Volume 12, Issue 6 November/December 2004 NEWSLETTER Mission Statement: The Association for Women in Science, Inc. (AWIS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the achievement of equity and full participation of women in all areas of science and technology. in outreach to K-12 girls in our local communities to encourage NEWS them to pursue science, and also for us to nominate women that we Letter from the President know for senior appointments and awards on a national level. Join Janet White me in ensuring that both National AWIS and AWIS-San Diego grow and thrive! The fall has always been my favorite time of year. The languid heat of summer is replaced by a cool nip in the morning air that Inside this Issue Page reminds me it’s time to go back to school, back to work and back to NEWS action. In the past month I’ve been very busy formulating plans. Letter from the President Janet White 1 In September I traveled to Washington DC to lead a strategic Upcoming Events 1 planning workshop with the National AWIS Board. We developed AWIS Open House 2 a crisp articulation of National AWIS priorities and areas of focus AWIS Member Named One of San Diego’s 40 under 40 2 as seen in the new mission statement: AWIS-San Diego is on the Map 2 August Event: Volunteer Mixer & Leadership Workshop 2-3 “The Association for Women in Science is dedicated to achieving October Event: Gender Differences in the Workplace 3 equity and full participation for women in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. We are a Network, a Resource, and a FEATURES/OPINIONS Voice.” Member Profile: Jenafer Evans 3-4 Putting the Strategy Sessions to Work 4 From 2005 – 2010, we will focus on: Politics, Science and Stem Cell Research: Proposition 71 4-5 Finding Peace on the Tahoe Rim Trail 5 • Connecting, supporting and mentoring women in science at all levels DEPARTMENTS • Identifying areas of inequity and building awareness of the gap Your Two Cents 6 AWIS Book and Movie Club News 6 • Nominating qualified women candidates for key positions in other organizations Movie Review: “The Door in the Floor” 6 New Members 6 Influencing policy • AWIS Member News 6 AWIS Chapter Contact Information 7 We will do this by: • Building coalitions among US women’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) committees Upcoming Events and networks Compiled by Barbara Armstrong • Leveraging the knowledge and experience of our members, chapters and broader network Events (open to all) • Gathering data on issues relevant to women in STEM and November 8: AWIS Open House. Location: Leichtag Building disseminating information and advice Lobby and Garren Auditorium at UCSD. Time: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. • Leveraging our Washington DC location For more information or to register, go to: • Building awareness of AWIS http://awis.npaci.edu/shtml/events.shtml December: Social Our goals for 2005 are: January: Rules for Success • Achieve 85% annual membership retention and 10% total annual growth in membership by December 31, 2005 Strategy Sessions (for AWIS members only) • Close the financial gap by June 30, 2005 All Strategy Sessions take place at the Salk Institute, 10010 N. • Have in place a website with accurate and timely content Torrey Pines Rd. from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Contact with 25% increase in hits by June 30, 2005 [email protected] for more information. December 6: Strategies for Building Self-confidence The National Board is a formidable group of senior, successful Registration for this event starts Monday, November 8, 2004 at: women! I really enjoyed working with them and have every http://awis.npaci.edu/shtml/member_lounge_info.shtml. Contact confidence that they will lead AWIS forward with vigor and [email protected] for more information. commitment along the new path that we defined. February: Where do you want to be in five years? As the largest chapter, there’s a lot we can do to contribute to the success of AWIS. We can continue to increase our membership, we can each contribute financially toward National AWIS, which is something I have done and encourage you all to consider doing, too. Moreover, National AWIS is looking to chapters to take a lead Page 1 Nov/Dec 2004 Volume 12, Issue 6 Nov/Dec 2004 for others. This is seen in their career pursuits and volunteer efforts. AWIS Open House To Feature Communication Experts Sonya Summerour Clemmons became one of San Diego’s 40 under By Julie Kinyoun 40 because of her perseverance and determination to go after a career that benefits medical patients and her desire to help others, On Monday, November 8, 2004, the San Diego Chapter of AWIS especially women and minorities in scientific careers. She was the will host an Open House at UCSD, which will begin in the first African American woman to earn a doctorate in Leichtag Building lobby at 6 p.m. The event is to introduce AWIS bioengineering at UCSD. Today, at 33, she is the director of to potential members through motivational speakers, member business development at MediVas, a biotechnology company that recognition and networking. To kick off the evening, refreshments acquires and develops novel biomedical products. MediVas' will be served while each AWIS committee hosts a booth with primary areas of development are vascular medicine and site- information about their activities and opportunities. specific drug delivery. Clemmons works with pharmaceutical companies to bring their products, tissue engineering technology After participants enjoy refreshments and networking, everybody and medical devices to health care patients. She also contributes to will walk to the Basic Sciences Building where the program will Science Magazine through an advice column intended for begin in the Garren Auditorium. First, awards will be presented to minorities in science and engineering careers. Through this the most outstanding AWIS participants of the year. The awards medium, Clemmons opened up a dialogue to find solutions to a will be followed by the keynote speeches. Kathi Diamant and system that inherently does not help minorities, especially women Jenni Prisk, both employed in communications, will each give a and people of color. Complementing this career plate, she also has motivational talk. Kathi Diamant is a former television host turned a whole other dish filled with a family. Bravo, Sonya Summerour freelance writer who just published a book about the last lover in Clemmons, and best wishes for the coming years! the author Franz Kafka’s life, “Kafka’s Last Love: The Mystery of Dora Diamant.” Her talk will explain the long search for AWIS-San Diego Is On The Map biographical information about Dora Diamant in whom she became By Karin Lucas interested over twenty years ago. Jenni Prisk, owner of Prisk Communication and Voices of Women, will inspire participants with a speech about risk-taking. In November, she will become the On Wednesday, September 23, 2004, BioSpace unveiled the sixth published author of a book called “Communication Training.” The Biotech Beach Hotbed Campaign at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis evening will conclude with a raffle and another opportunity to Club. The Biotech Beach map and the associated website have network. been produced by BioSpace for 11 years to highlight local biotech companies and non-profit organizations. I am very pleased to Please join us on November 8 to celebrate and promote the announce that for the first time AWIS-San Diego is on the map! activities of women in science in San Diego. For additional The Biotech Beach map has become a San Diego institution and the information or to volunteer on the night of the event, contact Ursula addition of our organization is evidence of our growing reputation Kessen at [email protected]. in the community. To view the map online, please visit http://www.biospace.com./ AWIS Member Sonya Summerour Clemmons Named One of San Diego’s 40 under 40 AWIS Volunteer Mixer & Leadership Workshop By Jessica Yingling With Janice Trantham By Janice Payne The San Diego Metropolitan, a monthly publication and daily webpage business report, sponsors an annual award honoring San Before you read on, take a moment to list the names of the six 2004 Diego’s young business leaders. This year is the fifth anniversary board members of the San Diego Chapter of AWIS. How many do of the award that has recognized 200 local entrepreneurs. 40 under you know? Did you know that within the San Diego Chapter there 40 began in 2000 to acknowledge the accomplishments of the are 11 committees? younger crowd that are driving San Diego’s economy, volunteering, and becoming the philanthropists of tomorrow. The These questions, and many more, were answered at the first, and San Diego Metropolitan wanted to recognize and encourage these hopefully annual, AWIS Volunteer Mixer held at the Salk Institute leaders because too often awards are bestowed upon our veteran on August 31. The event was organized by the Events and Strategy business and civic leaders. The honorees were presented at a Sessions Committees. One attendee said, “I found the event very luncheon that benefits Becky’s House, a transition home for useful in getting to know the members of the San Diego Chapter domestic violence victims. and getting an appreciation of how much they do. The event also helped demystify the board for me and put a human face to them.” The selection process began in May with a call for nominations. This year’s judges were Dr. Abigail Barrow, past director of the The evening began with Board member introductions by AWIS-SD UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering; Richard Cloward, manager President, Janet White.