Hello everyone!  Here is the second newsletter of the year which brings you an update on a variety of upcoming events that are of interest to women in science as well as a report on our last “Is There Life After Graduate School? “ symposium.

Metro- NY AWIS now has its own web site where you can access the newsletter and keep abreast of current events - so visit the site at http://www.angelfire.com/ny/awis/
index.html.  Remember -- AWIS is the largest multi-disciplinary women’s science, engineering and technology organization in the country that provides the opportunity to network for career advancement and to voice the issues facing women scientists with employers and with policymakers.  Join the AWIS registry - a unique database of women scientists that will serve as a resource for qualified women scientists. Register by calling 202-326 8940 or at web site: http://www.awis.org

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Marie Curie and the Centenary of the Discovery of Radioactivity - Oct 8-10, 1998 to be held at the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) at 2 East 63rd Street and at the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) at 1216 Fifth Avenue.

In 1896 Henri Becquerel discovered the spontaneous emission of radiation
from uranium and by 1898 Marie and Pierre Curie had  discovered polonium and radium.  Marie Curie was actually the one who named the atomic emissions ‘radiation’. The three were awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics. Most important were the insights gained into the structure of the atom, insights that were an important part of the foundation for modern physics and chemistry. Commemoration of this series of events is underway throughout the world.  This centenary is of particular importance, however, because it gives us a moment to reflect on the meaning of the scientific enterprise -- of a woman struggling with a scientific establishment that overtly excluded women, of a society that had to begin to deal with both the promise and the danger contained in the effort to control the extraordinary forces locked up in the atom.
This program will explore some of these issues. For more information contact Dr. Henry Moss at  NYAS at 212 838 0230 ext 410 or go to http://www.nyas.org.

METRO AWIS AWARD CEREMONY FOR OUTSTANDING WOMEN SCIENTISTS WILL BE HELD ON  NOVEMBER 11, 1998.  Please send in your nominations using the enclosed form. You may also send in an update if you had nominated someone last year.  All past nominations will be considered along with this year’s nominations.

1998 WEIZMANN WOMEN AND SCIENCE AWARD
- Kathleen A. Nolan, Ph.D.
Metro- NY AWIS President

Jacqueline Barton, an outstanding chemistry professor at the California Institute of Technology, received a $25,000 award from the Weizmann Institute of Science on June 2.  A reception was held in her honor at the New York Academy of Sciences, during which several invited guests spoke. 
Fran Ginsburg and Sara Lee Schupf, both of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science made introductory remarks. Ms. Ginsburg stated that the Institute was “a center of science excellence in the pursuit of knowledge and basic research in science.” Ms. Schupf emphasized the “value of connection” of women in science through the media and the government.  She thinks that it is important to use the power of philanthropy to the point at which funding of women by women becomes  “unremarkable”.
Liz Tilberis, editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar Magazine, gave a personal testimony about her battle with ovarian cancer.  She feels that one aspect of her job is to make the public aware, through media such as her magazine, of the seriousness of this disease.   Early detection is key, because out of 26,000 women who have contracted ovarian cancer, 13,000 have died from it.  There are no real symptoms and we must demand that ob-gyn’s be thoroughly trained in the detection of this disease.  People such as Jacqueline Barton are committed to basic research that could contribute toward an ending of this dreaded disease. 
Congresswoman Constance Morella from Maryland, emphasized the importance of science education at an early age.  Role models for young girls are essential.  A show such as “Kate Sal the Science Gal” alongside “Bill Nye the Science Guy” would be a nice antidote to the attention that boys receive.  Congresswoman Morella introduced the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Act (HR 3007) to Congress, and it passed both houses this spring. 
Dr. Jacqueline Barton, the award recipient, said “Everyone always had high expectations of me.  I grew up not knowing anything was wrong with women in science.”  Her mentors included Mrs. Rosenberg from the Riverdale Country School for Girls, and the late Bernice Segal, a chemistry professor from Barnard.  She feels that it has been a privilege to work with the next generation of scientists.  For example, one of her graduate students that she taught at Columbia, Anna Marie Pyle, has gone on to receive tenure in the department of biochemistry at the Columbia University Medical Center.  Her present students at Cal Tech, fifty percent of whom are women, are “outstanding”. 
She is investigating how the steps (base pairs) on the ladder of DNA are put together, and the interactions of DNA with other molecules.  Electrons and free radicals are some of the substances that can “slip through the holes between the steps”. These items “ are going down a highway” and changes that can occur that would cause a certain molecule not to be able to move from point A to point B could possible lead to cancer. She and her researchers are asking many questions.   “What are the “hot spots” in DNA, which, when damaged, can lead to cancer?,” she asks.  Why (and how) are other areas of the DNA molecule protected?  How far along the DNA molecule can damage be transmitted from one point to another?  One researcher in her lab has found from  “up to sixty base pairs”, which is analogous to the distance from E. 63rd St. to the Village!  What is the extent of the damage?  Are there proteins that can exploit this?  Therapeutics that can be developed? 
Dr. Barton closed by thanking her husband, who is a chemist, and her seven and a half year old daughter Elizabeth.  Her daughter is a “feisty child” who will be successful in life.  “No one is going to tell her she can’t do it!”

IS THERE LIFE AFTER GRADUATE SCHOOL? YES!  ITLAG 1998.

-Alka Mansukhani, Ph D
 

The 7th ITLAG conference organized by Metro-NY AWIS was held at the American Museum of Natural History on March 28 and was cosponsored by the New York and New Jersey Metrowomen Chemists Topical Group.  This conference has increased in popularity over the years and this time around it drew students from graduate schools in New Jersey as well.
The program included talks by people who had switched from science research to careers in fields like  bioinformatics, patent law and genetic counseling.  A team of three women from Cadus Pharmaceutical Corp, a small biotechnology company, gave  the audience a feel for their work and life experiences, and discusssed the pros and cons of working in a small biotech company versus “big pharma”, or large multinational pharmaceutical companies.  They advocated networking as the best way to go about finding a  desirable job.
Dr. Alice Deutsch, President of Bioscreen Inc., and Metro-NY AWIS committe member discussed job searching on the internet.
Esceta McGee,  a representative of Women’s Business Ownership, US Small Business  Administaration, a government -run agency that provides grants for small businesses, provided information on how to obtain funding for starting a business. 

BIOINFORMATICS.  Dr. Jonathan Greene, an ex -yeast geneticist, now manages the bioinformatics division at Schering Plough.  He says that Ph.D.training teaches one to define and to solve problems - a valuable skill that can be applied in several job situations.  Bioinformatics is a rapidly growing area due to the vast quantities of DNA sequence data being generated by the genome project.  Although the pioneers in this field like Jonathan are self-taught and got to bioinformatics by a series of coincidences, nowadays specific training programs are available.  “In my field, asking the right question is critical in solving the problem,” Dr Greene concludes. 

PATENT LAW.  The second speaker Dr. Rochelle Seide was a human geneticist before she became a patent lawyer and partner at Baker and Botts, LLP, a large law firm.  Patent lawyers work on various aspects of intellectual property law.  Consulting and advising clients, filing patents and doing litigation are all part of the job.  Dr Seide explains that her scientific background is very helpful in understanding the technicalities of the patent as well as in interacting with scientists.  Another positive aspect is the ability to stay in touch with scientific research and developments.  Of course, along with the good parts there is incredibly hard work and long hours but she says she loves it all.

GENETIC COUNSELING  Marilyn Erickson works in genetic counseling and health advocacy, an area in which she received a Masters degree.  She works for a non profit city-run clinic.  Marilyn helps patients alleviate their fears, provides guidance and information and even calls them at home for follow ups. “I reach people on a one-to-one basis every day and I feel I’m really making a difference.” she says.

CONSULTING  Dr. Ellen Morris has a background in geophysics and now runs her own  energy consulting company, Sustainable Energy Solutions.  She began by spending a year in Washington on a congressional fellowship working on science policy in the subcomittee on Environmental Affairs.  Knowing the science and understanding the politics of energy policy put her in a unique position to launch her company.  She consults with UN agencies and other companies on renewable energy sources and implementation of energy policies.  Dr. Morris describes her work- “you make your own schedule and projects. You do writing and research to stay abreast of developments.”

At the end of the morning, the attendees left the conference stocked with business cards, contacts, information and  new ideas about their possibilities. 

Conference Report

CHOICES AND SUCCESSES: WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

-Alka Mansukhani, Ph D

On March 11-12 of this year the New York Academy of Sciences held a highly successful two-day conference on the personal and career issues facing women scientists and engineers.  Cecily Canan Selby, the conference chairperson described how the purpose of the conference was to change practices and attitudes that hinder the participation and success of skillful people, particularly women, in the performance of good science.

Several important issues were raised and discussed with enthusiastic participation from the audience.
A major issue that struck us all at the end of the day was that while women had made a lot of headway in industry, they still faced enormous hurdles in academia. Academic institutions have somehow been more resistant to change and accomodation of the needs of women .  Although the past 25 years of women in science, charted by many illustrious speakers,  have brought larger numbers of women into the field, their full and equal participation still remains elusive.  Dr Gertrude Elion, a Nobel Laureate and Scientist Emeritus at Glaxo-Wellcome Inc. described how she received major recognition for her work from her peers only after she won the Nobel prize! 
The discussion groups included work climates, priorities for quality of life,and perceptions of good science. Women today are making choices based on balancing work and family and institutions that do not see the value in accommodating the needs of women may well be losing out on the best person for the job. 

SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR 21st ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY
TO HONOR OUTSTANDING WOMEN SCIENTISTS
NOV. 11, 1998
The Awards Committee is seeking your help in selecting women scientists in the Metropolitan New York Area to honor.  We will honor women who have not only made significant contributions in their chosen field, but who have also supported and worked to encourage and promote women in the sciences. 
Please send your nomination with a curriculum vitae and letter of nomination by Sept. 1, 1998 to the Committee chair. The letter of nomination must also note contributions, support, and promotion of women in the sciences.
Committee chair:
Dr. Alice Deutsch
889 Broadway--#6A
New York, NY 10003

E: adbio@ultinet.net