AASWOMEN for September 11, 2009

As a new academic year begins, we invite you to help us expand our community of readers and contributors. Please forward this issue of AASWOMEN to any new students, post-docs, and scientists that may be interested. Instructions for how to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN appear at the end of each issue and are repeated here (please remember to replace "@" in the e-mail address).

To submit to AASWOMEN: send email to aaswomen_at_aas.org.

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Please join me in welcoming our new CSWA members: Anne Hornschemeier, George Jacoby, Donald Kniffen, and Marc Postman. We should also thank the returning members for their hard work: Michele Montgomery, Hannah Jang-Condell, Wallace Sargent, Caroline Simpson, and Joannah Hinz.

A very special thanks goes out to our retiring members: Geoff Clayton and John Feldmeier. Among other duties, Geoff served as CSWA chair for the last two years and John maintained the committee's web site at:

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

As we start a new academic year, I would like you to think about (new) issues that CSWA should address. In years past, we've dealt with things like discrimination and sexual harassment; although this still happens, at least the number of incidents has diminished and there are procedures for dealing with them. More recently, the committee has addressed the two-body problem and work-life balance. As with discrimination and harassment, these issues are not "solved," and more work needs to be done, but progress has been made.

What are the issues concern you?

We would like to invite you to attend the upcoming "Women in Astronomy and Space Science" meeting, which is subtitled "Meeting the Challenges of an Increasingly Diverse Workforce."

This meeting has broad sponsorship, from NASA and NSF as well as STScI, USRA, AURA, AIU, APL, JPL, CfA, and NGST.

The meeting takes place at the Inn and Conference Center, University of Maryland University College from October 21 to October 23, with the conference dinner on Thursday, October 22nd.

While the first word in the title is "Women", there is also a strong emphasis on minorities, and generational differences as well as women in the workforce, with a great line-up of speakers, panels, and networking events. The meeting emphasizes best practices for success and is meant to be useful to women and men, to early career, mid-career, and senior career scientists.

A number of networking events are planned, with networking breakfasts every morning providing an opportunity for early career scientists to interact with keynote attendees.

For more details see

http://wia2009.gsfc.nasa.gov

Here are some important dates:

Early Registration Ends: Sep 21, 2009 Abstracts Due: Sep 21, 2009 Meeting Dates: Oct 21-23, 2009

1) Today is the first day of school, and since my youngest is starting kindergarten, I walked the kids into school this morning. The principal greeted me, saying "Now you have both kids in school! Going back home to a quiet house?" To which I replied, "Um, no, actually, I have to go to work." To be fair, I dressed this morning in jeans and a T-shirt, so I guess I could see the confusion. But still, what's the point in being in a profession where I can dress how I like if the rest of the world is still going to judge me by my clothes anyway?

2) This blog is attracting more and more spammers. The latest one is from some guy who would like me to link to his blog that rehashes space science news. I'd be more tempted to click through and see what his blog actually was about if the email weren't addressed to "Dear Sir."

The College of Wooster Physics Department invites applications for a tenure track Assistant Professor position beginning fall 2010 to teach a variety of physics courses and labs, guide student research projects, and develop a publishable research program involving students. Ph.D. in Physics or related field required. Experimentalist preferred. Participation in the College's interdisciplinary programs, including First-Year Seminar, is expected.

Our department is an inclusive community that emphasizes cooperation over competition, resulting in high student satisfaction (AIP report June 2004) with close faculty-student interactions and mentoring. Our physics club has won national awards for its elementary school outreach program. Each Wooster student completes a yearlong senior thesis project in our nationally recognized senior capstone program. Wooster ranks in the top 3 percent nationally as the baccalaureate origin of Ph.D.s when compared with other 4-year institutions. Over 16 years, students from 19 states and 40 institutions have collaborated with our faculty on NSF-REU funded research projects. More information about our department is available at

www3.wooster.edu/physics .

Send curriculum vitae, teaching philosophy, research plan, unofficial graduate transcripts, and three letters of recommendation to Dr. Susan Lehman, Chair, Department of Physics, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH 44691 or SLehman_at_wooster.edu. Electronic submission (pdf) is preferred. Consideration of applications will begin 15 October 2009 and will continue until the position is filled.

The College of Wooster is an independent college of the liberal arts and sciences with a commitment to excellence in undergraduate education. The College values diversity, strives to attract qualified women and minority candidates, and encourages individuals belonging to these groups to apply. Wooster seeks to ensure diversity by its policy of employing persons without regard to age, sex, color, race, creed, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. The College of Wooster is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer. Employment is subject to federal laws requiring verification of identity and legal right to work in the United States as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Drug-free workplace.

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).

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and fill out the form.

If you experience any problems, please email itdept_at_aas.org

Past issues of AASWOMEN are available at

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