November/December 1997

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AWIS Recognition Awards Call for Nominations

Mary Alice Yund,

Co-chair, Membership

 

The NCC is seeking nominations for the AWIS Fourth Annual Recognition Awards to be presented in April, 1998. Awards will be presented to two women who have combined scientific achievement with support of other women in science. The Judith Poole award is given to a women established in her field; the Ellen Weaver award, to a woman early in her career.

Nominees need not be AWIS members. Scientific work may be in basic research or technological advancement in academia or industry. Service could be to the scientific community through professional societies or schools or to women directly through mentoring and career development. In honoring individual women, AWIS recognizes the importance of mentoring and teaching and sharing with others more than the content and techniques of our science.

Who has helped you or other women you know? Scientific achievements are generally readily discernible; assistance to other women's professional growth and career development is more difficult to see. To nominate a woman who merits recognition, send a letter of nomination explaining how the nominee meets the criteria for the award and a 1- to 2-page resume giving her educational background, current position, notable achievements in service to women in science, and key publications and patents. A full CV and bibliography is not necessary.

Send nominations to Mary Alice Yund, 723 Woodhaven Road, Berkeley, CA 94708. For more information, contact Mary Alice at (510) 525-1715 or yund@worldnet.att.net.

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Notes from the Prez

Susan Bernhard

President

If you haven't been to a chapter meeting lately, you really ought to check one out. Our chapter is jumping with new ideas, exciting new programs, and new people. Our meetings have the informal aura of a homecoming, with a friendly buzz as people greet one another while munching on supper before the program starts. Slowly but surely, we are building a community of women in science who know one another! My goal is to learn the name of one new person at each meeting; exchange business cards, phone numbers, or e-mail addresses, and then try to stay in touch.

I would like to encourage each of you to take a more active role in the chapter. Act as though AWIS is your home and the members are your sisters. When you come to a meeting, offer to help the Program committee set up chairs or trays of food, or help us straighten up afterwards. You will get a smile of thanks! You can help by greeting newcomers. Introduce yourself and get to know the people sitting near you. These simple, friendly gestures will make others feel welcome, and you'll feel more a part of AWIS too. Tell your friends about our meetings; post a meeting flyer in your lab or lunchroom. When you can, attend our various workshops, hikes, and other fun activities.

Volunteer with us, and you make the connection between each of us stronger. Welcome!

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Calling All AWIS Moms:

Help Promote Outreach Program in Schools

Ann Reisenauer

Vice-President and Chairperson, Outreach Committee

We need your help in publicizing the AWIS Education Outreach program to teachers in your kids' schools. We are putting together a flyer to distribute to teachers that describes our program and lists hands-on "science in a bag" activities that our scientist volunteers can bring to their classrooms.

If you would be willing to hand out these flyers to teachers in your kids' schools, please fill out and send the form below to: Ann Reisenauer, 3326 Kipling St., Palo Alto, CA 94306. If you have any questions, contact Ann at 650-494-9272 (home) or e-mail her at reisen@cmgm.stanford.edu Thank you for your time and support of our program.

I am willing to help distribute the AWIS Education Outreach flyer.

NAME: ________________________________________________

ADDRESS: _________________________________________________________________________

TEL: (_____) - _______________ work or home (please circle)

E-MAIL: _____________________________

Send to: Ann Reisenauer, 3326 Kipling St., Palo Alto, CA 94306. Questions? Call Ann at 650-494-9272 (home) or e-mail her at reisen@cmgm.stanford.edu.

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What Some of You Thought About the Career Conference

 

• I was delighted to discover that there are many others like me going through the same anxieties and uncertainties associated with making a career transition.

• I found it very easy to talk to people in a conference of (almost) all women.

• It was very success-oriented and self-empowering.

• I think there should have been more emphasis on balancing family and career.

• It was a great networking opportunity for a self-employed person who does not get a lot of opportunities to socialize with colleagues.

• In general, I appreciated the opportunity to be surrounded by and exposed to many successful women scientists. The simple fact that this conference exists is validating!

• I learned about the many opportunities available within science that I had not known before.

• I really enjoyed hearing the people's stories of how their original life plans changed over time.

• The honesty was refreshing.

• It was nice to have a mix of "inspirational" and "practical nuts and bolts" topics.

• This was my first time attending a conference such as this and I found it a very empowering experience, talking with other women scientists.

• Was disappointed and discouraged to learn that none of the [plenary] speakers had children.

• I wish we would have more time to do different workshops . . .

• I would have liked to hear about motherhood and working in science since it leaves us with quite different possibilities compared with males. I would have liked to see women with children, and non PhD women, as well as women working in non-profits.

• Have more physical science emphasis. [from a student in geology]

• I would have liked to have academic scientists also represented. Perhaps career path workshops directed towards grad students - academic versus industry postdocs: implications of choices on future careers.

• These conferences should be offered more often, like every year. Maybe have a speaker talk more specific about her research. And have the conferences rotate between campuses. . .

• Maybe have longer workshops and shorter breaks

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First Mentor/Protegee Meeting

Lisa Wang

Chairperson, Mentoring Committee

The mentoring program will hold a meeting to allow protegees to meet their mentors on Tuesday, November 11, at 6:00 pm in Room 372 of the Mitchell Earth Sciences Building at Stanford University. This will be the first meeting after the mentor/protegee match process.

Take this opportunity to network and give your mentor/protegee relationship a good start. Anyone interested in mentoring is welcome to attend. If you did not send a mentor profile and are still interested in participating, please contact Lisa Wang at (650)- 342-2718 or lisawang@well.com. See you on November 11!

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Outreach Program Needs You

Ann Reisenauer, Vice-President and

Chairperson, Outreach Committee

Would you like to become involved in science education and serve as a role model for young women and girls? This is your opportunity! We are looking for AWIS members at any level in their career to share their expertise and enthusiasm for science with elementary and high school students. To get involved, you can create a hands-on "Science-in-a-Bag" activity to take to local schools or science clubs, act as a science fair judge, or serve as a career day panelist. If you need help designing a "Science-in-a-Bag" presentation, attend our workshop on Tuesday, November 4, 7-9 pm. Please indicate on the form on page 4 how you would like to be involved, and return by December 1, 1997 to Ann Reisenauer, 3326 Kipling St., Palo Alto, CA 94306.

AWIS OUTREACH PROGRAM(form)

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September Meeting Highlights Contract Research Career Opportunities

Krista Bowman

Co-Chair, Programs Committee

"It's been an incredible trip!" Dr. Jessie Goodpasture (Pharmaceutical Research Associates) concluded with a smile about her personal career path in science. She used the biopharmaceutical industry and its supporting contract research industry as a backdrop to present case studies of women who have travelled uncommon paths in science and medicine. The 55 women who gathered on September 23rd were inspired by the stories of female scientists who began their careers often "at the bottom," worked hard demonstrating initiative and persistence, and let themselves evolve as they followed their interests in science.

She described several women who made the transition from working in biotech or pharmaceutical companies to the contract research industry. She related how these women, including herself, finally felt a sense of completion and experienced the excitement of potentially helping a great number of people while working on clinical trials. In addition, they gained the opportunity to learn about the insides of many different biopharmaceutical companies and their newest technologies.

If you are evaluating your career fitness and are considering the contract research industry as a rewarding career choice, Dr. Goodpasture's advice is to"be willing to come in at the bottom, show your initiative, and be VERY persistent in your pursuit."

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Bioinformatics Seminar Draws Record Turnout

Laura Smoliar

Co-Chair, Programs Committee

A record crowd of over 100 crammed our seminar room on October 14th to listen to a fantastic presentation by Dr. Ingrid Akerblom (Incyte Pharmaceuticals) on Bioinformatics Ð the application of computer tools to the study of biology, sometimes referred to as "in silico" biology.

Dr. Akerblom traced the excitement of bioinformatics from the past, when things like data annotation were done by hand, up to the present, when highly automated computers sequence 35 million bases a month. At Incyte, data sequencing rates double every 6-12 months. Dr. Akerblom directs the processing and analysis of all that data to make it useful to the pharmaceutical industry. Nevertheless, after impressing us with the influence of powerful computers and better algorithms in this field, she also stressed the continuing need for biologists. Biologists know the significance of the thousands of DNA sequences under study, whether they are from a breast cell or other cell type Ð they make sense of the data and turn it into meaningful information..

Dr. Akerblom also briefly described some of Incyte's products: databases accessible through the Web, software for 3-D molecular visualization, and biological reagents such as clones with specific sequences. She also discussed jobs and career opportunities in bioinformatics, the status of women in the industry, and how to find out more about the industry. She would like to see more resumes from women. Thanks to Dr. Akerblom for a great talk!

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Volunteers Needed for 'Expanding Your Horizons' Conference

Ann Reisenauer, Vice-President

The Expanding Your Horizons Conference for girls in the 6th - 9th grades will be held on March 14, 1998, at San Jose State University. The goals of the conference are: to emphasize the importance of taking math and science courses in secondary school, and to foster awareness of career opportunities for women in math and science. This conference has been highly successful, with nearly 800 girls attending each year. And lots of fun, too!

We need volunteers for the planning committee and to lead workshops. There are 3 types of student workshops: (1) hands-on - a very popular and effective format in which the girls actively participate; (2) career - where one or several women discuss their careers; and (3) guidance - usually information pertaining to college or career choices.

For information about joining the planning committee, contact Jane Day, Dept of Math & Computer Science, SJSU (day@mathcs.sjsu.edu; 408-924-5119). To sign up to be a workshop leader, send the form below as soon as possible to Marilyn Blockus, Dept of Math & Computer Science, SJSU, San Jose, CA 95192-0103.

EYH Workshop Leader Sign-Up Form

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Conflict Resolution:

Dealing With Difficult People

* Ever had problems with a coworker or boss and felt helpless to resolve them?

* Learn to communicate better and reduce interpersonal stress at work or school.

Our featured speaker is Ellen Waxman, Ombudsperson and Mediation Coordinator for Stanford University. She was formerly the ombudsperson at the Stanford Medical School. She serves on the Board of Directors of The Ombudsman Association and the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center and is a member of the University and College of Prefessionals in Dispute Resolution. Before pursuing ombuds work, she was a trial lawyer in Phoenix. Ellen graduated from Smith College in 1979 magna cum laude and from the University of Texas at the Austin School of Law in 1982 with honors.

DATE: Tuesday, November 18, 1997

TIME: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

LOCATION: SLAC Training Center

2575 Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto

 

Schedule:

7:00-7:30 pm Networking and light Supper

7:30-7:45 pm Announcements

7:45-8:45 pm Program

8:45-9:00 pm Coffee/Tea and Discussion

 

¥Welcome!! The Meeting is free. You don't need to be a Member to attend.¥

All scientists, students, and their friends are welcome! Men too!

Directions to the TRAINING CENTER at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC):

From Hwy 280, take the Sand Hill Road exit and head EAST to Palo Alto. At the 3rd stop light, turn RIGHT into SLAC. Tell the guard at the Entrance that you are attending an AWIS meeting. Turn LEFT after the guard, and turn LEFT into the parking lot by the Training Center.

Heading South on Hwy 101, take Hwy 84/Woodside Road WEST about 5 miles to Hwy 280 South (toward San Jose), then follow the directions above.

Heading North on Hwy 101, exit at Oregon Expressway heading WEST. Follow Oregon Exp. to Hwy 280 (becomes Page Mill Rd as you cross El Camino). Travel NORTH on Hwy 280 (towards San Francisco) to Sand Hill Road exit. Follow the directions above.

Local: From Stanford Shopping Center, travel WEST about 2 miles on Sand Hill Road. Cross Alameda de las Pulgas, and proceed to the third stoplight. Turn LEFT into SLAC. Follow the directions above.

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Holiday Cookie Networking Social

We will enjoy warm spiced cider and holiday cookies before our meeting,

then plunge into a stimulating hour of networking!

Engaging Roundtable Format!

We will break up into small groups, network with the group for 15 minutes,

then change tables and repeat the process with a new group.

You will get to meet EVERYONE   in an informal, friendly setting!

Come to polish up your introduction, share networking skills,

make new friends, and find out who ’s doing what in Bay Area science.

 

DATE: Tuesday, December 9, 1997

TIME: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

LOCATION: SLAC Training Center

2575 Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto

 

Schedule:

7:00-7:30 pm Networking and light Supper

7:30-7:45 pm Announcements

7:45-8:45 pm Program

8:45-9:00 pm Coffee/Tea and Discussion

 

¥Welcome!! The Meeting is free. You don't need to be a Member to attend.¥

All scientists, students, and their friends are welcome! Men too!

Directions to the TRAINING CENTER at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC):

From Hwy 280, take the Sand Hill Road exit and head EAST to Palo Alto. At the 3rd stop light, turn RIGHT into SLAC. Tell the guard at the Entrance that you are attending an AWIS meeting. Turn LEFT after the guard, and turn LEFT into the parking lot by the Training Center.

Heading South on Hwy 101, take Hwy 84/Woodside Road WEST about 5 miles to Hwy 280 South (toward San Jose), then follow the directions above.

Heading North on Hwy 101, exit at Oregon Expressway heading WEST. Follow Oregon Exp. to Hwy 280 (becomes Page Mill Rd as you cross El Camino). Travel NORTH on Hwy 280 (towards San Francisco) to Sand Hill Road exit. Follow the directions above.

Local: From Stanford Shopping Center, travel WEST about 2 miles on Sand Hill Road. Cross Alameda de las Pulgas, and proceed to the third stoplight. Turn LEFT into SLAC. Follow the directions above.

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Calendar of Events

 

AWIS - PALO ALTO INTERNET WORKSHOP

Saturday, November 15, 9:30am - 12:30pm, SLAC Training Center, Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto

Introduction to the Internet Instructor: Kathleen McMahon

Reg. AWIS members $30, Students & postdocs $20

Contact Sue Levin at 415-221-4625 or suelevin@wwwomen.com

 

AWIS - PALO ALTO NOVEMBER SEMINAR

Tuesday, November 18, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, SLAC Training Center Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto

"Conflict Resolution" Ellen J. Waxman, Stanford University Ombudsperson

How to: deal with anger, negotiate, set limits, deal with difficult people, and more!

Contact Susan Bernhard at 510-786-9744 x504 or bernhas@baxter.com

 

AWIS - PALO ALTO DECEMBER MEETING

Tuesday, December 9, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, SLAC Training Center, Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto

Roundtable Networking Social

*Find out who's doing what in Bay Area science

*Share networking skills,

*Make new friends & contacts

For more info, contact Susan Bernhard at 510-786-9744 x504 or bernhas@baxter.com

 

AWIS - PALO ALTO NOVEMBER HIKE

Hike Windy Hill in Palo Alto

Saturday, November 1, 10:00am - 1:00pm

For more info, contact Susan Bernhard at 510-786-9744 x504 or bernhas@baxter.com

 

LSA CAREER EXPO/BIOSCIENCE JOB FAIR

Wednesday, November 12, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth St., San Francisco

and

Monday, November 17, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Doubletree Hotel (formerly Red Lion Hotel), 2050 Gateway Pl., San Jose

FREE for all BS, MS, and PhD level job seekers

Bring plenty of resumes for on-the-spot interviews!

Sponsor: Life Science Associates/CareerExpo, 510-436-3976, www.logop.com/lsa

AWIS - PALO ALTO JANUARY SEMINAR

Thursday, January 15, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, SLAC Training Center, Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto

"Balancing Career and Personal Life"

Dr. Celia Moreno, CAPS Psychiatrist, Stanford

*Worktime vs. personal time

*Women's choices in today's fast-pace workforce

*Gaining a personal balance

For more info, contact Susan Bernhard at 510-786-9744 x504 or bernhas@baxter.com

 

AWIS - PALO ALTO OUTREACH WORKSHOP

Tuesday, November 4, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, 3326 Kipling St., Palo Alto, CA 94306

"Science-In-A-Bag"

For info, contact Ann Reisenauer at reisen@cmgm.stanford.edu

 

SOCIETY FOR WOMEN ENGINEERS NOVEMBER MEETING

Thursday, November 6, Wyndham Garden Hotel, Sunnyvale

Gloria Montano, SWE President

Contact Belinda Kuo at belindaK@San_Jose.ate.slb.com

 

AWIS - PALO ALTO MENTORING MEETING

Tuesday, November 1, 6:00 pm, Room 372

Mitchell Earth Sciences Bldg., Stanford University

Mentor/ProtegeeMeeting

Contact Lisa Wang at 650-342-2718 or lisawang@well.com

 

EAST BAY AWIS NOVEMBER MEETING

Thursday, November 13, 6:30 pm, Chiron Corp., Emeryville.

Get and Stay Fit Through the Holidays and Beyond

Kazuko Aoyagi, Ph.D.

Practical strategies to beat the holiday weight gain and make fitness a way of life!

Contact Chris (rozanas@aol.com

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