Overview

June 13—17, 2007
Continuing Education & Conference Center,
University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus

On September 18, 2006 the National Academies (National Academy of Science, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine) released a report generated by the Committee on Maximizing the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering entitled "Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering." This committee, chaired by Dr. Donna Shalala, President of University of Miami, reported that "representation of women in leadership positions in our academic institutions, scientific and professional societies, and honorary organizations is low relative to the numbers of women qualified to hold these positions. It is not the access and achievement of women."

Objectives: This National GWIS Conference will explore the prevailing myths about women in science and discuss how leadership roles of women scientists in education, academia, and the greater community can enhance the achievement of women in science.

SDE/GWIS was formed by women graduate students at Cornell University in 1921 - just one year after women won the right to vote! The group was originally formed as a fraternal organization, to begin an "old girls' club" to give women in science the opportunity to interact in the informal - and powerful - ways that men in science always have. Over the years, the mission of SDE/GWIS has expanded to "advance the participation and recognition of women in science and to foster research through grants, awards, and fellowships." We have dealt with the myths about women in science for 86 years and welcome the latest NA report.

Goals:
• Explore leadership roles for women in science.
• Add to public knowledge about the status of women in science.
• Discuss institutional options for encouragement of young women in science, technology, engineering, and math.
• Gain understanding of academic life of women administrators.
• Examine how scientists can provide leadership in community efforts.

Structure:
One day public symposium with a keynote luncheon speaker, Dr. Rusty Barcelo: VP and Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity, University of Minnesota discussing a national model for diversity in higher education, three sessions addressing leadership roles in education and community, and a keynote banquet speaker. The audience will be asked to participate in question and answers at the end of each panel discussion. GWIS will be interested in learning what we can do as a professional association to further support women in science.