Welcome to GWIS Empower!GWIS Empower seeks to provide career and leadership advice for women in science along with member-generated content. This month’s issue includes GWIS career webinar information, a DEI article, a fellowship opportunity and a an article on "Creative Polymath" skills of the Nobel laureates.
GWIS Webinar: Creating Equity for Improved Teamwork
Join us on Wednesday, November 30th, as we will host our conversation about how to create equity for improved teamwork. We’ll chat with Mr. Ciaran F. Phillip, a Forensic Scientist and Science Communicator, who has extensive expertise in this topic.
Date: Wednesday, November 30th. Time: 6:00pm BST/ 2:00pm AST/ 1:00pm ET/ 12:00pm CT/ 10:00 am PST
In the minds of many who do not experience it day to day, racism consists of egregious acts of violence or abuse. But that is only part of what many people experience in science. It is also, in the words of Black geoscientist Martha Gilmore, a “persistent current in everyday interactions” — of belittlement, of denial of opportunity, of feeling that you do not belong. Those are persistent themes in this series of Nature special issue profiles, in which Gilmore and four other Black & indigenous researchers tell of their personal experiences of discrimination.
Mark Saturday, November 12th in your calendars. The MIT museum opens its door for a day to celebrate women exploring the secrets of movement. This event is a great opportunity to meet and interact with women in STEM who work in fields like transportation, robotics and kinetic art.
Want to connect on-line with other women scientists? Join the GWIS Slack channel. GWIS also has a private LinkedIn group for connecting with nearly 2,000 women scientists to share interesting news, job opportunities, and more! Want to form a small group? Contact the GWIS Media group to access our private forums and help you solicit fellow GWIS participants!
Opportunity: The Graduate Women In Science (GWIS) National Fellowship Program 2023-2024
The Graduate Women In Science (GWIS) National Fellowship Program is a great opportunity for women pursuing academic and professional careers in the sciences. The Fellowship Program promotes knowledge in natural and social sciences, and empowers women in STEM. During the last funding cycle (2022-2023), a total of $50,000 in research awards were awarded to seven outstanding women scientists and gave recognition to 18 graduate students and eight early-career honorable mentions. Interested to being a GWIS fellow? The deadline to submit applications is Monday, January 9th at 5PM (ET).
Nobel Prizes Most Often Go to Creative Generalists
In a recent career panel, a former postdoctoral fellow shared that "Not being specialized enough" was the reason why a faculty job was denied to her! However, a recent study in The Conversation has looked at the careers of Nobel Prize winners and found that they often were "creative generalists" and not necessarily "specialized professionals". So, having a diverse skill set and fostering "creative polymathy" seems to be something to strive for, instead of being discouraged. Maybe it's time to pick up a "persistent, intellectually challenging hobby"?
Founded in 1921, Graduate Women in Science is an inter-disciplinary society of scientists who collectively seek to advance the participation and recognition of women in science and to foster research through grants, awards and fellowships. We comprise over 20 active chapters of more than 800 women who are "United in Friendship through Science" to support and inspire member professional goals and mutual appreciation of science. Learn more at www.gwis.org.
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