Dec WIS Meeting 7-9pm 4110 VLSB Yamana Science and Technology Third Space

Join us for the final Women in Science meeting of the semester on December 5, 7-9pm in 4110 VLSB.  This month we will hear from Kennan Salinero, ED and President of Yamana Science and Technology, and Jack Bulat, co-presenter and current MCB grad student.  Yamana is an organization that envisions a science culture where both people and ideas flourish in the presence of effective support, balanced lifestyles, and thriving workplaces.  Yamana's Third Space interactive event is designed in three parts. First, the presenters will share a short biographical sketch, up close and personal, to open up the space. We will then present some of the current trends and statistics that we have gathered regarding employment, workplace dynamics, and other aspects of science in the United States. The final part will entail a creative exercise to explore possibilities for the future of science and the systems which support it.  A volunteer opportunity for interested grad students will also be discussed (see attachment).

When: Dec 5, 7-9pm

Where: VLSB 4110

Who:   Graduate students, post-docs, faculty, and staff are all welcome. 

*If possible, please RSVP to thammond [at] berkeley (or by replying to this email).*

Bring your plate, cup, and utensils to reduce waste. This meeting is generously funded by the Graduate Assembly and the Department of Integrative Biology.  If you have any questions, or would like to be on our listserve, please contact any of the IB WIS organizers.

Looking forward to seeing you at our next meeting!

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Postdocs on Parade - Nov 14 Meeting Minutes

We heard from a number of current or soon-to-be postdocs who graciously shared their wisdom and helped to compile the following list about finding, funding and choosing a postdoc, and about work/life balance once you get a postdoc.  Thanks to all who came for a great discussion!

Finding a postdoc

-The #1 answer: Networking!

-Ask professors and current postdocs for suggestions and application examples

-Throughout grad school, go to as many conferences/meetings as possible and make connections...

-Narrowing the search: three main ways to initially pick potential postdoc lab:
(more after the jump)

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IB WIS Meeting - Nov 14 @ 1pm - Postdocs on Parade!

Please join us for November's Women in Science meeting on Nov. 14th from 1-2:30 pm in 4110 VLSB.  This month the theme will be "Postdocs on Parade"; we will discuss the process of getting and acquiring funding for a postdoc, work/life balance during the postdoc, and how to strategically plan postdocs to help prepare for the job search. A panel of current Berkeley post-docs will discuss their experiences with these issues.

When:  Nov 14, 1-2:30

Where: VLSB 4110

Who:   Graduate students, post-docs, faculty, and staff are all welcome. 

*If possible, please RSVP to thammond [at] berkeley [dot] edu*

Bring your plate, cup, and utensils to reduce waste. This meeting is generously funded by the Graduate Assembly and the Department of Integrative Biology.

If you have any questions, or would like to be on our listserve, please contact any of the IB WIS organizers.  Looking forward to seeing you at our next meeting!

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The role of feminine charm in the negotiating process for women

A recent study from the Haas School of Business has found that feminine charm aids women when they are negotiating. Numerous studies have documented that women face a "double-bind" when they negotiate. If they act assertively in their best interests (a winning strategy for men), they are perceived as unlikable and consequently pay a negotiating penalty. If they fail to negotiate assertively, their interests are not taken seriously and their negotiation outcomes are poor (1, 2, 3). The authors of this recent study suggest that the use of feminine charm, a combination of friendly and flirtatious behavior, simultaneously communicates personal agency and willingness to cooperate with negotiating partners, allowing women to escape this "double-bind". Read more at:

The Daily Californian: Flirting improves chances of successful negotiations, Haas study finds

Kray LJ, Locke CC, and Van Zant AB. (2012) Feminine Charm: An Experimental Analysis of its Costs and Benefits in Negotiations. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 38(10): 1343 - 1357.

Works Cited:

1. Rudman L. A. (1998). Self-promotion as a risk factor for women: The costs and benefits of counterstereotypical impression management. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 629-645.

2. Rudman L. A., Glick P. (1999). Feminized management and backlash toward agentic women: The hidden costs to women of a kinder, gentler image of middle managers. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77, 1004-1010.

3. Bowles H. R., Babcock L., Lai L. (2007). Social incentives for gender differences in the propensity to initiate negotiations: Sometimes it does hurt to ask.Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 103, 84-103.

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Meeting Minutes - Oct. 10 2012 - Biases in Science

RACIAL BIASES

• Minorities are underrepresented in STEM fields 
• Socioeconomic status and race are often related; the playing field is not level
• In other fields, a resume with a stereotypically black name will elicit lower hiring success than the very same resume with a stereotypically white name (Bertrand and Mullainathan 2003).

GENDER BIASES

• Women are underrepresented in STEM fields

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IB WIS Meeting on Gender, Race, and Subconscious Bias in Academic Science, 10/10, 1pm, 4110 VLSB

Please join IB Women in Science for a lunchtime discussion about gender, race, and subconscious bias in academia on Wednesday, October 10th from 1pm to 2:30pm in 4110 VLSB. We will be discussing the recent, highly controversial PNAS article "Science faculty's subtle gender biases favor male students" by Moss-Racusin et al., as well as research on subtle racial biases in science, over a delicious meal of Thai food. One goal of the meeting is to create a list of ways that individual scientists, departments, and universities can mitigate the effects of subconscious bias. Please RSVP to Sofia Chang (swchang at berkeley.edu) so that we know how much food to order.

You can find the PNAS article here: http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/09/14/1211286109.abstract

Other recent coverage of the article:
Bias persists against women in science, a study finds (NY Times)
Room for Debate: Breaking the bias against women in science (NY Times)
Even scientists are sexist as hell (Gawker)
Scientists, your gender bias is showing (Discover Magazine)

This is event is sponsored by the UC Berkeley Graduate Assembly.

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Miss Representation screening, Weds, 9/12 at 7pm

Please join IB Women in Science for a screening of the hit documentary Miss Representation, a contraversial film about the portrayal of women in the media, on Wednesday, Sept. 12th. We will provide the movie, lots of yummy snacks, and opportunities for discussion - you just need to bring yourself (and maybe a first year labmate)! Everyone is welcome - the issues that face women in science face us all, directly or indirectly.

When: Wednesday, Sept. 12th, 7-9pm
Where: 2063 VLSB
Who:   Graduate students, post-docs, faculty, and staff are all welcome. Please RSVP to wrightml@berkeley.edu so that we know how many people to expect!

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Where are the women in Ecology?

A new letter published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment looks at gender inequality in authorship.

ESA Article: Laura Jane Martin

Using authors published in Ecology in 2011, Laura Jane Martin compared the differences between men and women in the number of papers authored, author position (lead or last), and acknowledged field assistants. Have a look to read what she found.

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Diversity in Academia

A video from our very own Dr. Rebecca Calisi: an IB alumn and current post-doc at UC Davis.

Video: Why We Need to Broaden Participation in Science

She made this short video to address why we need diversity in the sciences. She interviewed Prof. John Wingfield (UC Davis, and Assistant Director for Biological Sciences at the National Science Foundation) as well as three UC Berkeley professors (Profs. Carlos Bustamante, Tyrone Hayes, and Erica Bree Rosenblum) on broadening participation in the sciences. 

The interviews center on three general areas in promoting diversity in the academy-- enriching the sciences through diverse life trajectories, committing to studying issues related to underrepresented groups, and practicing institutional sensitivity to the needs and experiences of diverse groups emerging in the sciences.

Dr. Calisi presented this this video at the request of Prof. Zuleyma Tang-Martinez (UMSL) this summer at the 49th annual meeting of the Animal Behavior Society, and it was well received - by both older, more established professors wanting to discuss in-depth policy changes, and younger students, some very emotional, grateful for recognition and support.

 

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Why Women Still Can't Have It All

A new article published in The Atlantic, by Anne-Marie Slaughter, looks at the realities and myths of achieving work-life balance and proposes changes to improve access to leadership positions for women who also want a life (healthy relationships, family, activities).

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-can-8217-t-have-it-all/9020/

Join the discussion, and share your comments.

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IB WIS End-of-Semester Ice Cream Social - Tue May 8th @ 5pm!

Please join us this Tuesday (tomorrow!) for the IB Women in Science end-of-semester event. Ice cream will be provided and beer will be offered for a small donation. Come have a sundae or a drink, meet those in neighboring departments, support our group, and find out about how you can be involved! If you are not a woman in science, chances are you know/work with/are married to one. The issues that face women in science face us all, directly or indirectly. IBWIS hosts monthly meetings during the Spring and Fall semesters, and would love to extend the invitation to students, post-docs, faculty, staff, and those in other departments. Come to the event tomorrow to learn more about our group and how you can be involved.

When: Tuesday, May 8, 5-7pm
Where: VLSB courtyard (or 2063 if it's raining)
Who:   Graduate students, post-docs, faculty, and staff are all welcome.


Bring your plate, cup, and utensils to reduce waste. This meeting is generously funded by the Graduate Assembly and the Department of Integrative Biology.  If you have any questions, or would like to be on our listserve, please contact any of the IB WIS organizers.

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April 10th Meeting Minutes - Dr. Bree Rosenblum

At our April meeting, Dr. Erica Bree Rosenblum, who joined ESPM this semester as an Assistant Professor, shared sage advice about interviewing, writing, balancing family life with academia, and being a successful faculty member with IBWIS members. Dr. Rosenblum's biography and minutes from the April meeting are now posted online!

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Upcoming Meeting with Dr. Erica Bree Rosenblum, April 10th, 1:00pm

When: TUESDAY April 10th, 1:00-2:30
Where: 2063 VLSB
Who:   Graduate students, post-docs, faculty, and staff are all welcome. 
What: This month we will hear from new Assistant Professor in ESPM, Dr. Erica Bree Rosenblum.  Dr. Rosenblum completed her PhD at UC Berkeley in the MVZ and taught as an Assistant Professor at the University of Idaho before returning to Berkeley.  She is the recipient of an NSF CAREER award and her research, which focuses on biodiversity, speciation and extinction in reptiles and amphibians of the western US, has been funded by both NSF and NIH grants.  Dr. Rosenblum also has two young children and an academic husband; she will speak to us about navigating different career and life stages and being successful as a woman in science.


If possible, please RSVP to thammond [at] berkeley [dot] edu


Bring your plate, cup, and utensils to reduce waste. This meeting is generously funded by the Graduate Assembly and the Department of Integrative Biology.

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Field Research Resources

For our March meeting on field research, we gathered a number of field season planning resources that our members might find helpful. We are publishing these resources in this document and below the fold.

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March 14th Meeting Minutes - Fieldwork

Women in Science Meeting 

March 14th, 2012

Topic: Fieldwork 

I. Introductions

-Student panelists 

-Maria Padilla:

• Campus Climate and Compliance Office
• Importance of talking and bringing up issues early after they arise; preventative action

II. How to set up field work/connections for field sites

-Apply for fellowships early

-Fulbright

-Moorea/other Berkeley stations

-GSIing Moorea course

-Write lots of emails

-Look at authors of papers you’re interested in

-Government sources

-Talk to museums to access field notes

-Talk to groups that work where you want to to get your foot in the door

-Go on a training trip/field course to get started and make connections

III. How to pick a field site

(Much more after the jump!)

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Graduate Women's Project Study Hall/Clothing Swap

The Graduate Women's Project at Berkeley is hosting a study hall and clothing swap event (with food!) this Saturday, March 17th, 10am-4pm at Anthony Hall.  Here's the announcement from the Graduate Women's Project coordinator:

The Graduate Women's Project is having a special Study Hall this weekend. As always, a light breakfast and lunch are provided. Anthony Hall will be open from 10AM to 4PM on Saturday, March 17. Come and enjoy a quiet, comfortable place to study.  

In addition to the usual work session, we will be having the annual spring cleaning, closet exchange event. Everyone is encouraged to bring clothes, shoes and accessories that they are interested in trading/exchanging with others at the Study Hall. I will set up a table in the morning (probably on the patio) where folks can lay out their stuff and we can continue to trade throughout the day -- perhaps engaging in some more active interactions over lunch. 

Ground rules: 1) You don't have to bring anything to take something you really like -- but reciprocity works best, in general! 2) Anything left over at the end of the day will donated to a local battered women's shelter. 3) Please bring items for donation only in a separate bag.

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Upcoming Meeting on Fieldwork: March 14, 1:00 pm

When: March 14th, 1:00-2:30
Where: 2063 VLSB
Who:   Graduate students, post-docs, faculty, and staff are all welcome. 
What: At this meeting we will discuss fieldwork logistics, safety, and boundaries.  Graduate students will talk about their experiences with field work - good and bad.  We will discuss the problem solving skills necessary for planning and conducting the best field season possible.  Graduate students who have completed extensive field work are especially welcomed to come and discuss their experiences. 


If possible, please RSVP to thammond [at] berkeley [dot] edu


Bring your plate, cup, and utensils to reduce waste. This meeting is generously funded by the Graduate Assembly and the Department of Integrative Biology.

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Meeting Minutes - Feb 8th - Outreach

General Summary 8 Feb 2012 Meeting:
At this meeting we discussed our involvement in outreach activities, heard from Judy Scotchmoor about the UCMP outreach and education program, and heard about the upcoming Expanding Your Horizons conference at UC Berkeley on March 3rd.  (http://www.expandingyourhorizons.org/conferences/EYHBERKELEY/)

(Much more after the break!)

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Miss Representation screening, March 17th @1pm

There will be a local screening of the documentary Miss Representation hosted by the I.M.P.A.C.T. Alliance on March 17th at 1pm in 2050 VLSB.

Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Miss Representation exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America.  The film challenges the media's limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.

Miss Representationincludes stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists and academics like Condoleezza Rice, Lisa Ling, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Rosario Dawson, Jackson Katz, Jean Kilbourne, and Gloria Steinem.  The film offers startling facts and statistics that will leave audiences shaken and armed with a new perspective. 

You can see a trailer for the film here.

Tickets are available here.

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Motherhood and the Leaky Pipeline

Several new articles have come out this February on the leaky pipeline problem and the impacts of motherhood on women in science and engineering. 

Deborah Kaminski and Cheryl Geisler examined the effects of gender on faculty retention using a survival analysis in a Science publication (CHE summary here). They found that in STEM fields overall, gender did not affect faculty retention or promotion rates during the first 10 years of employment.  However, when they examined specific disciplines, they found that that in mathematics, women remain in academic positions for significantly less time than men. Although Kaminiski and Geisler believe that their conclusions indicate that STEM departments are headed toward gender parity, they also point out that due to the inertia caused by long faculty careers, it will take decades for the number of female faculty to reflect the number of women in the hiring pool and it may take as long as 100 years before women commonly represent 50% of the faculty in STEM departments.

In an article in American Scientist this month, Wendy Williams and Stephen Ceci provide an in depth review of the role of motherhood (or, in some cases, the desire for it) in causing the leaky pipeline. The article is complex and well-worth a read, but argues that of the most-often cited causes of the leaky pipeline (ability differences, career and lifestyle differences, sex discrimination), career preferences and lifestyle differences, especially the desire to have children, are the most important reasons that women leave the academic career trajectory at higher rates than men.

Citations

Kaminski D and Geisler C. 2012. Survival Analysis of Faculty Retention in Science and Engineering by Gender. Science. 335: 864.

Williams WM and Ceci SJ. 2012. When Scientists Choose Motherhood. American Scientist. http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/feature/2012/2/when-scientists-choose-motherhood/1. Accessed 2/22/2012.

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Expanding Your Horizons Conference - March 3rd

For the first time, UC Berkeley is hosting the Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) conference!  From the EYH website (link):

"Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) is a conference for girls in middle school from Berkeley and surrounding areas. This day-long event will include hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). At the conference, girls will get a chance to meet STEM role models and learn more about careers in those fields. Our ultimate goal is to motivate girls to become innovative and creative thinkers ready to meet 21st Century challenges."

The conference is on March 3rd, 2012 and starts at 8:30am.  If you're a student, professor or professional interested in volunteering at the conference or helping prepare beforehand, email: berkeleyEYH2012 [at] gmail [dot] com. 

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Exploring Alternative Careers in MCB 295: Life After Grad School!

Although many PhD students in the biological sciences enter graduate school with the clear goal of becoming a principle investigator at an R1 institution, by the time they graduate, their career goals have often changed. To facilitate an exploration of alternative careers, the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) here at UC Berkeley runs a seminar course in the spring called "Life after Grad School." The course brings in speakers from many different institutions who represent different career paths available to newly minted PhDs. MCB has just posted the Spring 2012 speaker schedule and it includes representatives from industry, museums, forensics, and smaller colleges. 


The seminar meets Tuesdays at 6pm in 101 Barker.

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Upcoming Meeting - Feb 8, 1:00pm, 2063 VLSB - Outreach

When: February 8, 1:00-2:30 pm

Where: 2063 VLSB

What: At this meeting, we will discuss and learn about academic outreach opportunities, including the Expanding Your Horizons conference at Berkeley.  We will also consider how outreach benefits communities and how it fits into scientific careers.

Join us for a meal and a great discussion!  All faculty, staff, graduate students and post-docs are welcome (male and female!).

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Welcome!

Welcome to the new Integrative Biology Women in Science website!  We'll keep this site up to date with information on upcoming meetings, minutes from past meetings, and blogs on relevant topics.  Please check back frequently for regular updates!

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