Astronomy

AASWOMEN for October 14, 2011

AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of August 12, 2011
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson, and Michele Montgomery

This week's issues:

1. A Question About Professional Behavior: Responses

2. New NSF Workplace Flexibility Policies: A Suggestion

3. How will academic institutions improve work-life balance?

4. Interviewing without the Angst - A Webinar

5. L'Oreal USA Fellowships for Women in Science

6. [Women] Faculty for the Future Program

7. AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships

8. Graduate Women in Science Fellowships

9. Job Opportunities

10. How to Submit to the AASWOMEN newsletter

11. How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the AASWOMEN newsletter

12. Access to Past Issues

1. Gender Gap in Lifetime Earning
From: Michele M. Montgomery

[Last week we asked if it was ever appropriate for a senior professor to ask an undergraduate student out for coffee. We got several excellent responses, which appear below. -- eds.]

From Jayanne English [Jayanne_English_at_umanitoba.ca]

Let's assume that inviting the student for a coffee is NOT about an amorous relationship. A common situation in my department is that the student is the only one that has turned up for office hour discussion this week. Or a student has turned up to discuss interesting facts associated with their project. Well, some of us say "Let's talk over a coffee" and head to the student centre on campus, regardless of the age or sex of the student. As one respondent put it, this is public and not a date. Indeed, from my perspective it is mentorship. The postings made me recall my own undergrad years in the late 1980s. My profs would not only go for coffee, but also beer or wine or lunch. Over the years of my undergrad degree, one wonderful, well-know physicist and I used to go to galleries, yes alone together, since we both had a strong interest in the relationship between art + science and lots to discuss. There were no female professors in that department to play either a mentorship or role-modelling role, but certain men were mentors and mentorship certainly kept me in the program. I am so thankful that my male professors didn't know about most of the advice posted on AASwomen last week! Of course I'm totally against someone in power imposing their unwanted attentions on a student, but the question posed did not state that the professor was intending to do so. And it would be so sad if people avoided social interactions for fear that they would be perceived as planning to seduce a student. So I ask anyone with amorous feelings towards a student to never (while they have an academic relationship) ask that student out for a coffee, so that going for a coffee can be understood by academic society as just a normal, friendly and even collegial interaction.

2. New NSF Workplace Flexibility Policies: A Suggestion
From: Chanda Prescod-Weinstein [chanda_at_mit.edu]

[In the 9/30/11 issue of AASWOMEN newsletter, new NSF workplace flexibility policies was introduced. We received the following comment. -- Eds.]

As one of the women who had the opportunity to join NASA's Women in Astronomy Delegation to the White House in 2009, and who spoke to Tina Tchen and the group about the centrality of diversity in science, I am so thrilled to know that we, amongst many, many others, were heard. I would like to suggest that people who are happy about the news contact the Council via their website and let them know that we are paying attention. It's important that they get positive feedback when they get things right. You can submit a comment here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/webform/contact-council-women-and-girls

3. How will academic institutions improve work-life balance?
From: Edmund Bertschinger_at_women_in_astronomy_blog

[From the Women in Astronomy Blog at womeninastronomy.blogspot.com; also posted on the CSWA Facebook page. -- eds.]

I'm thrilled that astronomers are having so much impact in highlighting the need for policies that make it easier for young people to begin careers and families in science and technology (see Hannah's post of October 6). It was exciting to hear about the NSF Career-Life Balance Initiative announcement at the White House, and to see Michele Obama and Tina Tchen promote the arguments that our amazing colleagues gave after WIA-III. The policies announced by the NSF are a step in the right direction, and the NSF Director is to be commended for his dedication to long-term change. The important question now is: who else will listen and act?

To read more, please see

http://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com

which is also posted on the CSWA Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Committee-on-the-Status-of-Women-in-Astronomy/43977374494

4. Interviewing without the Angst - A Webinar
From: WIPHYS, October 14, 2011

Join Karyn Rosen, a member of the College of Science Co-op Faculty at Northeastern University, as she helps you learn about steps you can take improve your job interview experience. The webinar will be held Wednesday, October 19, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT. Amanda Palchak, senior physics major at the University of Southern Mississippi--and 2011 SPS National Intern--will moderate the discussion. To learn more about this webinar, and to register for your seat, visit:

http://www.aps.org/careers/guidance/webinars/interview.cfm

5. L'Oreal USA Fellowships for Women in Science
From: WIPHYS, October 10, 2011

The L'Oréal USA Fellowships For Women In Science is a national awards program that annually recognizes and rewards five U.S.-based women postdoctoral researchers at the beginning of their scientific careers who are pursuing careers in the life and physical/material sciences, as well as mathematics, engineering and computer science. Recipients receive up to $60,000 each that they must apply towards their postdoctoral research.

The program is open only to women postdoctoral researchers. Applications will be accepted starting October 18, 2011. Application process closes December 15, 2011. Candidates interested in applying may visit the website at

http://www.lorealusa.com/forwomeninscience

6. [Women] Faculty for the Future Program
From: WIPHYS, October 10, 2011

[Do you know of a woman PhD potential/current candidate or post-doc from a developing country who wishes to return to their home country to continue their academic career upon completion of their studies? Please encourage them to apply for this grant -- eds.]

The Faculty for the Future program was launched by the Schlumberger Foundation to award fellowships to women from developing economies. The fellowships fund Ph.D. or post-doctoral studies in the physical sciences and related disciplines at top universities worldwide. The call for applications for Faculty for the Future Fellowships for the 2012-2013 academic year are open up to November 30, 2011. For more information, please visit:

http://www.facultyforthefuture.net/content/grant-application-process

7. AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships
From: WIPHYS, October 10, 2011

AAAS seeks candidates from a broad array of backgrounds and a diversity of geographic, disciplinary, gender, and ethnic perspectives as well as disability status. Fellows have ranged in age from late 20s to early 70s. They represent a spectrum of career stages, from recent PhD graduates to faculty on sabbatical to retired scientists and engineers. Fellows also come from a range of sectors, including academia, industry, non-profit organizations, and government labs. For more information and to apply, please visit:

http://fellowships.aaas.org/index.shtml

8. Graduate Women in Science Fellowships
From: WIPHYS, October 14, 2011

There are several fellowships available from Graduate Women in Science for female graduate students studying physics. Deadline is January 15, 2012.

For more info, visit: http://www.gwis.org/programs.html

9. Job Opportunities

A. Faculty Position in Physics at the University of California, Berkeley

http://www.physics.berkeley.edu and click on 'Faculty Positions.'

B. Theoretical astrophysics at Columbia University

https://academicjobs.columbia.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1318609237824

10. 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.

Please remember to replace "_at_" in the e-mail address above.

11. How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the AASWOMEN newsletter

To subscribe or unsubscribe to the AASWOMEN newsletter, please fill in the required information at:

http://lists.aas.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aaswlist

If you experience any problems, please email itdept_at_aas.org

12. Access to Past Issues

http://www.aas.org/cswa/AASWOMEN.html

Each annual summary includes an index of topics covered.

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Astronomy