AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2007-1

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AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2008-21
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We welcome you to an informal lunchtime discussion on Issues Facing Women Chairs, Deans, and Other Academic Leaders. The topic this year will be promoting your department or program on campus. Lunch will be provided.

This discussion will be Monday, December 15, 12:30 – 13:30, San Francisco Marriott Nob Hill D

This discussion is sponsored by the Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) and the American Geophysical Union Education and Career Services and supported by the AGU Education and Career Services and the AWG Foundation. It is open to all who are interested.

2) REQUEST FOR 2009 SCIENCE FAIR JUDGES AWG provides Student Awards for Geoscience Excellence (SAGE) certificates through the Society for Science & the Public (formerly Science Service), the sponsoring organization of the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), to young women whose projects exemplify an understanding of our world and its processes. As the AWG point-of-contact for the Society for Science & the Public (SSP), fair directors often contact me with requests for science fair judges. In addition, some non-ISEF fairs also contact me for judges or award certificates. If you are interested in judging in a local science fair, please contact the fairs directly, or contact Valerie Honeycutt (jvhoney@sbcglobal.net or 972-989-1583) to find out how you can help! PLEASE NOTE – If you don’t see a fair listed below for your area, this does NOT mean that your area doesn’t have any fairs giving out the AWG certificate, only that they have not directly contacted me about providing a judge. Please visit the SSP website at http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/students/aff_fairsearch.asp and use the drop-down menu for a comprehensive list by state or country of the regional ISEF-affiliated science fairs giving out AWG certificates. They are almost always looking for Special Awards judges! Thanks!

The 2009 South Central/Southwest Minnesota Regional Science & Engineering Fair for the Junior/Senior High Division will be held on Saturday February 21, 2009 at Minnesota State University, Mankato in the CSU Ballroom. Judging will be from 8:15am until 2:30pm and the Awards Ceremony will be 4:00-6:00pm. For more information, please contact Mary Van Duynhoven, Administrative Assistant, at 507-389-2849 or mary.van-duynhoven@mnsu.edu. You can also get information on-line at www.mnsu.edu/sciencefair.

The 2009 Beal Bank Dallas Regional Science & Engineering Fair will be held on February 28, 2009 at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. All Special Award communications will be posted on www.drsef.org. For more information, please contact Dr. Simon Dalley, Lecturer at Southern Methodist University and President of the Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair at (214) 768-2495 (Secretary) or sdalley@physics.smu.edu.

The 53rd Annual USC Central South Carolina Region II Science and Engineering Fair will be held on Friday, March 20, 2009 at the Carolina Coliseum on Assembly Street. The judging (of approximately 600-700 student entries) will begin Friday afternoon at 1 pm for the Junior Division and at 6:30 pm for the Senior Division. A dinner is usually held for the judges on Friday March 20 at 5:30 pm. The awards ceremony will be held on the USC campus. For more information on being a Special Awards judge, please contact the office of Dr. Don Jordan at 803-777-7007, email Jordan@gwm.sc.edu, or check their website at www.cosm.sc.edu/jordan under USC Sci & Eng Fair.

The Minnesota Academy of Science State Science & Engineering Fair will be held on March 29 – 31, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, please contact Lise Weegman, Director, at 507-450-4759 or lise@mnmas.org.

The 2009 South Central/Southwest Minnesota Regional Science & Engineering Fair for the Elementary Division (Grades 3rd – 6th) will be held on Saturday May 2, 2009 at Minnesota State University, Mankato in the Myers Field House and in the Bresnan Area Taylor Center. Judging will be from 8:15am until 12:30pm and the Awards Ceremony will be 2:30-3:45pm. For more information, please contact Mary Van Duynhoven, Administrative Assistant, at 507-389-2849 or mary.van-duynhoven@mnsu.edu. You can also get information on-line at www.mnsu.edu/sciencefair.

The 2009 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) will be held in Reno, Nevada on May 8 – 15, 2009. AWG presents three female students with awards each year at the ISEF. AWG would like to field a team of at least three AWG Special Awards judges at the 2009 ISEF to present our awards. Pre-judging is generally on Tuesday afternoon and judging with the students present is all day Wednesday, with the awards presentation on Thursday evening. I have several resources to share, including a "calling card", the certificate paper and certificate templates, AWG judging guidelines, and other miscellaneous information.

AWG members interested in judging in a local/regional science fair in 2009 or participating as an AWG Special Awards judge at the 2009 ISEF are invited and encouraged to contact Valerie Honeycutt at jvhoney@sbcglobal.net or 972-989-1583. Judging requirements: The ISEF requires that its Special Award Judges have either a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent OR a minimum of 6 years teaching or research experience at a university or at the industrial level and should be actively engaged in the field being judged. Judging categories: behavioral and social sciences, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, engineering (materials and bioengineering), engineering (electrical and mechanical), energy and transportation, environmental analysis, environmental management, mathematical sciences, medicine and health sciences, microbiology, physics and astronomy, and plant sciences.

Is There a Women Geoscientist Professor Who Made a Difference in Your Life?
Please take the time to honor her by nominating her for the
AWG Outstanding Educator Award

The AWG established the Outstanding Educator Award in 1988 to honor well-established college or university teachers who have played a significant role in the education and support of women geoscientists both within and outside the classroom. Examples of support include encouraging women to enter and continue in a geoscience career, providing opportunities for field and laboratory experience, and serving as a positive role model. In addition, awardees are selected on the basis of their contributions as professionals, involvement with professional societies or groups, and/or participation in science education programs in their community. The deadline for nominations is April 1. Nominations must include a current vita and at least six letters of recommendation from professional colleagues, former students, and current students.

Send nominations and supporting material to the Chair of the AWG Outstanding Educator Award selection committee either via email or regular mail.

Dr. Julia Sankey
Department of Geology
Baylor University
One Bear Place #97354
Waco, TX 76798-7354
Julia@geology.csustan.edu

The AWG Lone Star Scholarship provides professional development funding for women in the geoscience profession who wish to resume their geoscience careers after having been out of the workforce for at least 2 years.

The awards are intended to cover professional development costs, up to $500, such as enrollment in geoscience training courses or workshops, fees for certifications & licensing, conference fees & expenses, professional membership fees, or any other justifiable costs to help candidates reenter the workforce.

Award Amount: Up to $500 will be given out in one year. Individual awards may range from a minimum of $75 to a maximum of $500. Number and size of awards will depend on the number of applicants and amount of funding requested.

Have previous work experience in an Earth Science field.
Have been out of the workforce or working in a part-time, non-geoscience position for at least 2 years.
Intend to reenter the workforce in an Earth Science field.
Membership in AWG is NOT required.

Prepare a one-page (> 10pt. font) personal statement, describing your academic qualifications, professional work history, and any recent volunteer or home activities relevant to your area of expertise. Describe how the Scholarship will contribute to your career advancement.
State amount requested (up to $500) and provide an itemized list showing how Scholarship funds will be used.
(Optional) Include a letter of reference from someone familiar with your geoscience work experience and expertise or someone familiar with any recent activities that are relevant to your areas of expertise.
Clearly label all application materials with your name, address, phone number and email address and send to: awg_lonestar@yahoo.com (emailed applications should have “AWG Lone Star Rising Scholarship” in the subject line), or mail to:
AWG Lone Star Chapter,
PO Box 542042, Houston,
TX 77254-2042.

Other Information: Applicants will be judged on her geoscience professional qualifications, as indicated by work, academic and other (home / volunteer) experience, and on her demonstrated desire and potential to re-enter the workforce in a geoscience-related field.

Following a global launch event at the United Nations office in Paris, February 2008, geoscientists around the world are joining together to celebrate the earth sciences during the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE). This global initiative of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) aims to ensure wider use of the knowledge accumulated by the world's earth scientists.

The goal of IYPE is to draw attention to the benefits of the earth sciences for society. Helping to build safer, healthier, and more prosperous societies around the globe is a major theme. Science and outreach activities in 74 participating countries will continue through December 2009.

Geoscience Currents #17 examines the completion rate of students enrolled in geoscience degree programs at the bachelor's, masters and doctorate levels. Completion rate is proposed as a more sensitive measure of externalities than bulk enrollment and degrees granted data. The sensitivity of completion rates to external events, such as the end of the draft and the 1980s oil boom are evident, as well as the negative overshooting of geoscience prospects in the early 1990s. Current trends do not show substantial sensitivity to the escalation in resource prices and may be demonstrative of an aggregate decoupling of geoscience degree seekers from opportunities in the energy sector.

Likewise, the geoscience degree completion rates vary substantially from those of other STEM fields, underperforming at the undergraduate level and outperforming at the graduate level.

Geoscience Currents are quick snapshots of data released by AGI on the status of the geoscience workforce. If you want to view previous Geoscience Currents or subscribe to this service, please visit: http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/.

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Vanderbilt University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in the general area of Biogeoscience. This position, effective the fall 2009 semester, is at the Assistant Professor level.

We seek an individual who is aimed at the highest standards of scholarship in research and teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate (MS, PhD) levels, and who will be attracted by opportunities at Vanderbilt for interaction with a diverse, enthusiastic faculty and student body in the earth and environmental sciences and related fields. We welcome applications from candidates pursuing theoretical, experimental, and/or field-based work. The specific research specialty is open. Examples of fields of interest include, but are not limited to, climate change and paleoclimate; origin and evolution of the biosphere; critical zone processes; biogeochemical cycling; ecological processes (floral and/or faunal); and extinction patterns and processes. We seek an individual with interest in both ancient and modern biological systems.

Applications should include a vita, a statement of research and teaching interests, and names of at least three references (including mail and e-mail addresses and phone numbers). Select applicants will be later asked to provide student evaluations of teaching (if available). Applications should be submitted by e-mail in PDF or MS-Word format to: EESposition@vanderbilt.edu; up to three representative papers may be attached. Address questions to Molly F. Miller, Interim Chair, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B Box 351805, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37235-1805. Review of applications will begin 22 December 2008. Vanderbilt is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply.

Geophysicist
Department of Geology & Geography
West Virginia University

The Department of Geology and Geography at West Virginia University invites applications for a geophysicist at the assistant to associate professor level depending on qualifications. The area of geophysical specialty is open but should complement ongoing departmental research and the WVU Advanced Energy Initiative (http://ruby.geo.wvu.edu/~tcarr/AEI_page.html). Department research interests currently include geologic carbon sequestration investigations of active pilot sites, reservoir characterization, and the influence of fracture systems on fluid flow and seismic response. The successful applicant will contribute to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and is expected to develop a vigorous externally-funded research program. Department strengths include geophysics, structure/tectonics, remote sensing, GIS, sedimentation, stratigraphy, paleontology, petrology, hydrogeology, energy geology, surficial processes, and environmental geology. The Department is located in a recently renovated building on the downtown campus. Department resources include 3D visualization systems, an extensive suite of subsurface interpretation software, and five computer teaching labs housing approximately 120 computers. Collaborations are encouraged with the National Energy Technology Lab (DOE-NETL), the National Research Center for Coal and Energy (NRCCE), the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, and the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, all based in Morgantown.

Candidates should send: 1) letter of application detailing a) research interests and how these dovetail with the departmental and AEI research activities, and b) teaching experience; 2) resume/vitae; and 3) names, phone numbers, e-mail and complete mailing addresses of three references to: Geophysics Search Committee, Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6300. Questions may be directed to geophysics@mail.wvu.edu or to Hope Stewart at 304-293-5606. Review of applications will begin January 15, 2009 and will continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is August 15, 2009. Please see www.geo.wvu.edu, www.wvu.edu, and www.morgantown.com for additional information. West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply.

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