====================================================================== LOS ALAMOS WOMEN IN SCIENCE Northern Chapter of the New Mexico Network for Women in Science and Engineering MAY 1997 NEWSLETTER (a quasi-periodical) ====================================================================== CONTENTS: --------- NOTE FROM THE EDITOR BOARD MEMBERS ACTING ACTING PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE LAWIS LUNCHES AAUW PAY EQUITY SURVEY STANDARDS FOR THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE IN NM SCHOOLS 1997 EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS (EYH) A SUCCESS LAWIS AT BRING YOUR KIDS TO WORK DAY SURVEYING YOUR FUTURE BOOKLET BEING REVISED MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE FROM THE EDITOR -------------------- Errors are the sole fault of the editor, J. Tinka Gammel, who can be contacted to complain at 667-9149, or jtg@lanl.gov. The May 1997 issue follows on the February 1997 Issue. Back issues should be available on the LAWIS home page. I am sending only electronic newsletters to those who email addresses I have who have not requested hardcopy explicitly. Please let me know if you prefer to get it in hardcopy format. "The purpose of science is not to lead us to everlasting wisdom, but to place a limit on everlasting error." -- Bertold Brecht ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BOARD MEMBERS ------------- 1996-97 LAWIS board members: Acting President - Carol LaDelfe, cladelfe@lanl.gov Vice President - Margo Clark, jmclark@lanl.gov Secretary - Ginger Young, ginger@kc.trail.com Treasurer - Trish Wright, pwright@lanl.gov Newsletter Editor - Tinka Gammel, jtg@lanl.gov (Acting Acting Pres in May) EYH Chair - Joyce Guzik, joy@lanl.gov Membership - Carol LaDelfe, cladelfe@lanl.gov Members-at-large - Diane Albert, dalbert@lanl.gov - Amy Anderson, aeanderson@lanl.gov - Libby Jones, jones_elizabeth_a@lanl.gov ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ACTING ACTING PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE --------------------------------- Carol LaDelfe is on travel through the end of the month and used her executive powers to appoint me temporary president. Please feel free to contact me if there is anything I can help with this month. So far, my only official act has been to agree NOT to schedule our summer picnic to conflict with the LANL student summer picnic. Which reminds me, any volunteers to help plan the LAWIS picnic?? -- Tinka Gammel, 7-9149, jtg@lanl.gov ---------------------------------------------------------------------- LAWIS LUNCHES ------------- The LAWIS Lunch-Time Talks Series is well on it's way to becoming a venerable tradition (at least, I hope!). Since the last newsletter, Mary Stinecipher Campbell of DX-2 at LANL gave a talk and demonstration on "Positive Uses of High Explosives". This was quite informative, explaining the different between conflagration, deflagration, and detonation, and the demonstration (also presented to the girls who participated in her workshop at EYH) was a lot of fun with a bit of a surprise at the end. I have a copy of Mary's handout on the story of dynamite which I can give to interested people, and she was willing to give a repeat should there be sufficient interest at a later date. The audience at this talk proved LAWIS is a non-discriminatory organization (it was approximately 20% male). Unfortunately it was also clear that LAWIS is not a very radical organization or more of us would have been there to hone our explosives skills... The talk by Janie Enter of CST-7 at LANL on her "Checkerboard Career" was much better attended -- of course, we did offer free pizza and were handing out appreciation gifts to those who helped with EYH -- and had a very lively discussion following. Janie has had experience with many different job situations, and is a good resource for those who might need to talk with someone when their career path deviates from the straightforward. Pointers from Janie Enter's talk: 1) Survival Tips: - believe in yourself - network, network, network - don't get sick - may be a good idea to hide your best work - participate in Laboratory activities - be persistent but polite - play dumb if you have to ("listen to Janis Joplin" later) - support the administrative assistants 2) Useful LANL Organizations - EAC - SEAC - DVO - Special Interest Topics - DOE Review of Laboratory Programs for Women - LAWIS 3) Useful External Organizations - League of Women Voters - National Association for Women in Education - American Association of University Women 4) Don't give up - even when the turkeys try to keep you down! Two books by Sheila Tobias were recommended in the ensuing discussion: -- They're Not Dumb, They're Different: Stalking the Second Tier -- Rethinking Science As A Career The publisher is "Research Corporation". Let me (Tinka, 7-9149, jtg@lanl.gov) know if you would like to see LAWIS get a copy of these books for our "reference library" (which currently consists of a few articles and some videos on gender-bias in science and the like -- contact me if you would like to see the "library"), or if you need help locating a copy for your own perusal. The next LAWIS Lunch-Time Talk is scheduled for 12:00 noon Tuesday May 20. Michelle Thomsen of NIS 1 at LANL has agreed to talk on "Space Weather", which promises to be another very interesting talk. Hope to see you there! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AAUW PAY EQUITY SURVEY ---------------------- Following on the discussion after Janie's talk mentioned in the previous article, Denise George thought people might be interested in this: FAIRNESS IN COMPETITION GAME -- ANSWERS AAUW survey from approximately 1990 1. In survey after survey, what issue is in the top three for working people? [PAY EQUITY] 2) What is the ratio of women's pay to men's pay in the US? [71%] 3) What is the ratio for hispanic women? [53%] 4) What is it in NM? [67% PER 1990 CENSUS] 5) What AAUW branch was the first to start a pay equity project? [D.C.] When? [1913] 6) What is the significance of April 11? [PAY EQUITY DAY, WHEN FEMALE SALARIES CATCH UP TO MALES] 7) Why isn't the Equal Pay Act enough? [IT HAS HELPED, BUT 33 YRS LATER THERE IS STILL A SUBSTANTIAL WAGE GAP. FEMALE WORK IS UNDERVALUED.] 8) Some conservatives (e.g., Suzanne Fields) say wage inequities are largely solved. What statistic do they use and what are they distorting? [WOMEN AGES 27-33 WITHOUT CHILDREN ARE EQUAL. APPLES AND ORANGES COMPARISON OF WOMEN WITHOUT CHILDREN TO MEN WITH/WITHOUT. ALSO, AS WOMEN MATURE, WAGE GAP WIDENS. OVERALL IT's A 71% WAGE GAP.] 9) Please order these groups according to median wages (1=top) __ White Men __ Hispanic Men __ Black Men __ White Women __ Hispanic Women __ Black Women [ANS: SAME AS ORDER LISTED] 10) Which ethnic/racial/gender group has the highest labor participation rate in NM and the second highest in the U.S.? [AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN] 11) What is the wage gap between men and women in these jobs? Managers? [32%] Secretaries? [10%] College Professors? [22%] Elementary School Teachers? [12%] 12) What happens to wages when men begin to dominate a job? [WAGES GO UP] What happens to wages when females begin to dominate a job? [WAGES GO DOWN] 13) T/F: The wage gap between men and women can be attributed to men having more education, experience, and time on the job. [NOT TRUE. THIS IS A MYTH! MANY STUDIES, E.G. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, AMERICAN COMPENSATION ASSOCIATION, HAVE SHOWN THESE LEGITIMATE FACTORS ACCOUNT FOR ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THE WAGE GAP.] Denise also had a very amusing article on why women should pay lower income taxes (we don't commit as many crimes so we burden society less). Maybe I'll include it if there is an April 15 Issue next year... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- STANDARDS FOR THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE IN NM SCHOOLS --------------------------------------------------- In light of recent election results and that the NM State Science Standards and Benchmarks are once again being revised, especially as concerns the teaching of "a science based theory of human origin", people might be interested in the following list of important state science and education/teacher organizations. American Association of University Women -- New Mexico Academic Liaison Margaret Dike 1611 Bayita, NW Albuquerque, NM 87107 Coalition for Excellence in Science Education 5408 Vista Sandia NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111 phone: 505-323-2445 fax: 505-843-4228 Contact: Dr. Marshall Berman New Mexicans for Science and Reason 450 Montclaire SE Albuquerque, NM 87108 phone: 505-268-3772 Contact: Mr. John Geohegan New Mexico Academy of Science 1623 Francisca Rd NW Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM 87107 phone: 505-344-3332 fax: 505-845-3130 Contact: Dr. Richard Nygren NM Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development (NMASCD) Dr. Bettye Bobroff, Exec. Dir. 4513 Acapulco, NE Albuquerque, NM 87111 Southwest Institute for Space Research 15 E. Spur Road, Cloudcroft, NM 88317 phone/fax: 505-687-2075 Contact: Dr. Alan Hale M. Kim Johnson (kim@rt66.com) maintains an email list of people interested in science education standards in New Mexico. Contact her to find more about this ("Ducks") list. I think all of us consider the erosion of academic standards in the schools is a travesty. It has been proposed that LAWIS form a working group to inform themselves and recommend possible action on this important issue. If you would like to be a part of this working group, please let me (Tinka, 7-9149, jtg@lanl.gov) know. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1997 EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS ----------------------------------- We had a very successful Expanding Your Horizons program March 20, 1997. Nearly 120 8th-10th grade girls and 25 teachers/adults participated from many schools in Northern New Mexico. We almost filled the study center to its 150 person capacity. John Webster gave us some great pre-conference publicity with his article and interviews in the March issue of Reflections. The program included a team-building activity, in which the girls used straws and paper to construct an egg-protection device that allowed their raw egg to be dropped from increasing heights without breaking; morning and afternoon hands-on scientific workshops; a cookout lunch at Otowi patio; and guest presentations by Dr. Barbara Stine and Dr. Diane Albert of Los Alamos. From my perspective as a co-coordinator, the most important highlight was the star volunteers. I don't have space here to acknowledge everyone, but sponsoring EYH is a big enterprise; as a measure, Deborah Kubicek purchased over 60 mugs as appreciation gifts for EYH volunteers. Wendee Brunish and Karen Schultz-Paige recruited presenters and "gofers" and arranged logistics for 15 hands-on workshops given in the morning and afternoon. They added several workshops at the last minute as the registration steadily grew beyond our expectations. Diane Albert raised an incredible amount of funding from lab and outside sponsors (over $7000). In addition, when we needed an afternoon guest speaker, Diane came to the rescue and presented a very interesting talk on her research in high-tech materials. Judy Kares and Santa Fe AAUW members visited Santa Fe schools and recruited a sizable percentage of our participants, in addition to helping out on the day of the conference. We had excellent reports from the adults on the workshops presented by Garry Franklin at the Science Museum, and Bill Powell and friends of the American Vacuum Society on classroom science demonstrations and activities. Carol LaDelfe, Ann Mauzy did their usual efficient job with registration. Tinka Gammel, Margo Clark, Denise George, Sandy Fletcher, Pat Berger, and Trish Wright helped out with numerous behind-the-scenes arrangements. Deborah Kubicek and Ginger Young orchestrated the popular egg-drop team activity. Shirley Herrera acted as co-coordinator, and helped to see that less slipped through the cracks as well as organizing the great cookout lunch and reserving facilities. We also greatly appreciate the help of PA-4, the conference and visit management group, particularly Patsy Martinez for running a professional conference. Also we thank Patty Mahoney for finishing the ES&H approval for the workshops on short notice. We are hoping with the experience and financial foundation of this year to make next year's EYH even more successful. I know from the evaluations, letters and calls I've received that you have made a difference in encouraging young women to consider the option of a career in science. I hope you will help us again next year (tentative date Thursday March 12, 1998) with your diverse talents. Joyce Guzik 1997 EYH Co-chair ---------------------------------------------------------------------- LAWIS AT BRING YOUR KIDS TO WORK DAY ------------------------------------ For "Bring Your Kids To Work Day" at LANL, myself (Tinka Gammel), Denise George, and Nely Padial staffed two LAWIS demonstrations in the Otowi cafeteria siderooms during the lunch hours. The first was "Mathematics of Games". We brought in several games with topological, combinatoric, and other math themes (e.g., a Rubrix cube). We let the kids play while trying to point out the mathematical principles. The second was "Magnets". I brought my box of magnets and iron filings gleaned from a local arroyo and tried to demonstrate action at a distance and making invisible things visible, but mostly leaned all sorts of new games one can play with big magnets. At any rate the kids had a lot of fun, hopefully saw not all science is boring, and maybe even learned a thing or two. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SURVEYING YOUR FUTURE BOOKLET BEING REVISED ------------------------------------------- The "Surveying Your Future" Booklet aimed at encouraging teenage girls with an interest in science is being revised. Contact dede Collins, dede@lanl.gov, 5-2349, if you are able to help or would like more information. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ---------------------- The NMNWSE and LAWIS Membership Year is defined as from October 1 to September 30. LAWIS chapter dues are rebated from the state dues, so no separate dues are collected from LAWIS members. Wyona Turner is Membership Chair of NMNWSE, and a copy of the membership form is available on the web (in Adobe Acrobat format) at http://ladmac.lanl.gov/nmnwse/ in the "Membership in NMNWSE" section. If you are unable to access that, Carol LaDelfe, LAWIS Membership Chair (and Acting President), cladelfe@lanl.gov, 667-8474, will be happy to put one in the mail to you. Other websites of interest: LAWIS home page http://ladmac.lanl.gov/nmnwse/LAWIS/LAWIShome.html Committee on the Status of Women in Physics home page http://aps.org/educ/cswpmiss.html APS Education Home Page http://aps.org/educ/index.html American Association of University Women home page http://www.aauw.org Society of Women Engineers http://www.swe.org/ ======================================================================