AWIS-WV
Newsletter
January 2000
Association
for Women in Science-West Virginia promoting equity in science and math
for the women and girls of West Virginia.
Highlights
...
PRESIDENT’S REMARKS
by Linda Vona-Davis, Ph.D.
The Year 2000 is a year for celebration and reflection. The Association for Women in Science will require a new vision if we want to successfully address the myriad issues facing women within and outside our university community. I believe we are prepared to meet the challenges for the following reasons:
* We have a talented, vibrant AWIS membership in West Virginia;
* We have a dedicated and experienced Executive Board who can guide us in taking the next steps to the future;
* We have vast network of local help from the WVU Center for Women's Studies, American Association of University Women, and WVU Alliance for Women’s Studies;
* We have in place a collection of programs and projects that distinguish us as a group.
With
this in mind, as we advance to a new order, remember that we still need
to exchange ideas in a constructive and focused manner. I know that you
are all being asked to assume more and more individual, professional and
community responsibility. It is my hope, however, that you continue to
be engaged in our State Chapter of AWIS so that we together can ensure
the full participation of women in science, math and engineering.
As your new president, I need to recognize the talents of our past executives
and welcome the new faces. Your former AWIS President, Dale Birkle, should
be commended for her significant and sustained contributions to our State
Chapter and for charting our challenges toward the future. We are all
very excited to hear about Dale’s sabbatical experience when she
returns in March. Erica Harvey from Fairmont State College is our new
President-Elect and I look forward to working with Erica in all our new
projects. She has already started organizing chapter business and is planning
to make our relation-ship with National AWIS her first priority for the
year. Many thanks should also be extended to Joyce McCune-Gentry and Jeanne
Sullivan for their efforts as Secretary and Treasurer for our chapter.
Helen Lang from WVU and Judith Westerik from WV School of Osteopathic
Medicine have graciously agreed to serve as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
This is a very good time to be a part of AWIS-WV. Our agenda for this
year is filled with a number of exciting things. We are putting the finishing
touches on our new website http://consult.hsc.wvu.edu/awis
which will bring all of you up-to-date on our activities and allow us
to become a resource for women and girls across the State. We plan to
make our presence known this year by hosting several Expand Your Horizons
conferences in Morgantown, Williamson and Parkersburg. Consult the website
for dates and details of these events. Remember your involvement in Chapter
activities is essential for our group to remain viable. Please be generous
with your time and agree to mentor a young girl if you are called to participate
in one of these conferences. If you haven’t had the opportunity,
this is your moment.
As our work begins, the outlook is positive as women advance in academia,
industry and government. We in AWIS-WV are helping to create a workforce
of women who will face less uncertainty in the future and experience greater
professional rewards from careers in science, math, engineering and computer
technology.INCREASE INTEREST IN AND KNOWLEDGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
You can be instrumental as an AWIS member and woman in heightening the
awareness of scientific advances made by women. During the second half
of the 20th century, women have succeeded in science and technology, and
their numbers continue to increase. Let’s keep the trend moving in
the right direction and improve science literacy in our young people!
ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY IN YOUR WORKPLACE. What we are seeing now is a warming
of the chilly climate in which women and minorities in nontraditional
careers have worked in the past. But it is up to AWIS members and sister
organizations to keep examining systems that help recruit, retain and
advance women and minorities in the workplace.
GET INVOLVED IN RESHAPING THE FUTURE OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BY MENTORING. A strong economy and future for our children in West Virginia
will rely on a well-trained workforce that includes women. Women continue
to be underrepresented in areas such as math and physical sciences and
engineering, as well as in senior positions in all areas of science and
engineering. Ensure the survival of a young girl’s dream to become
a scientist or engineer or computer specialist by becoming a role model.
AWIS-WV E-MAILING LIST
The AWIS-WV chapter has an electronic mailing list. To subscribe, send an e-mail to listserv@listserv.wvu.edu. Leave the subject line blank and type the following into the body of the message
To subscribe to the list:
- Create an e-mail to listserv@listserv.wvu.edu
- Leave the subject line blank
- In the message area type SUBSCRIBE AWIS-WV yourfirstname yourlastname
- Send the e-mail
- You will receive a confirmation from the list server that will contain more information about using the list.
To send
a message to the list, send it to AWIS-WV@listserv.wvu.edu. This message
will go out to all current subscribers.
NEWS
FROM OUR MEMBERS
Dr.
Dale Birkle reports that she is spending the next six months on sabbatical
in the laboratory of Dr. George Koob, Department of Neuropharmacology, Scripps
Research Institute, La Jolla, CA. Dale also reports that she was promoted
to full professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, WVU
School of Medicine.
Dr. Dale Birkle was honored by WVU this year with the Mary Catherine Buswell
Award for outstanding service to the women of WVU and the State. Interested
parties can read about the award and Dale's nomination at http://www.wvu.edu/~acadaff/buswell_selection_criteria.htm
Dr. Linda Vona-Davis has received a Public Service Grant from WVU for $7,800
to support an "Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) Science and Mathematics"
conference scheduled for April 29, 2000 in Morgantown, WV. Dr. Davis is
currently president of the West Virginia Chapter of the Association for
Women in Science (AWIS-WV), an organization that promotes opportunities
in science and math for West Virginia women and adolescent girls.
THANKS
TO DALE…
West Virginia AWIS would like to thank Dale Birkle, our Past President
who is currently on sabbatical in California, for her outstanding leadership
in guiding our organization for the last two years. Dale winning the Mary
Catherine Buswell Award for outstanding service recognized her dedication
to the women of WVU and the State. The WV Chapter of AWIS would like to
thank Dale for the monetary award she generously donated.
AWIS
MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN 1999 DICKINSON SYMPOSIUM
The
1999 Dickinson Symposium, a yearly event sponsored by the WVU Center for
Women’s Studies, was held in March and April, and prominently featured
several AWIS-WV members. The symposium, entitled “Taking Care/Taking
Charge: Women, Technologies and the Future”, focused on women’s
use of technology, especially computers. The first event in the symposium
was a panel discussion, organized by Dr. Dale Birkle, which featured AWIS
members Dr. Linda Vona-Davis, Dr. Carolyn Carter and Dr. Ann Chester.
The title of the panel was “Building the future one girl at a
time: Mentoring for equity in science and technology.” Dr. Davis
used a web-based presentation to highlight the AWIS-WV web site and the
Expanding Horizons Workshops that the Chapter has organized throughout
the State. Dr. Carter used video technology to explain a mentoring project
of the Appalachian Educational Labs, called Visions, which reaches out
to rural and urban girls with long term mentoring efforts. Dr. Chester
explained the Health Science Technology Academy, a multi-year project
that mentors boys and girls with year round activities and summer sessions
at WVU School of Medicine.
In April, AWIS member Stephanie Caswell-Schuckers participated in a panel
discussion entitled, “Women using technology to promote, maintain
or restore health.” She was joined by Vickie Chase, RN, and Dr.
Sue Light in a panel moderated by Fredona Stenger, MSN. Dr. Caswell-Schuckers
described her research in biomedical signal processing and its applications
for predicting and detecting diseases, particularly cardiovascular abnormalities.
Dr. Light and Ms. Chase discussed their work on new technologies used
to detect breast cancer.
AVIATION
DAY IN MORGANTOWN FOR APRIL 29, 2000
The
Hart Field Coalition, a community group involved with promoting the Morgantown
airport, is helping to organize an “Aviation Day” at the airport.
Permission from the airport, and commitments from a number of aviation-related
groups have been secured, so all systems are go! Mark your calendars for
April 29, 2000. We are planning an EYH-type event for about 200 8th grade
girls that will feature, in addition to hands-on workshops, ground school
and plane rides provided by area pilots. The program will be conducted
in collaboration with WVU Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
the WV Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, Hart Field Coalition
and AirCorps Services, among others. We need pilots, aviation mechanics,
engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and anyone in an aviation-related
career to help lead aviation-related workshops.
Contact Linda Vona-Davis (293-1280 or lvdavis@hsc.wvu.edu)
for more information.
NEW
CHAPTER OFFICER
The time has come for new hands, hearts and minds to take over the Chapter.
Because each candidate was running unopposed, it was not necessary to hold
an election.
Linda
Vona-Davis, who has served as President-Elect for the past two years will
be assuming the Presidency. Helen Lang and Judith Westerik have volunteered
to serve as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. Erica Harvey has agreed
to serve as President-Elect, and will take over as President in 2001.
Dale Birkle will now become Past President. The contact information for
each of the new officers appears at the end of this newsletter.
Linda Vona-Davis, President
Surgery
P.O. Box 9238
HSC WV University
Morgantown, WV 26506-9238
W (304) 293-1280 H (304) 291-3232
dvona@wvu.edu
Erica Harvey, President-Elect
RR2 Box 152
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 367-4498(w) (304)367-9636(h) elh@fscvax.fairmont.wvnet.edu
Judith Westerik, Treasurer
WVSOM
400 N. Lee St
Lewisburg, WV, 24901
645-6427(w) 647-4257 (h) 645-4859(f)
jwesterik@wvsom.edu
Helen Lang, Secretary
P.O. BOX 6300
WV University
Morgantown, WV 26506-6300
293-5603, ext 4312
hlang@wvu.edu
PLEASE PAY YOUR DUES!
A recent inquiry to National AWIS has revealed that many of you have let your membership lapse, or have never joined. Please make an effort to pay your dues to the National organization. Dues are billed on a sliding scale based on income. As a member, you will receive a very interesting and useful journal from National AWIS four times per year. The latest issue of this journal was full of really great articles on career alternatives for scientists, in addition to the regular features (sources for grants, book reviews, interviews, public affairs information, chapter news, web site alerts, etc.). We also would appreciate it if you would pay Chapter dues when you send your check to AWIS, and specify that you are a member of the West Virginia Chapter, as that money comes back to the Chapter to support our activities (like mailing this newsletter!). Chapter dues are $10 per year, free for students. Membership information can be obtained at the AWIS web site.
NEW
WEBSITE FOR WV-AWIS
WV-AWIS is proud to announce that it has a new website at http://consult.hsc.wvu.edu/awis.
This new website features a mission statement, history of AWIS activities,
newsletters, directory of members and calendar of upcoming events. We
also hope that it will become a forum of lively discussion with contributions
from its members. If you wish to submit advertising, announce an upcoming
event or your herald news and views, the WV-AWIS newsletter is an effective
method of providing more opportunities for women. Please submit your information
to hlang@wvu.edu and include the word
“Newsletter” in the subject line.
SOUTHERN WV COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO HOST EYH
The 2000 Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science Conference (EYH) will return to Williamson, WV on May 6, 2000. The venue will be the site of our very first EYH program, at Southern WV Community College. Dee Kapourales of Williamson and AWIS members who will be directing the program development are handling local organizing. We anticipate 150 8th grade young women will be participating again in this event. Local community groups will support the EYH workshop financially. The workshop committee will be contacting past workshop leaders to get commitments for May 6. If you are interested in participating or can suggest a colleague we should invite, please contact Betsy Walker (293-0606, ewalker@hsc.wvu.edu) or Linda Vona-Davis (293-1280, lvdavis@hsc.wvu.edu).
