Astronomy

AASWOMEN for October 15, 2010

Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of October 15, 2010
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson, and Michele Montgomery

This week's issues:

1. When Students Ask Professors Out: A Follow Up

2. Childcare available for January AAS Meeting in Seattle

3. Career Resources for Astronomy Students

4. CSWA on Facebook

5. Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Program

6. Request for PhysTEC Sites; Informational Webinar

7. Postdoctoral Opportunities in Galaxy Evolution

*** FOLLOWING JOB POSTING TAKEN FROM WIPHYS ***

8. Physics Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville

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

10. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN

1. When Students Ask Professors Out: A Follow Up
From: Joan Schmelz and the CSWA

Last week's issue of AASWOMEN contained advice for a female instructor ("Anon II") whose male students were asking her out. This follow-up note is a reminder to check the policies of your own institution. Some universities allow professor-student dating as long as the professor has no direct evaluative authority over the student. This would mean no grading, no advising, no exam committees, etc. This would obviously not be the case for Anon II, who was asking directly about male students in her own classes.

One anonymous reader of AASWOMEN suggested that such university policies developed because some genuine, non-abusive, professor-student amorous relationships do arise when "life happens." It is better to deal with them fairly than to drive them underground. If such a relationship does develop it is crucial to avoid any conflict of interest; the professor must remove him/herself from direct evaluative authority and disclose the relationship to his/her department chair.

Again, please check with your own university for rules and procedures. Here is an example from Florida International University:

"Dating a student in your class, or a student whom you advise, or whose work you will be supervising or evaluating in any manner (for example, as a member of the student's thesis or dissertation committee) creates a de facto conflict of interest according to the University's Sexual Harassment rule, which states The University discourages amorous or sexual relations between employees and students. Such relationships, even when consensual, may be exploitive, and imperil the integrity of the educational process or work environment . . . The University requires the resolution of any conflict of interest created by these relationships.

Specifically, once the conflict exists or is reasonably foreseeable, you must take all necessary steps to remove yourself from evaluating the student. If it is not within your power to take the steps necessary to resolve the conflict, you must promptly inform your supervisor (usually, the Department Chair) who is then responsible for taking the steps to ensure unbiased evaluation of the student. Failure to resolve the conflict may result in disciplinary action."

2. Childcare available for January AAS Meeting in Seattle
From: Joan Schmelz [jschmelz_at_memphis.edu]

Childcare Onsite

The AAS will provide childcare onsite during the meeting through the Kiddie Corps Service. Care will be available Sunday, 9 January 2011 through Thursday, 13 January 2011. The cost of care is per $8 hour. The advance registration deadline is 13 December 2010. To arrange childcare please complete the registration form at http://aas.org/files/Kiddie_Corps_Registration_Form.pdf

Childcare Grants

Childcare grants are available for up to $250 per family for those that wish to bring children to the meeting. Parents are responsible for making arrangements for childcare. To apply for a childcare grant please fill out the Childcare Grant Application available at http://aas.org/meetings/childcaregrants.php

If requests exceed available funding, preference will be given to those in the early stages of their careers. If you have questions about childcare please contact Laronda Boyce( boyce_at_aas.org) at 202-328-2010 ext. 110.

Childcare Sharing

Please visit the Childcare Sharing Forum at http://forums.aas.org/viewforum.php?f=25 to find other attendees interested in sharing childcare. You will need to register to view and post on the forum.

3. Career Resources for Astronomy Students
From: Nathan Grimm [nathan_at_sreducationgroup.org]

[This website has a collection of links with education and career information ranging from the AAS and personal stories (A Day in the Life of...) to the Bureau of Labor Statistics -- eds.]

We just published an article on Guide to Career Education which focuses on providing Astronomy students and professionals with the best astronomy career resources on the internet, http://www.guidetocareereducation.com/tips-and-tools/astronomy-careers

The article would be a great addition to your astronomy resources. I hope it helps the students who use your website to find a great job in the field of astronomy.

Sincerely,

Nathan Grimm Program Manager - SR Education Group twitter.com/n8ngrimm (425) 605-8898 123 Lake Street South Suite B-1 Kirkland, WA 98033

4. CSWA on Facebook
From: Caroline Simpson [simpsonc_at_fiu.edu]

A reminder that the Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy is on Facebook!

48 monthly active users; 2 since last week 362 people like this; 3 since last week 4 wall posts and comments this week; 4 since last week 286 visits this week; 3 since last week

This newsletter and blog posts from womeninastronomy.blogspot.com are available there as well.

5. Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Program
From: WIPHYS for Oct. 11, 2010

Schlumberger Foundation Solicits Applications for Faculty for the Future Program: Deadline is November 30 http://www.slb.com/about/community/foundation/facultyfuture.aspx

The Schlumberger Foundation, based in France, is soliciting applications for its Faculty for the Future Program, geared toward "women from developing and emerging economies who are preparing for Ph.D. or post-doctoral study in the physical sciences, engineering, or related disciplines to pursue advanced graduate study at top universities in their disciplines abroad." Grants are in the range of $25,000 to $50,000 per year.

6. Request for PhysTEC Sites; Informational Webinar
From: WIPHYS for Oct. 11, 2010

Request for PhysTEC Sites (Deadline: November 5) and Webinar (October 18) http://www.phystec.org/solicitation

PhysTEC requests proposals for new sites to develop model physics teacher preparation programs, to begin in the 2011-2012 academic year. Institutions wishing to apply must submit a letter of interest by November 5, 2010. Proposals are solicited for two types of sites :

Comprehensive sites, which will receive up to $100k per year for three years. These sites will implement the full PhysTEC program.

Pilot sites, which will receive up to $25k per year for three years to implement specific elements of teacher preparation programs.

And, on Monday, October 18, PhysTEC will host a webinar to discuss and answer your questions related to the proposals for new sites.

7. Postdoctoral Opportunities in Galaxy Evolution
From: James Bullock [james.s.bullock_at_gmail.com]

The Southern California Center for Galaxy Evolution (CGE) invites applications for FALL 2011 Center Fellowship positions as part of a research initiative among UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara. A CGE Fellowship provides an opportunity for highly qualified postdoctoral scholars to conduct theoretical or observational research at any of the five campuses in areas broadly related to galaxy formation, including (but not limited to) galaxy evolution, Galactic astronomy, early star formation, and AGN phenomena. The Fellowship provides up to three years of support with an excellent, competitive salary plus benefits and a generous annual research budget.

One of the primary objectives of this program is to promote collaboration between the five Southern UC campuses. Applications will be judged on research excellence and, in part, on their likelihood for promoting collaboration between at least two campuses. Thus, we require the candidate to specify a first-choice and second-choice host campus and to maintain faculty contacts at these two campuses throughout the fellowship. The minimum qualification is a Ph.D. in physics, astrophysics, or related field. Applications must include a statement of past research (up to 3 pages), a research proposal (up to 3 pages), CV, and the names of pre-arranged faculty contacts at two of the CGE campuses. Applicants should arrange to have three letters of recommendation submitted electronically. Detailed electronic submission instructions are available at http://www.cge.uci.edu . The University of California is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity.

Applications are due on November 30, 2010.

8. Physics Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville
From: WIPHYS for Oct. 11, 2010

Applications are invited for one or more long-term lecturer positions in Physics. A M.S. or Ph.D. in Physics or Astronomy by June 30, 2011 is required, along with other qualifications (see http://www.uwplatt.edu/chemep/phys/employment-staff.html for details). Start date is August 23, 2011. Responsibilities primarily include teaching courses and laboratories in algebra- and calculus-based introductory physics and physical science. The physics program at University of Wisconsin-Platteville includes an accredited major in engineering physics. Application review begins 11/30/10 and continues until the position is filled.

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

[Please remember to replace "" in the below e-mail addresses.]

To submit to AASWOMEN: send email to aaswomenaas.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.

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Committee on the Status of Women Issue of November 5, 2010 eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson, and Michele Montgomery This week's issues: 1. Response to Yale's Policy on Student-Professor dating2. Encouraging Men to Advocate for Women in Astronomy3....

- Aaswomen For September 10, 2010
AAS Committee on the Status of Women Issue of September 10, 2010 eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson amp; Michele Montgomery This week's issues: 1. Partner Accommodation and Dual Career Appointments2. Maybe There Is Hope After All3. Video Interview...

- Aaswomen For October 16, 2009
AAS Committee on the Status of Women Issue of October 16, 2009 eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery This week's issues: 1. Childcare at the Winter AAS Meeting2. Nobel Prize3. Melissa Franklin Speaks at Barnard4. Older Women...

Astronomy