Under the Microscope
 
Stories for, by and about Women in Science
Top family-friendly companies for women in science, tech and engineering
Blog
Written by Tunisia L. Riley   
Tuesday, 09 February 2010
pregnantwoman.jpgA few weeks ago I discussed challenges for mothers in the laboratory. To help you overcome those challenges, this week I will list, in no particular order, some family-friendly and woman-friendly science, technology and health-related companies. These companies have one or more of the following: a high percentage of women employees, good paid maternity/paternity leave, on-site childcare and a proven commitment to a work-life balance for their employees.

This list was compiled based on information provided by sources such as Working Mother, Fortune/CNN, Yahoo! hot jobs, Computerworld.com, The Wall Street Journal/CareerCast.com, and the companies' websites. This is far from a comprehensive or scientific list, so we suggest using these resources to do research in your area of interest.

 
A conversation with Sheril Kirshenbaum, author, blogger, researcher
Q+A
Written by Kristina Necovska   
Monday, 08 February 2010
sheril.jpgSheril Kirshenbaum wants to make us friendlier to science. As a scientist, journalist, author and musician, she is helping to bridge the widening gap between scientists and the public. She co-authored the bestseller "Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future" (Basic Books, 2009), co-hosts "The Intersection" at Discover Magazine and has a new book coming out next year called "The Science of Kissing."

Sheril, 29, is an associate at Duke University and holds master's degrees in marine biology and marine policy from the University of Maine. She recently spoke with Under the Microscope about reconciling the public with science in times when technological breakthroughs occur with increasing frequency.

Under the Microscope: You have a fascinating career, and you have many interests. Can you begin by telling us how you came to study marine science?

Sheril Kirshenbaum: I was always interested in science. I was always in the backyard exploring when I was a kid, but when it came to science professionally it found me by accident. ... I had a really great professor who turned me on to ecology when I was an undergrad at Tufts University. Then I applied for one of the REUs [research experiences for undergrads] and I got one that happened to be in marine science. And I know at that point I was interested in conservation. 

 
New book: The Madame Curie Complex
Blog
Written by Chelsea Wald   
Friday, 05 February 2010
madame_curie_complex_short.jpg

The newest book from the Women Writing Science project at the Feminist Press is "The Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History of Women in Science." In it, historian Julie Des Jardins explores the lives of Jane Goodall, Rosalind Franklin, Rosalyn Yalow, Barbara McClintock, Rachel Carson and the women of the Manhattan Project.

There are lots of places to get sneak peaks of "The Madame Curie Complex" online. The week of February 22, you will be able to read selections from the book on Thus Spake Zuska. Right now, the Introduction to "The Madame Curie Complex" is available for free on the Feminist Press website (where you can also purchase the book). In it, Des Jardins explains the title:

 
Top YouTube videos featuring women in science
Blog
Written by Sam Lemonick   
Thursday, 04 February 2010
video.jpgI'm back to movies again, this time a handful from YouTube featuring women in science, technology and engineering. There's a lot out there, so I've tried to present a variety of subjects, styles, and seriousness. If you find a video here that you like, you should check out the other videos that author has made or watch some of the Related Videos. I can't promise you'll find anything else of value but at the very least you'll kill some time. What did you think would happen when visited YouTube?

1. Mrs. Simpson demonstrates the exothermic (heat producing) reaction of calcium oxide and water by frying an egg with the generated heat. This is a decidedly amateur production but the experiment is cool and I do love a fried egg. She does her job as a teacher by wearing proper safety equipment and giving the chemical equation at the end. Other science teachers will find this a good walkthrough of a demonstration they might be interested in, and all will enjoy a very tangible demonstration of the energy involved in forming chemical bonds. Her "Evil Bunny" video is very good as well.

 
Deborah Lacks' immortal mother
Blog
Written by Alison Rhonemus   
Wednesday, 03 February 2010
lacks.jpgDeborah Lacks first learned of her mother’s legacy when, at age 23, she was contacted by researchers performing genetic tests on her family, according to Rebecca Skloot, author of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” The book, released yesterday, traces the legacy of a medical breakthrough from the donor tissue and the tissue donor’s family to technological and legal innovations. “It’s so much more than a science book," Skloot says. "It’s about the people involved in the science.”

Henrietta Lacks, an African-American farmer from Virginia, died of cervical cancer in 1951 at age 31. A sample of cancer cells taken from Henrietta during treatment -- without her knowledge -- grew in culture and produced the first immortal cell line, known as HeLa (for Henrietta’s initials). HeLa cells are ubiquitous in the biological sciences due to their so-called immortal properties, such as being able to grow or divide indefinitely and withstand freezing. The cells were used in creating the polio vaccine and have also been involved in controversial experiments that gave rise to bioethics legislation.

 
Feminist Press The Graduate Center of The City University of New York National Science Foundation IBM
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           Our Publications
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Women in Science
Vivian Gornick's 25th-anniversary revision revisits the discussion on women in science.

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Base Ten
Recommended for
"anyone working in a scientific field and attempting to organize a healthy family life."
--Katie Byrum


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Available now! The Madame Curie Complex
An examination of how women have  transformed the
role of scientist.

 


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