the Status of
Women in Astronomy
From: AASWomen editors

Here is this week's summary for the Facebook Page: Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy:

+2 Fans this week (317 total Fans) 1 Wall Posts, Comments, and Likes this week (0 last week) 289 visits to your page this week (306 visits last week)

[This is shameless self-promotion for the CSWA Facebook page. Become a fan! --eds.]

6. M. Hildred Blewett Scholarship for Women in Physics
From: WIPHYS,
May 12, 2010

Applications are due June 4, 2010 for the M. Hildred Blewett Scholarship for Women in Physics. The scholarship 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

7. Women For Science Working Group Announced
From: WIPHYS, May 12, 2010

The Women for Science Working Group (WfS-WG) of the InterAmerican Network of Academies of Science (IANAS) will be officially launched at its first meeting on 11 June 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in conjunction with the VII Meeting of the National Focal Points of the IANAS Science Education Program.

The Working Group was established to aid IANAS in implementing the recommendations of the InterAcademy Council (IAC) Advisory Report on Women for Science (http://www.interacademycouncil.net/?id=11278 ), which argues that national science and technology (Samp;T) capacity building requires the full engagement of women, from the top decision-making levels all the way down to the grassroots. The WfS-WG is sponsored by the InterAcademy Panel (IAP), the global network of science academies, which has adopted the IAC report for implementation.

The mandate of the IANAS "Women for Science" Working Group is to advise IANAS and its member academies on fostering a climate in the sciences that is welcoming to women, and to alert IANAS and its academies to the gender aspects and issues encountered in their work and programs. The IANAS Women for Science Symposium sponsored by IAP and hosted by the Mexican Academy of Sciences in Mexico in April 2009 (http://www.ianas.com/mexico_en.asp ), was the first step towards creating the Working Group.

For further information, contact Johanna Levelt Sengers Scientist Emeritus, NIST Johanna.sengers_at_nist.gov

8. Women and Education Programs Administrator
From: Caroline Simpson
[simpsonc_at_fiu.edu]

Education and Diversity department seeks a programs administration professional to fill the position of Women and Education Programs Administrator. Reporting to the Director of Education and Diversity, this position will provide administrative support to the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics (CSWP), the Committee on Education (COE), and the Director of Education and Diversity in the development of new APS initiatives, and the continuation of existing education and diversity programs/projects. Other responsibilities include supporting external grant activities including writing reports, tracking expenses, facilitating events, and monitoring reporting and researching and reporting information in education and women's issues relevant to APS activities and programs.

Bachelor's degree with a preference in physics or other scientific or technical field required. Computer experience with word processing, Excel spreadsheets and graphs, database management, listserv moderation, HTML and electronic mail is necessary. Should have ability to organize events. Excellent communication, organizational, marketing and writing skills are needed. Must be dependable, personable, assertive, independent, cooperative and flexible. To apply, send cover letter, resume, one or two programs administration work samples, and a list of your professional references to the attention of the Directo r of Human Resources via e-mail: personnel_at_aps.org or fax: 301-699-8144 EOE M/F/D/V

9. 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

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.

- Aaswomen For May 13, 2011
AAS Committee on the Status of Women Issue of May 13, 2011 eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson, and Michele Montgomery This week's issues: 1. NSF ADVANCE web portal2. CSWP now offering Statistics on Women in Physics 3. ICWIP Webcasts of Sessions Now...

- Aaswomen For February 19, 2010
AAS Committee on the Status of Women Issue of January 29, 2010 eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson, & Michele Montgomery This week's issues: 1. CSWA Sponsors Special Session at AAS 216th Meeting - Second Announcement 2. WIA Blogspot: Words Matter...

- Aaswomen For June 26, 2009
AAS Committee on the Status of Women Issue of June 26, 2009 eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery This week's issues: 1. Notes from a Workshop - A Gender Balance Point of View2. Deadline Extension: Director, NSF Division of...

- Aaswomen For May 15, 2009
AAS Committee on the Status of Women Issue of May 15, 2009 eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery This week's issues: 1. Supremely Ignored2. Site Visits3. M. Hildred Blewett Scholarship 4. Postdoctoral Fellowship In Astrophysics-PRINCETON...

- Aaswomen For June 20, 2008
AAS Committee on the Status of WomenIssue of June 20, 2008eds. Joan Schmelz, Hannah Jang-Condell & Caroline Simpson This week's issues: 1. Culture, Gender and Math 2. Gender Issues in Math/Science Education 3. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe...

Astronomy