March 8th is International Women's Day

Today we celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. The World Economic Forum predicts that based on current rates of change, it will take until 2133 to achieve global gender parity. How can we speed this process? Find out at InternationalWomensDay.com; learn about events near you, explore the Women. Fast Forward platform, and make a Pledge for Parity. You can also help women achieve their goals by supporting GWIS! Consider a donation to support our work supporting women in science.

USA Science & Engineering Festival April 15-17 in Washington, D.C.

Iota Nu Chapter has sent a small grant to Beta Chapter to help support the GWIS booth program and participation in the 2016 USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, DC. and encourages its dual members and other chapters to consider a contribution as well.  

 Volunteers for the booth are still welcome. This festival is one of the largest and most exciting in the world! If you are interested in science outreach, this is a great opportunity to share science with a large audience while volunteering with your fellow GWIS members! At the GWIS exhibitor booth, we will be demonstrating how red cabbage extract can be used as a pH indicator. We also need donations towards supplies for this booth.  Click the button to sign up for a shift.

For questions or more information, please email Allison Didychuk at didychuk@wisc.edu.
Contributions for the festival can be made at the GWIS website. Please designate "USA Science & Engineering Festival" in the Donor Comments section.

Registration Now Open for the GWIS 2016 National Conference

Rho Tau is proud to host the 2016 GWIS National Conference on June 23-25, 2016. During the National meeting, scientists from all career stages will have the opportunity to network, share their science and gain first-hand science outreach experience at a local science museum. The key note speaker will be Dr. Holly Menninger, Director of Public Outreach for the College of Sciences at NC State University. Also featured will be panel discussions on science literacy and the role of STEM professionals in science outreach as well as poster presentations and talks from GWIS scientists.

Opportunities will be available for attendees to engage in science outreach at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Preregistered conference participants will be given the opportunity to either speak about their research to the public or attend tables with topic materials on hand. The day will end with a banquet, silent auction and a comedy set from "The Science Comedian", Brian Malow.

Sign up by May 15th for an opportunity to do science outreach at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Honorary Members Nominated
Dr. Mildred Dresselhaus and Dr. Rita Valentino to join long line of GWIS elite

Dr. Mildred Desselhaus received her BA degree in 1951 from Hunter College, followed by a Fulbright Fellowship at Cambridge University in 1952. She went on to receive her MA in 1953 at Radcliffe College and PhD at the University of Chicago in 1958. She completed a fellowship (1956-1957) at the Bell Telephone Laboratory during her years in graduate school. Dr. Dresselhaus has held many positions, including international appointments, during her tenure starting in 1958 as a NSF postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University and ending with Chair of the American Institute of Physics Governing Board from 2003-2008. She is currently a Professor Emerita in the Physics and Electrical Engineering departments at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has held many honors and has received nearly 100 awards including the Enrico Fermi Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and was the first woman to receive the IEEE Medal of Honor. She has served as American Physical Society and AAAS presidents and as a governing officer within the National Academy of Sciences. She holds seven patents and has authored or contributed to 1,559 publications. Referred to as the "Queen of Carbon", her work includes research on carbon nanotubes, bismuth, nanowires, and low dimensional thermoelectricity. GWIS members can access her full interview published in the 2015 Fall Bulletin.

Dr. Rita Valentino received a BS from the University of Rhode Island in 1975 and her PhD from the University of Michigan in 1980. She completed two postdocs, one from 1980-1981 at the University of North Carolina and the second from 1981-1983 at The Salk Institute and is currently a Research Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She has been editing for six separate journals, including her current position of Editor-in-Chief of Neurobiology of Stress. She has 146 research publications as well as 10 review publications and 16 additional publications which include editorials and book chapters. Her major field of study is how certain stressors can lead to psychiatric or medical disorders, focusing on neurohormonal and neurochemical substrates. She has been a pioneer in the study of sex differences in the brain and has advocated for including females in research studies. GWIS members can access her full interview this year in an upcoming issue of the Bulletin.

For a list of previous GWIS Honorary Members, visit the GWIS website.

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Newest Chapter Zeta Establishes a Foundation in Richmond
Contributed by Deblina Biswas, Zeta Chapter Liaison

The Zeta chapter was started in October 2014 at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. Current PharmD/Ph.D. candidate Tien Truong founded the chapter with the help of charter members Dr. Susanna Wu-Pong, Dr. Mary Peace McRae, Dr. Patricia Slattum, Dr.Mary Jane Kennedy, Anuja Raut, Sneha Dhapare, Susan Boc, and Zaneera Hassan. The inauguration event was held at the Science Museum of Virginia. Appetizers and wine were served while guests were able to explore the Boost! Body, Mind and Happiness exhibit, a silent auction, and a food science demonstration. VCU School of Dentistry alumni, Dr. Baxter Perkinson and VCU School of Pharmacy Dean, Dr. Victor Yanchick, showed their support by each generously donating an original painting to the silent auction. The Zeta chapter thus began its wonderful journey with a total of 12 members.

Members have since organized fireside chats, riverside chats, and wine nights with leading senior research faculty members such as Dr. Joanne Peart, Dr. Mary Peace McRae, and Dr. Victor Yanchick. These informal chats were both entertaining, informative and extremely inspiring for our curious and fun-loving Zetas. Our chapter members have also taken it upon themselves to volunteer with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Stop Hunger Now, and the Science Museum of Virginia. The Zetas are continually organizing activities to promote team bonding while having fun, such as visiting the Escape Room where all the participants need to work in unison to discover clues to unlock the room. These and other such team building activities have fostered a feeling of fellowship and made the chapter evermore interesting to onlookers. This is what has lead our chapter to grow from 12 to 23 members within a year and a half.

We here at Zeta believe in service for the community. Like any new organization, we have had our fair share of trials to recruit new members, but this has only bonded our members further. We strive to ensure that our present members have the opportunity of attending and interacting with senior leaders in science by keeping everyone informed with regards to attending national events and local chapter meetings through a listserv. We are also continuously looking for new chapter members and we hope the next year will be as much of a success as this one. The current Zetas view the chapter’s biggest strength as being a part of the National SDE-GWIS community. Professionally, this allows for a rare opportunity to network and speak to senior women leaders in science throughout the nation. It affords us the experience of bonding with our fellow women in science colleagues and friends from diverse and stimulating backgrounds, which we will cherish throughout our lives!

Start a new chapter near you!

Starting a chapter is easy and only requires seven founding members. Find out how on our website.

On-Line Book Club to Meet Next in June

The first installment of the GWIS Book Club was a great success! We had a lively discussion about The Only Woman in the Room: Why Science Is Still a Boys' Club by Eileen Pollack, touching on a number of interesting topics such as gender roles, stereotypes, and discrimination in STEM fields. Additionally, we spent a lot of time sharing stories about our personal experiences in science and reflected on how these life experiences have shaped us into the women scientists we are today.

Please join us for our next GWIS Book Club which will be held in conjunction with the GWIS National Meeting (June 24-25; Time & Location TBD). We will be discussing Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg. For more information please email omega@gwis.org.

Alpha Lambda Omega Chapter Hosts Visit by Dr. Rita Calwell

Former NSF Director and Honorary GWIS Member Dr. Rita Colwell visited the University of Hawaii at Manoa in order to deliver the inaugural lecture of the Pavel Distinguished Lecture Series. During her time in Hawaii, which was hosted by the Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C-MORE), members of our GWIS chapter spent time with Dr. Colwell for an informal “talk story” event. At this event, Dr. Colwell inspired graduate students, post docs and professors with the enthralling story of her journey as a woman in science, during a time when she was truly breaking down barriers. Her overarching message was not to allow your role, as a woman in science, to be defined by others, to find your own path, and as she so delightfully put it “don’t let the turkeys get you down!” Her truly inspiring story gave us all fodder for thought and conversation, about how far women in science have come, and also what was left to be done.

Additionally, C-MORE sponsored a luncheon for the officers of GWIS and Dr. Colwell. During this event, Dr. Colwell stressed the importance of leadership by women in STEM fields, something that she has excelled at. The GWIS ALO cHApter is grateful to both Dr. Colwell and C-MORE for allowing us to be a part of these wonderful events. Mahalo Nui Loa!

Mu Sigma Chapter's Julie Fleischman Mounts Successful Crowdfunding Campaign

Michigan State University anthropology PhD candidate and former Mu Sigma president Julie Fleischman successfully leveraged the crowdsourcing site Instrumentl.com to raise $4500 to supplement her research for analysis and preservation of the human skeletal remains of the Khmer Rouge genocide. Funds are to be used to support the living expenses of the research team, renovation of the memorial stupa, and local publication of a Khmer book about the project.

New NSF Initiative to Improve Diversity in STEM

NSF launched a new initiative this week called NSF INCLUDES (Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science). Proposals are requested for projects aiming to increase the participation of women, members of racial and ethnic groups, persons with disabilities, and persons of low socio-economic status in STEM. The goal of the program is to transform STEM over the next 10 years so that it is “fully and widely inclusive". Ultimately, the project aims to influence the workforce such that these minority groups are represented in percentages that reflect the U.S. population. The first stage of the program will fund up to 40 projects at $300,000 each for two-year pilots. Successful pilot programs can then compete for five larger “Alliance” awards of $2.5 million per year for five years.
Thinkprogress
NSF

Male Biology Students Underestimate Female Peers

New research from the University of Washington published last month in the journal PLOS ONE,  found that males enrolled in undergraduate biology classes consistently ranked their male classmates as more knowledgeable about course content, even over better-performing female students. Female students, on the other hand, showed no significant bias in whom they chose as knowledgeable. Study co-lead author Sarah Eddy says support is essential in retaining women in STEM fields. "To stay in STEM you have to believe you can do it, and one of the things that can convince you of that is your peers saying you can do it," she said. "Helping students find peers who believe in them is really important, especially for women, because they're not likely to get that from males in their class."
EurekAlert

HHMI Gets First Female Leader

Erin O'Shea will be the first woman to lead Howard Hughes Medical Institutute. HHMI is the largest private funder of academic biomedical research in the United States. O'Shea, 50,  is a long-time HHMI investigator who studies gene regulation and signal transduction. She took the position because she found it “a tremendous opportunity to have a lasting, positive impact on science.” She plans to expand HHMI’s partnerships with other philanthropies, including one she helped create, the Faculty Scholars Program, that supports early career investigators.
Science

Leadership Insights

Building Confidence
How can women overcome a lack of confidence to be more successful in their careers? Look to positive role models, a strong professional network, and leadership training.
Fortune

Seek Advice on Strengths and Weaknesses
Mentors and sponsors can provide insights on your strengths and on areas that you may not realize you should be addressing. Seek to develop a relationship with someone whose leadership you respect.
Fortune

Celebrating International Women in Science Day, women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory pose for a photo in mission control (credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Changes Coming to GWIS!

Our members have spoken, and we listened! In response to last summer’s survey, we will soon be announcing some enormously exciting changes to GWIS! Look for the full details in next month’s Broadcaster when we officially launch….well, you’ll have to wait and see!

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”

- Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook

Get Involved with SDE-GWIS!

Support and be part of a growing network of women scientists.

About SDE-GWIS

Founded in 1921, Sigma Delta Epsilon-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 20 active chapters of over 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.

Contact SDE-GWIS

SDE/GWIS
PO Box 580140
Minneapolis, MN 55458
www.gwis.org

President: Laura Havens
SDE Broadcaster Editor: Jane Sharer Maier Membership Secretary: Laura Arneson

©2016 Sigma Delta Epsilon/ Graduate Women in Science. All rights reserved.

February 11th is International Day of Women and Girls in Science

 The future of jobs for women presently looks bleak, as women are poorly represented in the sectors which are projected to have the highest growth: architecture, engineering, computer science and math. How will you celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science? Sign up for leadership roles in GWIS, for mentoring, or for volunteering for outreach with GWIS nationally or in your local community! Want to make a difference encouraging women in science internationally? Join and support our Iota Nu international chapter. For an extra $15, you can have dual membership in this chapter. Short on time? Donate to GWIS! Your donations help us fund our annual activities including operations, fellowships and outreach.

Nominations for National Leadership Extended

GWIS is growing, with membership surging up 45% from last year. Be a part of leading this dynamic organization! Nominations for national leadership have been extended to March 1. Open positions include Vice President, Treasurer, Corresponding and Recording Secretary, and Omega Chapter commiittee. Serving in GWIS national leadership is a great way to develop your leadership skills, extend your professional network and enhance your chapter's representation at the national level. Nominate a colleague or yourself!

Volunteers still needed for the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C.

The USA Science & Engineering Festival is coming up fast, April 15-17, 2016, and our booth is still understaffed. If you live in or near the Washington D.C. area, GWIS needs you! This festival is one of the largest and most exciting in the world! If you are interested in science outreach, this is a great opportunity to share science with a large audience while volunteering with your fellow GWIS members! At the GWIS exhibitor booth, we will be demonstrating how red cabbage extract can be used as a pH indicator. We also need donations towards supplies for this booth.  Click the button to sign up for a shift.

For questions or more information, please email Allison Didychuk at didychuk@wisc.edu.

2016 National Conference is June 23-25

Rho Tau is proud to host the 2016 GWIS National Conference on June 23-25, 2016. During the National meeting, scientists from all career stages will have the opportunity to network, share their science and gain first-hand science outreach experience at a local science museum. The key note speaker will be Dr. Holly Menninger, Director of Public Outreach for the College of Sciences at NC State University. Also featured will be panel discussions on science literacy and the role of STEM professionals in science outreach as well as poster presentations and talks from GWIS scientists.

Opportunities will be available for attendees to engage in science outreach at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Preregistered conference participants will be given the opportunity to either speak about their research to the public or attend tables with topic materials on hand. The day will end with a banquet, silent auction and a comedy set from "The Science Comedian", Brian Malow.

Look for registration links at gwis.org beginning March 1!

Be Counted as a Mentor!

Can you remember the important people in your life that have helped you forge your career path? Million Women Mentors is a collaboration of partners across the nation working to support the mission of engaging one million science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) mentors to increase interest and engagement of girls and women in STEM programs and careers.

Mentors have the option of counting EXISTING mentorships established through their own contacts (e.g., research assistants, mentees through organizations such as GWIS, student mentees). Meaning, if you currently are mentoring a girl or woman in science, you can count that as your Million Women Mentors pledge. All you need to do is sign up on the Million Women Mentors portal and track the pledge! Alternatively, mentors have the option of CONNECTING with mentees through the Million Women Mentors web portal with one of 58 partners representing over 30 million girls and women across the nation. This portal is ideal for chapters looking to broaden their outreach and engagement with their local community.

By making the pledge to join Million Women Mentors, each mentor commits to spending at minimum 20 hours working with a mentee. This can include a combination of face-to-face, online, telephone, or other types of interactions.

To sign up as a mentor with Million Women Mentors as an affiliate of GWIS, please click on the button below. You simply need to create a MWM profile and make your pledge. Alternatively, if you already have a MWM profile, please consider becoming an affiliate of GWIS by entering the following PIN in your Million Women Mentors profile: 684894302-3276. For more information please visit www.millionwomenmentors.org or feel free to email Gina Moreno at moreno@gwis.org.

At the annual 2016 GWIS National Conference (June 23-25) we will be presenting a Chapter Mentoring Leadership Award to the chapter with the highest percentage of members who have made pledges to the Million Women Mentors Movement! This award is in recognition of chapters working together with GWIS to increase our dedication to promoting women in science and also to strengthen our relationship with other organizations with similar missions as GWIS. If you would like for your chapter to be considered for this award please make your pledges before June 15, 2016.

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Omicron: This Established Chapter Spans Generations
Contributed by Robin Woo, Omicron Chapter Liaison

Since Omicron was chartered in 1948, in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area, the chapter has served women in science who mainly work for the US government agencies (such as USDA, NIH, FDA, NIST, EPA) and live spread out in the region in Maryland, DC, and northern Virginia. While Omicron is not affiliated with any one university, we have had student members and meetings at George Washington U, Georgetown U, Howard U, American U, Catholic U, Mary Washington U, Johns Hopkins U, and the campuses of the University of Maryland. Some of our members work as professionals in science-related industry, academia and non-profit organizations. The US capitol region attracts international scientists, as well. As a result, our members are diverse in age, station, and experience. We enjoy capitalizing upon that diversity to enrich our friendships built through our common love of science.

Our numerous National Honorary Members (Helen Dyer, Bernice Eddy, Flemmie Kitrell, Mary Maver, Mary Elizabeth Reid, Mary Louise Robbins, Marion Webster, Frances Kelsey, Alice Evans and Margaret Pittman, Ariel Hollinshead, Elizabeth Weisburger, and Rita Colwell) have set shining paths for our young scientists to follow. They and our older members have enjoyed mentoring and sharing their experiences with our younger members who in turn are inspired and facilitated as they pursue their careers. We have even aided the development of the Bishop Ireton High School club for young Women in Science (BIWIS). Omicron founded a semi-annual Young Investigators Symposium providing a platform and mechanism to practice their oral presentations in a supportive and enriched environment. Several of our generous senior members have created National Fellowships (Monique Braude and Elizabeth Weisburger) and special funds (Sue Feinman’s science writing fund, Ariel Hollinshead’s continuing support of the Fellowships review team) to support developing science.

We have regular events, in addition to monthly scientific meetings and field trips. We help transport our older members to the various activities. Omicron members serve as science fair judges in March, as fellowship proposal reviewers based on the NIH review committee process in the spring, and every other year as presenters at the GWIS booth at the US Science and Engineering Festival in April. Annually in December, we invite both old and young members to Liz Von Kaenel’s home to celebrate the holiday season with an enormous, opulent Christmas tree, sumptuous potluck feast, and a silent auction to support the chapter activities. Recently we celebrated the establishment of Elizabeth Weisburger’s new GWIS Fellowship, and created the Elizabeth Weisburger Excellence Award for her and for future Omicron awardees who follow her fine example in science, service and philanthropy.

We have taken GWIS National duties seriously with our senior members serving as GWIS leaders (Eltora Schroeder, Mary Louise Robbins, Marjorie Knowlton, Hope Hopps, Marion Webster, Beverly Backus, Katherine Cook Jaouni, Catherine Quigley, Ariel Hollinshead, Monique Braude, Elizabeth Weisburger, Ann Brown, Sue Feinman, Mary Anderson Galloway, Gloria Gridley, Robin Woo, Paddy Weisenfeld, and JoAnn Schrass) and active committee members. We have regularly hosted the GWIS annual meeting that always brings together good old friends throughout the organization.

Omicron’s success stems from the magical melting pot within the beltway and through communicating opportunities and activities regularly through our newsletters. Our national service enriches the chapter and connects us closely to the whole GWIS organization. Our stumbling blocks are the distances we have to travel to see one another, the paucity of locally supportive industries, and difficulties of finding accessible meeting places. But Omicronians still manage to toast one another’s success with a great glass of hard cider, local wine, freshly brewed beer, or something healthier on our field trips. Whenever you find yourself scheduled to come to DC, just let us know. Omicron is ready to give you transportation, shelter, good company and fine food. United in friendship through science!

Start a new chapter near you!

Starting a chapter is easy and only requires seven founding members. Find out how on our website.

On-Line Book Club Begins February 28th

It's not too late to join the GWIS on-line book club for its first session. The Only Woman in the Room: Why Science Is Still a Boys' Club by Eileen Pollack is a "bracingly honest, no-holds-barred examination of the social, interpersonal, and institutional barriers confronting women—and minorities—in the STEM fields."  We will be using an online forum and conference calls to hold our discussions. Our first book club meeting will be Sunday, February 28 at 5pm. Until then, please feel free to post discussion items or thoughts in our online discussion forum on the GWIS website. Email Gina Moreno if you would like to be added to the club email list.

Xi Chapter gathers

in January, Xi Chapter met at Urban Growler -- the first woman-owned and brewed microbrewery in Minnesota -- and heard from Rebecca Seidel, General Manager of the Infection Control Business at Medtronic, Inc. Rebecca discussed her own career path and outlined different jobs for scientists in industry by using her business unit at Medtronic as an example.

Rebecca also offered advice for women that are hoping to succeed in an industry setting including: find a mentor that is candid and honest; be open-minded to all positions; do your job better than people expect you to; have a plan and know what your next step is; and help others. For women hoping to get their first job outside academia, Rebecca emphasized the importance of being able to clearly identify and articulate your individual contributions to a team project and being open to others' questions and ways of thinking.

Rebecca Seidel

Xi Chapter members enjoy microbrews and a good presentation

Personal celebrations in South Dakota

GWIS Bulletin Editor and Sigma Delta member, Rozzy Finn, welcomed a healthy baby boy, Lee Robert, on January 8; 9 pounds 8 ounces, 20.5 in long. We wish mother and son a restful time together! The next Bulletin will be issued, um...soon!

Crowdfunding Funds Small Grants, Invites Public In

Sites such as Experiment.com are raising funds for small research grants directly from the public; $5 million for nearly 400 projects since 2012. In addition to gaining funding, scientists have a new way to engage the public and get them excited about their research. Investigators are mainly, but not exclusively, academics, most frequently in the early stages of their careers. Their projects are reviewed and approved by the site managers prior to posting. Researchers share their results with the public as the project progresses.
Inverse.com

GWIS member and former Mu Sigma president, Julie Fleischman is currently using the crowdfunding site Instrumentl.com to raise supplemental funds for her grant to assess the traumatic injuries on the human skeletal remains from the Khmer Rouge genocide in the late 1970s in Cambodia. The site takes donations ranging from $10-$100.
Preserving Evidence of the Khmer Rouge Genocide

Dish the Scoop

Whether demonstrating the relevance of one's work to a trending news story or alerting the media to an upcoming publication, some scientists are bypassing their institution's media relations office and contacting the press directly. To do so takes some savvy on who to call and how to pitch it.

"Knowing what makes a good read can be difficult for a researcher who has been immersed in a field of study for years, but the difference can become clear as you try to describe your research to a nonscientist." News articles must be brief and clearly written for the nonscientist, researchers should have journals or journalists in mind for their stories, and timing is key.
The Scientist

Persian Proclivity

How would you like to live in a country where 70% of science and engineering students are women? Does such a place exist? It does, and you might be able to at least visit there soon as sanctions in Iran were lifted just last month. Educational opportunities to women that were put in place following economic turmoil several decades ago have delivered an abundance of women skilled in science and technology, poised to make an impact for their country's economy as markets open up.
Forbes

Lady Science: Perspectives on Women in Science

Lady Science is a collaborative writing project focused on women in science, technology, and medicine. This month, Leila A. McNeill celebrates the new television series,  Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, featuring a female detective lead and stories told through a feminist perspective, and Anna Reser examines women's roles and the treatment of science in the long-running CSI series on CBS. Writers are invited to contribute their own stories for publication on the website. The site includes recommendations for quality works in television, film, and fiction.
Lady Science

"If you don't aim high, you won't go far. In the end, never let others define what your life can be."

- Shirley Ann Jackson, President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Get Involved with SDE-GWIS!

Support and be part of a growing network of women scientists.

About SDE-GWIS

Founded in 1921, Sigma Delta Epsilon-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 20 active chapters of over 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.

Contact SDE-GWIS

SDE/GWIS
PO Box 580140
Minneapolis, MN 55458
www.gwis.org

President: Laura Havens
SDE Broadcaster Editor: Jane Sharer Maier Membership Secretary: Laura Arneson

©2016 Sigma Delta Epsilon/ Graduate Women in Science. All rights reserved.

Welcome to the New Year!

Do you have resolutions for the new year? Maybe they include expanding your career and social networks? A great way to do so is by getting involved in your local GWIS chapter! Don't have a chapter? Our Omega and Iota Nu chapters serve U.S. and international at-large members and are always looking for ways to better help women scientists connect. Consider serving on a national committee or establishing a mentor relationship through GWIS and Million Women Mentors. On our website, update your profile to indicate how you want to be involved in GWIS or contact officers and committee chairs directly. You can also connect with GWIS members within your chapter and within the greater organization by using our forums! We want to help you get the most from your membership. Troubles logging in? Contact Membership Secretary Laura Arneson. If you have any other questions about our website, contact our Technology Committee chair, Allison Shultz.

Volunteer with GWIS at the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C.!

Join GWIS at the USA Science & Engineering Festival on April 15-17, 2016. This festival is one of the largest and most exciting in the world! At the GWIS exhibitor booth, we will be demonstrating how red cabbage extract can be used as a pH indicator. We are looking for volunteers to help run the exhibit booth and for donations towards supplies for this booth. If you are interested in science outreach, this is a great opportunity to share science with a large audience while volunteering with your fellow GWIS members! Click the button to sign up for a shift.

Special thanks to Beta chapter for organizing our effort! For questions or more information, please email Allison Didychuk at didychuk@wisc.edu.

Make Plans to Attend the 2016 National Conference in June

The GWIS National Conference, “Educating Scientists for Effective Science Outreach”, will take place in Raleigh, NC June 23-25 and will be hosted by Rho Tau Chapter. During the National meeting, scientists from all career stages will have the opportunity to network, share their science and gain first-hand science outreach experience at a local science museum. Registration will open late February or early March.

Congressional Visits Day April 12 & 13

The CVD is a two-day annual event that brings scientists, engineers, researchers, educators, and technology executives to Washington to raise visibility and support for science, engineering, and technology. Uniquely multi-sector and multi-disciplinary, the CVD is coordinated by coalitions of companies, professional societies and educational institutions and it is open to all who believe that science and technology comprise the cornerstone of our Nation's future. Look for information from your favorite professional scientific societies on how to participate in this important opportunity to influence policies relating to your field.

New Sigma Omega Delta Chapter Climbing High in Fort Collins

In its second year, the Northern Colorado chapter of Graduate Women in Science (GWIS), Sigma Omega Delta (SOD), has made great strides in connecting its members to resources, making new networks through outreach, and advocating for graduate women in science in its community of Fort Collins, CO. The chapter has hosted a number of events in collaboration with local organizations such as the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, student advocacy groups, such as Society of Women Engineers, as well as individuals from local government, industry, and academia. These events have addressed some of the struggles women face in the sciences and provided a forum for graduate women to network, learn, and socialize. Lessons learned from the first panel, titled “Gender in personal and professional arenas: striking a balance for success in scientific careers,” will be included in an article in Eos, a magazine by the American Geophysical Union (AGU). In recognition of its hard work on the Colorado State University campus, SOD received the New Student Organization of the Year award. In addition to coordinating educational events, our chapter has been building connections with supportive professors, mentors and leaders, working together to improve university policies for all graduate women, not just those in the sciences. Through these alliances, the Northern Colorado section of GWIS has developed a strong advocacy branch. Indeed, we have recently begun to work with the Graduate School to develop a paid parental leave policy for graduate students—both women and men. Universities around the nation have begun to recognize the importance of providing at least some paid parental leave for their graduate students who have children, as well as job protections for graduate students who take parental leave. We are working closely with administrators and are hoping for swift implementation of a policy. As an organization we have sought to improve professional development, networking, and activism related to issues facing women in science. These goals are member-generated and member-driven. As the group continues to take into consideration changing needs and desires, we look forward to learning, growing, and supporting our membership.

Sigma Omega Delta members enjoying a social outing at a local brewery.

Start a new chapter near you!

Starting a chapter is easy and only requires seven founding members. Find out how on our website.

On-Line Book Club Begins February 28th

GWIS will be holding an online Book Club four times a year. We will be using an online forum and conference calls to hold our discussions. Our first book club meeting will be Sunday, February 28 at 5pm. We will be discussing The Only Woman in the Room: Why Science Is Still a Boys' Club by Eileen Pollack. Please email Gina Moreno if you would like to participate.

Beta Chapter Hosts 3 Minute Thesis Competition

Beta chapter recently hosted its second annual 3 Minute Thesis competition on the University of Wisconsin-Madison's campus. Attendance this year was even better than last year with standing room only at one point! The WARF (Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation) and the Graduate School Office of Professional Development collaborated to put on the event. ThermoFisher Scientific and Sigma Aldrich sponsored prizes and a reception, respectively. The three winners were 1st place, Sean Andrist (Computer Science) , 2nd place, Katelyn Milliman (Astronomy), 3rd place, Beth Tomaszewski (Environmental Chemistry).

Alpha Upsilon and Nu Explore their Artistic Creativity

The Alpha Upsilon chapter at Auburn University celebrated the end of fall semester with a stress-buster networking and painting gathering. Members assembled at the Davis Arboretum pavilion where they enjoyed snacks and apple cider, and painted canvases. New connections, masterpieces, and memories were created by all. Meanwhile, at Penn State, Nu chapter members held an Art and Wine event to learn basic painting techniques and relax with friends.

Tau Chapter Loses Celia L. Marshak

Tau Chapter is sad to report the passing of Cecilia Marshak, a long-time respected member. Celia was made a GWIS Honorary Member for Outstanding Service to Scientific Education in 1992. A memorial service is expected to occur early in the new year though at this time no details are known.

Don't Miss the Winter Issue of the GWIS Bulletin!

Members-only content includes:

∙ Letters Between Friends - Insights into GWIS history
∙ 2015 Nobel and Ig Nobel Prize Winners
∙ Epically Awesome Women in Science - Henrietta Leavitt and the Harvard "Computers"
∙ (Not So) Alternative Careers in Science - Working in a University's Technology Transfer office
∙ Chapter Updates including Iota Chi's professional development event examining effective verbal communication skills for female scientists.

Seeking Your Stories: Networking and Career Transitions

The Broadcaster wants to look at networking and career transitions in upcoming issues. Do you have a personal story about how a key networking connection got your foot in the door for a great new job? Have you successfully changed tracks during your career and how did you manage it? Or, recommend a colleague who has a story worth sharing. Contact Broadcaster Editor, Jane Sharer Maier.

Four Women Scientists to be Honored with National Medals 

Three women will receive the National Medal of Science:
Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a nuclear physicist and chairwoman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from 1995 to 1999.
Mary-Claire King, a genetics professor at the University of Washington did work while at UC-Berkeley leading to the discovery of the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 breast cancer genes.
Geraldine Richmond, the presidential chair of science and chemistry at the University of Oregon, has done research in chemical and physical processes that occur in complex surfaces.

A National Medal of Technology and Innovation will be bestowed upon Nancy Ho, a a research professor emerita in Purdue University's School of Chemical Engineering. Ho has studied recombinant DNA techniques to improve industrial microorganisms, particularly for production of renewable biofuels and bio-products.

Sexual Harrassment Fall-out Continues to Grow

Christian Ott, a CalTech professor of theoretical astrophysics was stripped of his university salary and barred from campus for one year for gender-based harassment. To be reinstated, he must undergoing training and prove that he has been rehabilitated before he can resume advising students without supervision.  Science

Meanwhile, Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) plans to introduce legislation that would prevent a professor from moving between teaching institutes without the new institute being aware of past confirmed harrassment activities.  Wired

NASA released a statement  this week that the agency "does not tolerate sexual harassment" including a demand for compliance by all grantee institutions it supports.  NASA letter

Also this week, an "Elephant in the Valley" survey reports discrimination experiences by women working in Tech.  Newsweek

Stache-tag: More Female Leaders

WIth possible contention for an Ig Nobel prize, two researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia published a study last month in The BMJ examining the relationship between facial hair and leadership in academic medicine as a way to draw attention to sex disparities. “We chose to study moustaches as the comparator because they are rare (<15% of men from the most recent measures available), and we wanted to learn if women were even rarer.” The authors examined website photos of the departmental leadership at the top 50 medical schools in the United States and developed the “moustache index,” which compares the number of female department leaders to department leaders with mustaches.
Science Careers
Original BMJ article

Jobs Outlook

 How will your job hold up? Check out The Future of Jobs Employment, Skills and Workforce Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, released this week by the World Economic Forum. The "Fourth Industrial Revolution" has been predicted by various industry leaders as developments in fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, robotics, nanotechnology, 3D printing, and genetics and biotechnology have coalesced to create new economic sectors. Women, however, stand to lose big as they are poorly represented within these hot new technologies. A special section devoted to the Industry Gender Gap is included.
The Future of Jobs

"All my life through, the new sights of Nature made me rejoice like a child."

- Marie Curie

Get Involved with SDE-GWIS!

Support and be part of a growing network of women scientists.

About SDE-GWIS

Founded in 1921, Sigma Delta Epsilon-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 20 active chapters of over 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.

Contact SDE-GWIS

SDE/GWIS
PO Box 580140
Minneapolis, MN 55458
www.gwis.org

President: Laura Havens
SDE Broadcaster Editor: Jane Sharer Maier Membership Secretary: Laura Arneson

©2016 Sigma Delta Epsilon/ Graduate Women in Science. All rights reserved.

Science Alert
A meta-analysis of holiday merriments shows irrefutable evidence for gender-selective excitation energy exceeding measurable limits. Predictions for creativity, innovation and success in subsequent annum.
Annals of Warm Wishes for the Season (2015).

Happy Holidays from Graduate Women in Science

2016 National Conference Will Be in Raleigh, NC

Mark the Date! Rho Tau is proud to host our GWIS National Conference, “Educating Scientists for Effective Science Outreach”, next year in  Raleigh, NC June 23-25. During the National meeting, scientists from all career stages will have the opportunity to network, share their science and gain first-hand science outreach experience at a local science museum. Registration will open late February or early March.

Fellowship Reviewers Needed

The Fellowship Committee is looking for enthusiastic GWIS members who want to serve on the committee this year. It is a great opportunity to become involved in GWIS and to help hundreds of women in their academic and professional careers. Fellowship Committee members contact and solicit reviews for approximately 200 applications following the application deadline on January 8th. Committee members may be applicants, with provisions. If you are interested in serving on the committee, or have questions, please contact the Fellowships Committee Coordinator Vicky Cattani at cattani@gwis.org.

One in a Million: Thao Nguyen D. Pham
- Eta member relates the give and take of mentoring as a graduate student
Contributed by Thao Nguyen D. Pham, Eta Chapter

 Good mentorship is indispensible across all fields and levels, whether it be the sciences or the culinary arts, and from the excitable grad student to the training scientist. I have been fortunate to have learned from a number of phenomenal mentors, some of which have instilled in me a scientific curiosity and excitement that has led me to pursue a career in research.

Like many, I was uncertain about what I wanted to do after college. Not until the summer before my senior year did I decide to give research a whirl. Without any previous lab experience, and only having taken a couple molecular biology courses, the path was not as smooth as I had imagined. At the time, there were only a few labs on campus that would accept students without prior lab experience. I applied for all of them and heard back from only two. After having gone through two interviews, I received one offer. Even then, I was certain that I gave both PIs the same impression: someone who lacks certainty and direction, but has some vague interest in trying out science. I understood why a PI would be hesitant in taking such a person in, but I gave it a try. I joined the second lab for one summer, learned some very basic molecular biology techniques, and found that I enjoyed the lab environment a bit more every day. However, it wasn't until the last day of my appointment that my mentor told me what would become a point which I still hold close to my heart each day. After having watched me develop an appreciation for quality science, he told me that with quality mentoring, the door to science is open to anyone as long as they have even the slightest amount of interest. His first mentor had played a critical role in his development as a scientist, and he wanted to do the same for me. His faith in me and this philosophy has empowered and motivated me to focus on providing others a valuable mentoring experience.

With some research experience under my belt, I got more opportunities to work in other labs, before finally being offered a lab technician position at the time of my graduation. I learned valuable lab skills, and more importantly, gained insight from all the people I came across. The idea of being able to pass down these qualities to someone, and support them to do great things, prompted me to apply for graduate schools the year after. Since then, I have had the opportunity to be a mentor for junior graduate students in the lab. Very often I found myself frustrated from all of the work and responsibilities, but even more often, I saw the younger me reflected in them: a person who just needs good guidance to gain self-confidence and an appreciation for science. I came to realize that one of the challenges to being a great mentor is to overcome my doubts and impatience. Mentoring for me therefore has become a process of learning new virtues. I would not only need to know how to teach, but also how to instill drive and passion in those I guide. I would need to be a committed scientist before I could talk to people about dedication.

The field of science cannot move forward without insightful and dedicated scientists who would not come along without great mentors and invaluable mentorship. I always believe that as long as you have the motivation, you can always get involved in science. More than that, you can always choose to pass down the legacy of science and become a mentor.

Be One in a Million!
Did you know you can count your current mentoring relationships towards MWM?

Million Women Mentors is a collaboration of partners across the nation working to support the mission of engaging one million science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) mentors to increase interest and engagement of girls and women in STEM programs and careers.

Mentors have the option of counting EXISTING mentorships established through their own contacts (e.g., research assistants, mentees through organizations such as GWIS, student mentees). Meaning, if you currently are mentoring a girl or woman in science, you can count that as your Million Women Mentors pledge. All you need to do is sign up on the Million Women Mentors portal and track the pledge! Alternatively, mentors have the option of CONNECTING with mentees through the Million Women Mentors web portal with one of 58 partners representing over 30 million girls and women across the nation. This portal is ideal for chapters looking to broaden their outreach and engagement with their local community.

By making the pledge to join Million Women Mentors, each mentor commits to spending at minimum 20 hours working with a mentee over the course of one year. This can include a combination of face-to-face, online, telephone, or other types of interactions. To sign up as a mentor with Million Women Mentors as an affiliate of GWIS, please follow this link. You simply need to create a MWM profile and make your pledge. Alternatively, if you already have a MWM profile, please consider becoming an affiliate of GWIS by entering the following PIN in your Million Women Mentors profile: 684894302-3276. For more information please visit www.millionwomenmentors.org or feel free to email the Omega Committee at omega@gwis.org.

Volunteer with GWIS at the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C.!

Join GWIS at the USA Science & Engineering Festival on April 15-17, 2016. This festival is one of the largest and most exciting in the world! At the GWIS exhibitor booth, we will be demonstrating how red cabbage extract can be used as a pH indicator. We are looking for volunteers to help run the exhibit booth and for donations towards supplies for this booth.

If you are interested in science outreach, this is a great opportunity to share science with a large audience while volunteering with your fellow GWIS members! Click the button to sign up for a shift.

For questions or more information, please email didychuk@wisc.edu.

Collaborators Wanted
GWIS members who have experience with the diagnosis, surgery, and  treatment of breast cancer

One of our Omicron members recently has initiated her personal war against the breast cancer that has invaded her. She has discovered that there is precious little practical information on how to manage and cope with the poorly developed medical procedures used to diagnose and treat breast cancer. We seek experienced women in science who can contribute their ideas towards writing an article that would better prepare and provide understanding to all who must face breast cancer. We hope that our combined suggestions may help prioritization of research and development to ease unnecessary pain and improve outcomes against this terrible disease. If you have ideas for the text, please contact Robin Woo at woo@gwis.org by December 15, 2015.

On-line Book Club Starting Up

Is there a book you have been meaning to read, but just can't get going on it? Maybe one you've read and have been dying to discuss with like-minded people. Join our on-line book club! Organized by Omega leadership, but available to everyone, we will be choosing and discussing our favorite and most intriguing books about science, leadership, and women in science. You don't need to be a member to join! Interested readers should email omega@gwis.org.

The Geoff Marcy Case: Progress in Addressing Sexual Harrassment?

In October, a BuzzFeed report broke the story that internationally reknown astronomer, Geoff Marcy, was being investigated for violating the sexual harassment policies at UC Berkeley, where he was employed as a professor. Four women alleged that Marcy repeatedly engaged in inappropriate physical behavior with students between 2001 and 2010, including unwanted massages, kisses, and groping. The initial response from the university and media appeared mild; a private university investigation that took six months with no disciplinary action, the UC Berkely astronomy department chair indicating Dr. Marcy was the person most in need of support and understanding during the fallout (check out his message to the astronomy department), and a follow-up story by the The New York TImes that appeared sympathetic to Marcy. Considering Marcy's eminence in the hot field of exoplanetary astronomy and a long history of tolerance of harrassment at universities, a slap on the wrist and a promise to behave better for many seemed the status quo as consequence to the course of events. Therefore, the firestorm that swiftly ensued from the university and astronomy community was a welcome surprise to the accusers. An open letter signed by 278 international astronomers and physicists was sent to the Times within days of its original story condemning the news journal for going soft on Marcy, stating the article "epitomizes the culture that champions the voices of predators and minimizes the experiences of survivors." Another letter from Berkeley's undergraduate astronomy community accused the administration of UC Berkely of inadequate action and compromising the safety and well-being of its students. Letters from the UC Berkely astronomy faculty, postdocs, and graduate students were also submitted in support of the complainants and critical of the university in the handling of the case. Five days after the original BuzzFeed article was published, Marcy resigned.

Since then, university science departments and scientific societies have been discussing sexual harrassment in town hall meetings and advisory panels across the country. Women can only hope that this is the beginning of a new intolerance for sexual harrassment in the scientific community. In "How to End Sexual Harassment in Astronomy", published in Scientific American, Meg Urry, director of the Yale Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics and president of the American Astronomical Society, presents thoughtful insights on her observations of the insidious nature of sexual harrassment and its effect on women's psyche and their careers. She also proposes policies to protect young women, particularly early in their careers when they are most vulnerable to the people controlling the direction their career paths may take. Her advice can be applied to any scientific field and It is well worth a read.

One of the most inspiring aspects of this story is the way students in the astronomy community took control of their situation by creating a support group called the Astronomy Allies. Entrenched in a culture of tolerance to harrassers, Katey Alatalo and Heather Flewelling, astronomy undergraduates at UC Berkeley, created the group primarily to provide safety to students at astronomy conferences where women, including Flewelling, had experienced harrassment. Group members could contact each other for help by phone, text or email if they found themselves in a difficult situation. The group debuted at the 2015 American Astronomical Society conference in January, its members wearing red buttons to make their presence known. Since then, Allies have continued to serve as support contacts for students experiencing harrassment. The awareness the group promulgated by their presence may well have contributed to the concerted reaction by the astronomy community following the Geoff Marcy allegations.

Additional Sources:
Ghorayshi, Azeen (November 11, 2015) "Here’s How Geoff Marcy’s Sexual Harassment Went On For Decades". BuzzFeedNews
Grinberg, Emanuella (November 4, 2015) "How to make science safer for women". CNN

What Should I Do if I'm Experiencing Sexual Harrassment?
Contributed by Sarah Soderlund, Xi Chapter

The workplace can be both a supportive and creative environment but it can also become an awkward, uncomfortable, and even volatile situation if sexual harassment becomes a stressor in the daily workplace. Workplace harassment is not specifically addressed in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects most employees against discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin and religion. However, the United States Supreme Court has interpreted harassment that is “sufficiently severe or pervasive” and that creates a hostile working environment as a violation of that federal law. For students, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sexual harassment within schools and universities. "Sexual harassment” describes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Because sexual harassment is subjective to both the perpetrator and the victim, the linguistics of what is severe or pervasive can create loopholes for those struggling through an uncomfortable working environment. For women who have experienced sexual harassment in their own workplace, their advice has proven to be a great learning tool and their bravery to step forward amidst a negative workplace situation is likely to help others in the same scenario. If you have, are, or know someone who is experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace, you are not alone. The following are some useful pieces of advice for women who believe they are being harrassed.

Consult your employee handbook or policies. If your employer has a sexual harassment policy in place, follow it.
Document. Put complaints in writing. Take notes on the harassment and be specific in your details — note the time and place of each incident, what was said and done including your responses, and who witnessed the actions.
Address directly. If you feel safe speaking directly to the person harassing you, it can be empowering to address that person directly. Take these steps:
Explain what behavior is bothering you. Name the behavior and be specific. Tell the harasser that their attention or behavior is bothering you. Ask the harasser to stop the behavior.
Inform your supervisor or higher authority. Tell your supervisor about the behavior and the steps you have taken to address it. If your supervisor is not available or is not responsive or trustworthy, seek out an individual with sufficient authority over your harrasser or the human resources department.
File a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If you believe you have a Title VII claim, you have the right to file a discrimination complaint with the EEOC, the federal agency charged with enforcing many anti-discrimination laws. Be aware you have only 180 days (six months) from the date of the discriminatory activity to file a discrimination charge. You do not need an attorney to file a complaint. The EEOC’s website offers instructions on filing a charge. For students, contact your campus' Title IX Coordinator or the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

National Hotlines & Resources
9 to 5: National Association of Working Women 1-800-522-0925
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 1-800-669-4000
Equal Rights Advocates 415-621-0672 1800-839-4372 24 hr line: 415-621-0505
AAUW Know Your Rights: Workplace Sexual Harassment
Feminist Majority Foundation: Sexual Harrassment

Support Group for Victims of Harrassment

Graduate Women in Science would like to provide a support group for victims of sexual harrassment. If you have been affected by harrassment and would like to discuss and share resources with other women in a private, safe, on-line environment, please contact Broadcaster editor, Jane Sharer Maier.

Kappa Rho announces Hershey Award Winner

 Taryn Mockus, a Neuroscience Graduate Student at Penn State Hershey College of Medicine is the recipient of the GWIS Hershey Award. Taryn has founded and organized various groups that help women on campus and in the community including the “Graduate Student Project Fellowship” group for science eduction of elementary school girls and  the "Near Peer Mentoring Program” to facilitate the interaction of summer undergraduates with graduate students. Taryn's research examines the effect of gamma interferon on the progression of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in the brain.

GWIS Reminders

Our 2016 SDE-GWIS Fellowships Are Now Open!

The SDE-GWIS National Fellowships Program offers Fellowships in aid of research to encourage women in the sciences. Graduate students, postdocs and early career faculty women holding a degree and conducting hypothesis-driven research anywhere in the world are welcome to apply. Endowment funds provide the available funds each year, and the number of awarded Fellowships will thus vary from year to year. Last year SDE-GWIS distributed $75,000 in funds to ten outstanding women scientists. Application for the SDE-GWIS Fellowships is offered at no cost to current GWIS members, as a member benefit. For non-members, an application processing fee of $50 is required. We will be receiving applications until 11:59 pm on January 8th, 2016. Winners will be notified in mid-July 2016. If you have any questions, please contact the SDE-GWIS Fellowships Coordinator Vicky Cattani at cattani@gwis.org.

Accepting Nominations for Honorary Members

We all know of women in the scientific community who are all-stars. Whether you saw them give a sublime presentation at a conference or have had the opportunity to interact with them through mentorship, these women embody what Sigma Delta Epsilon stands for. Now is your chance to nominate this very important person for the Honorary Membership Award. This award is for women scientists who have excelled at research and/or teaching. Nominating your choice couldn't be simpler! Just fill out the nomination form and hit submit! Why not nominate an amazing woman scientist today?

Call for National Officer Nominations

Nominations are being taken for the following National GWIS Offices:
President-Elect; Serves one year, automatically advances to President
Vice-President; Serves one year, advances by election to President-Elect
Member of the Board of Directors; Serves a 5 year term with fifth year as Chair, usually a past National GWIS Officer
Omega Chapter Committee Member; Serves a three year term with third year as Chair
Nominating Committee Member; Serves a three year term with third year as Chair
Treasurer; Serves a two year term
Corresponding and Recording Secretary; Serves a two year term

Nominees must be in good standing with dues paid, and must subscribe to the objectives of GWIS. Forms must be received by the Nominating Committee no later than 5:00 pm on January 15, 2016.

Evidence that Women Who Lean In Make an Impact

A new study shows that women are able to overcome the predisposition to give men more credit for their leadership abilities, by being more forceful when organizing the team's work, suggesting creative ways to tackle problems and going outside the team for new resources. The study, recently published in the Academy of Management Journal, found that when women were more assertive with these tasks, they were rated higher by their teammates in a survey of 181 MBA candidates (72% or whom were men) working on team projects at large research universities. The study upholds the principle popularized by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg in her book Lean In, that women should "lean in" rather than "hold ourselves back in ways both big and small by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back."
Business Insider

Social Media, Science, and Gender

Sexist journal reviews, Geoff Marcy, #Distractinglysexy, and #SciShirt; social media has enabled an increasingly public discussion about the persistent problem of sexism in science, providing a sense of solidarity and community for women across disciplines. Research has shown when women tweet about sexism, it improves their sense of well-being. Downsides include the exclusion of smaller minority groups and internet backlashes that can leave some women feeling harrassed and unsafe. [Note: For safe discussions, the GWIS Facebook site is visited mainly by women ;) ]
Nature

Abundant STREAM Gifts for Girls

The hot acronym in toys is now STREAM (Stem, Tech, Robotics, Engineering, Art, and Math) GoldiBlox is still a big seller, but more options have been introduced for toys marketed to girls this year. Included are toys for building girl-friendly objects such as dollhouses, ferris wheels, and robots with all the bells and whistles, including lessons in coding. Lottie Dolls and Project MC2 and even Barbie are getting real with dolls dressed for astronomy, lab sciences, paleontology, and medicine. Programmable bracelets allow girls to communicate with their friends and parents using an iOS or Android app.
Huffington Post
Scientific American
Fortune

New Study Shows Little Difference Between Men and Women's Brains

Researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel used existing sets of MRI brain images and data from diffusion tensor imaging to measure the volume of gray matter and white matter in the brains of more than 1400 individuals. They found all brains seem to share a patchwork of forms; some that are more common in males, some in females, or some in both. The team also analyzed two large datasets that evaluated highly gender stereotypical behaviors and found individuals were just as variable for these measures.
Science
PNAS

UNESCO Science Report: Towards 2030

The sixth edition of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) global science report was released on November 10th. Global investment in research and development continues to rise, particularly in China, but research focus is shifting from basic to applied. An entire chapter is devoted to examining the persistent gender gap in science as women continue to fall behind, constituting a minority of only 28% of researchers worldwide. “Each step up the ladder of the scientific research system sees a drop in female participation until, at the highest echelons of scientific research and decision-making, there are very few women left.”
UNESCO Science Report

"Even a broken system cannot break a whole woman."
— Dana Theus, InPower Women

Get Involved with SDE-GWIS!

Support and be part of a growing network of women scientists.

About SDE-GWIS

Founded in 1921, Sigma Delta Epsilon-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 20 active chapters of over 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.

Contact SDE-GWIS

SDE/GWIS
PO Box 580140
Minneapolis, MN 55458
www.gwis.org

President: Laura Havens
SDE Broadcaster Editor: Jane Sharer Maier
Membership Secretary: Laura Arneson

©2015 Sigma Delta Epsilon/ Graduate Women in Science. All rights reserved.

Our 2016 SDE-GWIS Fellowships Are Now Open!

The SDE-GWIS National Fellowships Program offers Fellowships in aid of research to encourage women in the sciences. Graduate students, postdocs and early career faculty women holding a degree and conducting hypothesis-driven research anywhere in the world are welcome to apply. Endowment funds provide the available funds each year, and the number of awarded Fellowships will thus vary from year to year. Last year SDE-GWIS distributed $75,000 in funds to ten outstanding women scientists. Application for the SDE-GWIS Fellowships is offered at no cost to current GWIS members, as a member benefit. For non-members, an application processing fee of $50 is required. We will be receiving applications until 11:59 pm on January 8th, 2016. Winners will be notified in mid-July 2016. If you have any questions, please contact the SDE-GWIS Fellowships Coordinator Vicky Cattani at cattani@gwis.org.

One in a Million: Sarah Ballard
- Rising astrophysicist shares her career journey which has included making time to mentor others

Sarah Ballard is fresh into her new position as Torres Postdoctoral Fellow at the MIT Kavli Institute. Her discoveries in the hot field of exoplanetary research have allowed her to rise far and fast in her young career, being notable for having discovered four exoplanets before she turned 30 years old, using transit-timing variation. Her work has been spotlighted in the scientific and national media including Nature, Discovery, Space, Time, NBC News, and NPR's Science Friday, and just recently she was honored with a L'Oreal Women in Science Fellowship (see News section below). Beyond her scientific achievements, however, Sarah distinguishes herself in her willingness to give back to the community in her commitment to engaging the public and in encouraging other women in science. Her personal website details her advisory roles she embraced while pursuing her PhD as a student at Harvard and later as a NASA Carl Sagan Fellow at the University of Washington. She has also developed podcasts with another astrophysicist friend, which advise on navigating and surviving science culture, and has addressed Imposter Syndrome through workshops which she shares on her website.

We were able to connect with Sarah this past week to find out how mentoring has helped shape Sarah's career journey and how she feels compelled to give back.

What inspired you to enter your field of exoplanetary astrophysics and what do you like best about your research?

Almost everything about my academic path was an accident, from my exoplanet speciality to studying astronomy at all. I thought I'd major in Gender Studies in college, and I only took Introduction to Astronomy as a freshman because of a physical science requirement. I changed my whole trajectory to major in astrophysics at UC Berkeley because of how much I loved that class. Then, five years later as a first year graduate student in astronomy at Harvard, an exoplanetary professor reached out to me about a project he had cooking. That was for EPOXI, the first NASA mission I ever worked on, and the first exoplanet research I did. I picked it at the time because he pitched it so effectively: EPOXI might be able to detect rings and moons of exoplanets! This was so exciting to me. I was considering projects in cosmology and also in the formation of stars, but the exoplanet research beckoned! EPOXI never ended up detecting any exoplanet rings or moons-- we still haven't in subsequent NASA missions. But it was my first taste of exoplanets.

Did you have one or more mentors that inspired you during your career journey? If so, what was particularly effective about their mentoring?

I do have mentors! Like most women who end up pursuing advanced degrees in the physical sciences (I'm referencing the National Academies' Beyond Bias and Barriers study from 2005), I did so because people whom I respected urged me to. In contrast, our male peers tend to report that they pursued STEM careers because they felt capable, or able to make a meaningful contribution. In this sense, mentoring is a singular factor informing the choices of young women scientists. I'll focus on two instances of drive-by mentoring! I was fortunate to have very patient and thoughtful research advisors (both men), but other people, and particularly other women, played important roles at crucial junctures. In both of the examples I'm thinking of, I learned something about uniting emotional intelligence and self-awareness with ambition. I think this is why these memories were so strong and so formative. In one case, I met with a counselor at Letters & Science at UC Berkeley when I was 18. I saw her only one time, but her advice shaped my entire life. I was really overwhelmed and agitated about whether I should change my major to astronomy. I loved my astronomy class dearly: I never missed a lecture and printed star charts out in my dorm. But years of physics coursework loomed ahead, and I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to do it. She asked me to tell her "how it feels to do astronomy." I described my joy and excitement without reservation, and she replied, "that's what it feels like when you find the thing you're supposed to do." Even the fact that I could trust my own instincts and capabilities was news to 18-year-old Sarah. My second example was many years later: I was now a senior at Berkeley and was visiting prospective graduate programs. One of these programs was at the University of Washington. I had a partner at that time who was interested in his own graduate training too, in social work. The consideration of proximity to him was weighing heavily on me at the time. A professor in UW's astronomy department met with me, and asked me about how I was handling that situation. It was the only time a senior astronomer asked me about this aspect of my life, even though it was crucial to my decision-making process. She offered to call the social work department at Washington to inquire about his application, or even to ask about a scholarship for me that would enable me financially to go visit him more often. I was floored by this entire interaction. I felt that she saw me as a fully integrated human being, and not just for my capability in astronomy. She offered me a story about all of the women professors she knew, and how (to the very last woman) their male partners had made career sacrifices for them. This was the first time that anyone in professional astronomy spoke to me about work/life balance with respect to relationships, and she did it with respect and patience. I longed to be like her, and that feeling has not faded with time.

 Your website describes your previous mentoring roles. What proportion of your time do you spend mentoring other students? Can you describe some specific examples of when you have found it most rewarding?

 In the course of my academic path to date, I have mentoring stories from research angles, and from more personal angles. I'll share a story from earlier this year, when I met up with a young woman who was considering the PhD program in astronomy at Harvard. This was the program I attended. We both happened to be in the Bay Area, so I drove out to a cafe in Oakland to meet her in person. She was grappling with almost the same questions that I was grappling with when I was thinking about graduate school: she longed to have a holistically *good* experience in graduate school, and to balance her graduate training with regular life. Like me, she wasn't sure how much to trust this instinct, or whether to be purely "professional" about the decision (I put "professional" in quotes because I think well-being is an integral part of scientific productivity, so it's silly to consider them as separate things). I tried to guide her as the women in the stories above guided me: they urged me to trust my own instincts. I told her that her own feelings were deeply informative-- more informative, when all was said and done, than those of her own mentors, parents, or partners. I think good mentoring isn't about telling someone how to navigate a situation. Rather, good mentoring involves affirming to them that they are capable decision makers. These are such rich and meaningful moments to me. My absolute favorite part of my job is trying to be the woman I needed when I was younger. Whenever I feel that I have been that person for another young woman, I am filled with satisfaction and joy.

Like all activities, being a good mentor is something that improves with experience. What have you found works best for mentoring? What doesn’t work?

This is something I'm still learning! What I know now does not work is to commit to mentor a person when you don't have the time or emotional energy to add it to your plate. I've put too much on my plate more than once, and I think I've really let students down. It's painful to remember, which I hope reminds me to only make mentoring commitments that I know I can keep (rather than those I'd *like* to keep).

You have taught workshops on Impostor Syndrome since graduate school. Do you think Impostor Syndrome can interfere with a scientist’s decision to be a mentor? What would you say to those who avoid mentoring because they think their advice would not be valuable?

I think Impostor Syndrome can interfere with almost everything! It's so insidious and sneaky. To those who might be avoiding mentoring because they fear their own inadequacy, I'd say first: I totally understand that feeling. I once had to leave an undergraduate research symposium, in which three students I advised were presenting posters, because a professor pointed out that an error bar was nonsensical on one of their plots. I had to take a long walk and go sit outside, because I was so overcome with guilt about leading students astray with my sub-par research and mentoring skills!! That was such a strong impostor moment, and to be honest, I still grapple with those thoughts. The guiding principle I use in mentoring, which I think I mentioned above already, is to be the person you needed then. Did I need perfection in a mentor when I was 20? No. I needed someone who would teach me to trust my own capability, and offer praise and encouragement. Imperfection in those I admire made me feel human and sane; and as little as I sometimes worry I know now, I knew even less then! So I have something to share. I also like to remember, especially as a woman scientist: young women will be watching, no matter what. They're trying to understand the world and their role in it, and imagine what they might be capable of. I owe it to them to just try my very best, at mentoring and and everything else.

GWIS Has Joined the Million Women Mentors Movement!

Million Women Mentors is a collaboration of partners across the nation working to support the mission of engaging one million science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) mentors to increase interest and engagement of girls and women in STEM programs and careers. By making the pledge to join Million Women Mentors, each mentor commits to spending at minimum 20 hours working with a mentee over the course of one year. This can include a combination of face-to-face, online, telephone, or other types of interactions. Mentors have the option of CONNECTING with mentees through the Million Women Mentors web portal with one of 58 partners representing over 30 million girls and women across the nation. This portal is ideal for chapters looking to broaden their outreach and engagement with their local community. Alternatively, mentors have the option of counting EXISTING mentorships established through their own contacts (e.g., research assistants, mentees through organizations such as GWIS, student mentees). Meaning, if you currently are mentoring a girl or woman in science, you can count that towards your Million Women Mentors pledge. All you need to do is sign up and track the pledge! To sign up as a mentor with Million Women Mentors as an affiliate of GWIS, please use the link below. You simply need to create a MWM profile and make your pledge. Alternatively, if you already have a MWM profile, please consider becoming an affiliate of GWIS by entering the following PIN in your Million Women Mentors profile: 684894302-3276. For more information please visit www.millionwomenmentors.org or feel free to email the Omega Committee at omega@gwis.org.

Iota Chi: A New Chapter Emerges in Iowa City

“So, what should we call our ourselves?” It was July 23, 2014. Our then-unnamed chapter had spent most of its very first meeting electing officers, forming committees, and sharing ideas for potential networking, outreach, and social events to bring women in science together at the University of Iowa. Amy Belfi and Gina Moreno, our President and National Liaison for that inaugural year, had already put significant effort into making this first meeting successful. They had emailed women graduate students they already knew, and told us about GWIS (many of us heard of GWIS for the first time this way). At this first meeting, Amy and Gina devoted some time to describing the history, accomplishments, and prestige of the national GWIS organization. They also brought along the by-laws of the the thriving Beta chapter to provide us some initial structure. This was very useful and allowed members to make an informed decision about how we would contribute to the success of our newly formed chapter: Iota Chi. The name was chosen not only for our location (Iowa City), but the abbreviation (IX) is a callback to Title IX legislation which was key in promoting higher education opportunities for women.

Iota Chi’s first year of membership was primarily filled with our peers in our departments, and one faculty member. This had the benefits of making logistics easy for our committee meetings, and we were lucky that our faculty member, Professor Julie Gros-Louis, had already been involved with GWIS. Indeed, this sparked the idea for our best Professional Development event, with nearly 20 people in attendance: Julie led a fantastic workshop on GWIS fellowships opportunities. Having a faculty mentor among the members of Iota Chi was incredibly beneficial, and we strongly recommend having a strong presence of women faculty.

Of course, we had many other successful events entirely planned by our graduate student members. Our Social Committee’s events, whether picnics in the park or holiday parties at the grad-student preferred pub, always ranked highest for attendance. Our Outreach Chair, Rachel Clark, worked with our city’s senior citizen center to allow Iota Chi members to give research-focused talks to a curious and attentive audience. Our events were nicely spread out through the year – the result of deciding, at that very first meeting, which committees would have events in which month. We also decided on a shared governance system in which officers and committees would have significant access to each other’s schedules and event planning documents. This allowed great transparency and follow-through for our events, and we try to maintain that structure today.

This year we’re excited to say that our members’ scientific fields are more diverse. This may partially be an effect of partnering with the Graduate College staff who routinely invite our members to events specifically for graduate students (e.g., how to write a successful fellowships application). These events are an opportunity to promote Iota Chi’s activities and the fellowships it offers. Our members certainly appreciate benefits like having easy opportunities for outreach, but as our membership among graduate students, postdocs, and faculty continues to grow, many of us feel that the largest benefit of being a GWIS member with a local chapter is the simple presence of a network of supportive women in science. As our chapter continues its second year, we are continually reminded that its success is a direct result of the time, effort, and heart of its members.

- Contributed by Nicole Jardine

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Alpha Lambda Omega showcases female scientists at SOEST event

The GWIS ALO-HA chapter officers and eleven members volunteered at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) Open House. Held on campus at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, this institution-wide, biannual, 2-day outreach event attracts several thousand attendees. One of 65 exhibitors, ALO-HA chapter showcased a variety of scientific work done by female scientists from the past and present through hands-on activities, interactive demonstration, and presentations engaging elementary, middle school, and high school students.

Eta chapter presents CV workshop, participates in Women in Science Mixer

The GWIS Eta chapter held its annual CV workshop at the Near North Public Library on October 26, 2015. This workshop, led this year by Eta president Jacklynn Fitzgerald, provided an interactive discussion on how to tailor CVs for academic and research track positions in the sciences. There was a short discussion about how a CV could be formatted, organized, and developed from the perspective of faculty search committees. All attendees brought their CVs and evaluated them as the discussion progressed. 

Charlene McCord, treasurer of the Eta GWIS Chapter, was a panelist on the first annual Field Museum Women in Science Mixer on October 8, 2015. Roughly 60 attendees joined the four panelists for a productive and positive discussion of how to empower and promote women in diverse STEM fields.

Alpha Upsilon inspires future scientists

The Alpha Upsilon chapter at Auburn University hosted the 3rd annual Jr Mad Scientist outreach event on Monday, October 26, 2015. The event featured an open house appeal with 24 booths set up with scientific make-and-take projects, demonstrations, and activities. Attendees ranged in age from 4 years through 5th grade and collected passport stickers when they completed activities. Passports were then entered into a raffle for science-themed door prizes. GWIS members sponsored the booths and mentored undergraduate women in STEM students throughout the planning and event execution. Approximately 150 attended the event.

Iota Chi celebrates member successes

Dr. Trina Roberts has been named Director of the University of Iowa Pentacrest Museum. This includes the Museum of Natural History, which has stood for over 150 years. We also celebrate the success of Professor Julie Gros-Louis, who was recently awarded an NSF grant to study how parental responses to infants' vocalizations can guide infants' attention, and how this process affects language development.

A Time to Give Thanks
- from GWIS President, Laura Havens

Thanksgiving is almost here, and with it the perfect opportunity to take a step back and reflect on those things that we are most thankful for (besides the gigantic portions of turkey and pumpkin pie!). In that spirit I wanted to take a moment to thank a few GWIS members who have had an amazing impact in my life. I'm hoping that my story will remind you of your own!

A couple of years into my graduate school career at UW-Madison, I went through a very rough personal time and found myself a little bit lost and in need of a support system. I had my laboratory coworkers, of course, but that didn’t seem like the community I was looking for. I came across a flyer for a GWIS social hour organized by the Beta chapter, and I decided to attend. I was one of only five people there, all of which seemed to know each other very well. Despite the initial hesitation of being the outsider, Gabriella March and Tess Killpack made me feel right at home. Before I even knew it we were making plans for new activities, ways to reach more women and even attend the following weekend’s roller derby. I left that night knowing that I wanted to be a part of GWIS and in less than three months I had joined as vice president of the chapter. It was the best decision I could have ever made. The last three years of my graduate career flew by, full of great science, fun outreach activities, social hours and new friends.

When it was time for me to start thinking about leaving graduate school, and knowing that I would not stay in Madison after graduation, the idea of getting involved in National crossed my mind, but I quickly rejected the thought because I didn’t think I was qualified for it. Luckily for me, Tina Hill, a Beta member that was National’s President- Elect at the time, sat me down in front of a cup of hot chocolate and convinced me that my insecurities were unfounded and that it would be a great opportunity. And she couldn't have been more right!

For the past three years I have made many wonderful friends all over the U.S., I have had the chance to learn from amazing and accomplished women and to develop my organizational and leadership skills (which come in very handy when you are interviewing for a job!). And this year I have the honor to be leading this organization. I wouldn't be here today without Gabriella, Tess, Tina and many others - and so, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, thank you for what you've done for me.

I hope you take a moment this holiday season to thank the people who have helped you get where you are today. On behalf of GWIS we would like to thank YOU. Whether you give advice, time, support, money, or anything else, we would be nothing without you!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Laura

Consider a donation to GWIS

Your contributions to GWIS strengthen us to better serve our members. You can also donate your time by serving as an officer, as a member of a national committee, or within your local chapter. Visit our website for more information!

Life Science Salary Survey

An on-line survey of over 4,700 life scientists looked at salary comparisons between fields, age and experience, geographical regions, sectors, and gender. Findings included having a Ph.D. does garner higher salaries, biotechnology and clinical research are the most lucrative life science fields, and U.S. women earn 74% of what men do.
The Scientist

Powerful Women Deliver Sage Advice at Annual Summit

Fortune's 17th annual Most Powerful Women Summit brought together preeminent women in business, government, philanthropy, education, and the arts for networking and exchange of ideas. One speaker indicated women too often focus on what they will lose when presented with a new opportunity and another cited career growth means being comfortable with discomfort. Of note, four out of the top five women on the list hold bachelors degrees in science and engineering fields: General Motors CEO Mary Barra (electrical engineering), Pepsi-Co CEO Indra Nooyi (physics, chemistry and mathematics), IBM CEO Ginni Rommetty (computer science and electrical engineering), and former DuPont CEO Ellen Kullman (mechanical engineering).
Washington Post

L'Oreal Women in Science Fellowship Recipients Shine

Five female postdoctoral scientists have been awarded grants of $60,000 each for their contributions in STEM fields that include condensed matter physics, synthetic biology, and astrophysics.  and for their activities to serving as role models for younger generations. Candidates were evaluated based on their intellectual merit, research potential, scientific excellence and their commitment to supporting women and girls in science.
U.S. News & World Report

Keep Your Cool

An Arizona State University study showed women actually lose influence when they allow anger into an argument whereas men's anger influences others more strongly in their favor.
ASU News

Share your photos!

Do you enjoy photography? Submit a photo to be featured in future issues of the Broadcaster. Of special interest are seasonal shots that depict landmarks or geographical features special to your location, interesting patterns in science and nature, women engaged in their scientific research, and we can't get enough of women wearing our "This is what a scientist looks like." T-shirt! Send photos to Jane Sharer Maier at jsmaier@gwis.org.

"Science is not a boy's game, it's not a girl's game. It's everyone's game. It's about where we are and where we're going."
— Nichelle Nichols, former NASA ambassador

Get Involved with SDE-GWIS!

Support and be part of a growing network of women scientists.

About SDE-GWIS

Founded in 1921, Sigma Delta Epsilon-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 20 active chapters of over 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.

Contact SDE-GWIS

SDE/GWIS
PO Box 580140
Minneapolis, MN 55458
www.gwis.org

President: Laura Havens
SDE Broadcaster Editor: Jane Sharer Maier
Membership Secretary: Laura Arneson

©2015 Sigma Delta Epsilon/ Graduate Women in Science. All rights reserved.