Just wondering what people were thinking about when they joined this tribe.
Also be interested to hear women's stories about their experiences in sciece and technology as females.
Also be interested to hear women's stories about their experiences in sciece and technology as females.
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SF Bay Area
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Re: why S & T
Tue, October 28, 2003 - 7:47 AMI joined because I work with technology (most web dev stuff) and teach ppl to use it. Artists & Kids. I'm not sure if gender issues are at the forefront of my mind, but I notice things. For example, I was looking into a cool master's programme on Ubiquitous Computing, and I nosily went into find out who was on it... and there were no females. Not a single one. And I just wonder... um, why? -
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Re: why S & T
Tue, October 28, 2003 - 9:08 AMI am the only woman at a small aerospace and scientific computing company. I do algorithm development -- basically scientific/mathematical analysis and computing. I got my Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology a couple of years ago. Like h., I don't consider myself particularly focused on gender issues. At the same time, though, if there are ways I can help out other women in S&T I'd be happy to.
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Re: why S & T
Wed, November 5, 2003 - 8:08 AMi was an apiring scientist all through childhood and through high school. but i was always making art or embarking some sort of creative endeavor or another (drawing, painting, writing, whatever) and in highschool i took as many art electives as i could- then i decided to go to art school.
so here i am years later, sometimes regretting not going into science, sometimes very happy where i'm at now. i never lost my desire to learn all things science so i read a wide variety of books- i especially love forensics, history of science, anthropology, archaeology, pscychology, neuroscience, astronomy/astrophsysics/quantum theory, and the connections between art and science. -
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Re: why S & T
Wed, November 5, 2003 - 8:10 AMmost of my tv viewing (now that i have a decent cable package) consists of a wide variety of science-related tv shows, as well.
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Re: why S & T
Fri, November 14, 2003 - 12:00 PMI was an aspiring computer programmer and astro physicist as well as being very into art and music. When I reached jr high though, I felt like there wasn't a lot of encouragement for the math and sciences where there was tons of positive social feedback for the arts and music.
I think one of the biggest problems with the lack of women in science and technology can be traced back to these years. I think that the teaching of math and science, and probably CS/IT stuff, needs to be redefined and restructured. I got lost in math and never recovered, no matter how much I wanted to. And lets face it, you can't be an astrophysicist without a bit of math! ;)
I got along well enough grade-wise that nobody was ever concerned about it. And I had enough passion about the arts that I thought it didn't matter. Why beat yourself against the head when you can successfully do something else?
I finally found my way back into computers but it took a lot of hard work and all the guts I had.
As I plugged earlier, I worked with a group of women to catch girls in high school and possibly even jr high. www.ignite-us.org
I too watch all the science tv shows. Did you see the PBS one on string theory...Elegant Universe?
Glad you're here. -
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Re: why S & T
Tue, January 13, 2004 - 4:06 PMi missed elegant universe!! boo hoo. that was before i got my hand-me-down replay tv.
anyone have it on dvd?
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Re: why S & T
Thu, November 13, 2003 - 7:01 PMI too find the ratio of women to men in the tech sector to be worthy of as much support and encouragement as possible. I guess I've always chosen hobbies and subjects where my femaleness is a minority - I used to ride a motorcycle (and had no car so that was it for groceries etc) and relished the look I would get from men who realized that was a woman under the helmet. :)
Women in tech need to know constantly, in many different ways, that they are not alone. Strength in numbers, and our voice will be heard. Already I see a growing number of articles about the women gamers' demographic, how it's growing, etc. Someday soon, hopefully, our voice will be equal! :)
(A girl can dream, can't she?) -
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Re: why S & T
Fri, November 14, 2003 - 11:01 AMi agree!
and i often find myself involved not-so-femmy activities, too- rugby, building out raw loft spaces, helping a pal convert an autobody garage into a swank apartment, tree climbing (when i was a wee lass). :)
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Re: why S & T
Thu, December 4, 2003 - 9:20 AMI joined this to fellowship with other intelligent women. I am a 32 yr old full-time college student. I am only a sophomore, but then I have already lived a full life. I am in Range and Wildlife Management, and hope to one day secure my Ph.D. in Ethology (study of animal behavior) I have a job as a research assistant, starting in January working with turf, and I am currently trying to weasle my way into an ocelot research program. If there are any animal science fans out there, link up with me!
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Re: why S & T
Thu, December 4, 2003 - 1:53 PMScience is such a broad field and I joined this tribe to learn from other women because I feel it is a struggle to find a place in the world and still remain true to yourself. Here is my background:
I chose veterinary medicine as a goal. I recieved a biology degree but have decided against vet medicine. I want to learn more about ecology, sustainability, holistic health, ecopsychology, and consciousness. I have been thinking of going to school to get a Master of Arts in Consciousness Studies which integrates an examination of the meaning of human experience and the nature of self and reality.
Currently I work as a technician fixing laboratory instruments but I feel I can give back to the scientific community. I just need to figure out how.
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Re: why S & T
Mon, December 8, 2003 - 3:06 PMI was just perusing the tribes and was presentely surprised to see this one! I'm a chemistry graduate student and quite active in promoting and supporting women's participation in science. I'm the current president of our local chapter of the Association for Women in Science through which we bring in strong women in the sciences to act as role models for undergrads and potential mentors to graduate students and young faculty. It's truly amazing how the number of women in sciences drop so dramatically beyond the Ph.D.!
Talia -
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Re: why S & T
Tue, December 30, 2003 - 1:33 PMIt is so fabulous to read everyones' posts. I joined the group because I think the topic is incredibly important. I'm a grad student in animal behavior and neurophysiology right now, but when I finish I plan on using my degree to work in public science education. I'm actually working on starting a non-profit science media production company. Hopefully, someday I'll be able to contribute to promoting a positive image of successful women in science fields through television, radio, and web productions targeted at school age girls.
However, to address the point that Talia made about women in the sciences dropping after the Ph.D, I think that most women find it difficult to balance raising a family and having a sucessful career in science. I think that this is a problem in any fast-paced career track. Women leave their careers to have children and find it difficult to go back. The entire system needs to change before we'll see the numbers of female scientists remain high after graduate education. -
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Re: why S & T
Wed, December 31, 2003 - 9:59 PMI totally agree with you about women trying to find balance. I actually just watched tonite Diane Keaton's 80s film Baby Boom. In it she is a high powered NY exec who gets a baby dumped in her lap and has to deal. And she can't. She drops out of her career and goes broke for a while in VT. Ofcourse it has the perfect Hollywood ending where she finds the perfect guy and makes a million bucks...
But I personally feel like I am making sacrifices in my own life to provide for my son. I would love to go back to grad school and study what I want to study, but its hard to do the indentured servant thing with a kid. And its damn near impossible to go back to school and work full time with a kid.
I agree completely, the system needs to change to ensure that more women get higher degrees of education. How do we do it?
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Re: why S & T
Fri, January 2, 2004 - 12:13 PMI absolutely agree that women find it difficult to balance family and success in demanding careers. The University of Michigan is one of a handful of schools that received a 5-year, multi-million dollar grant funded project to promote institutional change in science and engineering fields. Their aim is to improve recruitment and retention of women faculty and to improve the institutional climate. This is their second year. There certainly have been improvements in hiring of women but of course, it remains to be seen if retention and true institutional climate change will be achieved.
Kirsten, I'd love to hear more about your ideas or plans for your non-profit!
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Health Sciences and our Tribe!
Tue, December 30, 2003 - 1:41 PMHi there!
I joined the tribe because after getting a degree in English Lit, I went back and got a degree in Chemistry so that I might apply to medical school. Life's river dregged me onto the shores of public health, and now I manage a program for anitbiotic resistance education. It is one of those far-reaching topics that have the visionary scientists and their friends gasping at the growing liklihood of life in general with only partially effective anti-infectives.
I love my work, and find that my capacity for pulling together those who care and are in a position to BE visionary scientists is stable now. Science is interwoven with politics, funding sources, and the interests of groups like governement and the CDC. I'm watching science evolve within the boundaries of the interests of this infrastructure, and would like to have real connections with women who are active in the scientific and research arenas.
And I have discovered that I like Tribe.net. Recently joined, and am having a ball!
~anne -
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Re: Health Sciences and our Tribe!
Fri, January 2, 2004 - 12:18 PMThis is another area that interests me as well. 3 years ago I couldn't even tell you what Public Health entailed. It was only through some courses that I took in my first year of grad school and people I met in the public health program that a whole new field was revealed. I have a growing interest in science policy and have sat in on a course (and another this coming term) in that field. It's really disappointing that professors don't mention these areas as possible career paths for science majors.
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Re: why S & T
Tue, December 30, 2003 - 3:38 PMI'm a History major with an emphasis on Science and Technology and some of the stories about women are fascinating. In addition I also do Oral Histories and would like to take some from women who are computer scientists-- so far almost everyone I've been able to find is a man, and I'd like to interview at least 1 woman, preferably more.
I also have a general interest in the area. -
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Re: why S & T
Wed, December 31, 2003 - 9:55 PMI really want to go back to school for History of Science and Technology. My dream would be the MIT Science, Technology and Society program with Evelyn Fox Keller and Sherry Turkle.
What do you define as a computer scientist? What are you doing with the Oral Histories? Sounds fascinating.
Welcome.
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Re: why S & T
Sun, January 4, 2004 - 2:05 PMPerhaps b/c I'm contrary. As a child I once told (by a teacher of all people) that I shouldn't worry about math and science b/c they were boys' subjects. Ha! As a teenager I attended a math and science magnet school. While there I began to realize how truly outnumbered I was. I wrote a paper outlining a summer camp for middle school girls interested in mathematics. It never went any further than that, but I dream of someday revising it and getting soem funding to carry it out. I'm currently studying Physics and hope to someday be thoroughly credentialed and write mathematics and physics books. So this seemed like a super tribe for me to join.
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Re: why S & T
Sun, January 4, 2004 - 2:08 PMPerhaps b/c I'm contrary. As a child I was once told (by a teacher of all people) that I shouldn't worry about math and science b/c they were boys' subjects. Ha! As a teenager I attended a math and science magnet school. While there I began to realize how truly outnumbered I was. I wrote a paper outlining a summer camp for middle school girls interested in mathematics. It never went any further than that, but I dream of someday revising it and getting soem funding to carry it out. I'm currently studying Physics and hope to someday be thoroughly credentialed and write mathematics and physics books. So this seemed like a super tribe for me to join. -
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Re: why S & T
Sun, January 4, 2004 - 2:12 PMI also dream of someday learning to type as quickly and accurately as I think. Sorry for the double post. I realized I left out a key word and wanted to add it, but I don't seem to be able to edit my own posts. Is that possible? Well, for now, I guess I'll just leave the other typos intact and be more careful about pre-editing next time. -
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Re: why S & T
Fri, January 16, 2004 - 11:11 AMYou're studying Physics?! Rock on!! I was a Phys major in college. Another one of those fields where women are vastly underrepresented... something like less than 8% of all physicists are women. I remember having a conversation once in college with some of my friends about the sort of reaction we got when we told people we were Physics majors. The typical response was, "but you don't LOOK like a Physics major..."
We couldn't decide if we should take this as a compliment or an insult. :)
Anyways, now I've gone over to the dark side of engineering... got my masters in environmental engineering, and mostly focus on design of water/wastewater treatment systems.
This tribe interests me because I still feel like there is work to be done to close the gender gap and encourage women in the sciences. Also because I think it's important to support each other... provide encouragement, but also tips on dealing with problematic situations/perceptions.
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Re: why S & T
Tue, January 27, 2004 - 4:31 PMI was raised by scientists, and when I went to college there was never any doubt that I would be a science major. But then I became interested in issue of social justice, and I ended up double-majoring in Biochemistry and Women's Studies.
I went on to get a Masters in Microbiology. I had intended to go on for the PhD, but I was still really interested in the world outside the lab, but this was really discouraged in my lab. (I ended up volunteering in secret as a lab tech in a non-profit women's health outfit so that I could "express" that side of myself.) So, I took a good look around me and I realized that I loved science, but that I didn't want this to be my peer group for the rest of my career.
So I left with a Master's and bought a ticket to Amsterdam and started studying in the field of Science and Technology Studies, and I loved looking at the other side of science - philosophy of science, history of science, science policy, science communication, etc.
So now I finally have a job, and I do think that I work at the border between science and society. I look around me, and the scientists I work with are almost all men, all the business, public health or policy heavies are also usually mean. And I do think that one of the reasons I left the lab in the first place was because of gender issues.
So here I am, with a little bit of righteous anger, ready to talk.
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Re: why S & T
Tue, February 3, 2004 - 9:48 PMBoth of my parents were in computers (Dad is still programming and Mom was a database administrator) and so even though I learned how to program as a kid (in the 70's) and was a whiz at math, I just couldn't bring myself to do the same thing they did. I majored in Math and thought about becoming a Math teacher but frankly, the mathmatics classes at the University level kicked my ass, because of how hard they were and all the competion. I went for a Psych degree instead.
Only in the last 4 years did I get back into computers and I'm now working full time as a developer/techie. The computer industry seems pretty supportive of females in technology. My Dad told me a great story about interviewing a man in the early 70's for a computer programing job. After hiring him the man admitted to my Dad that before the interview he had hair down to his butt. My Dad would have hired him anyway - all they cared about was who could the work. If women can get past the barriers that school environments and society tend to raise, I think the same is still true in a lot of tech fields.
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Re: why S & T
Fri, February 6, 2004 - 7:36 PMI'm a veterinarian (with an undergrad history minor!) and joined because I was startled to see that this tribe existed. (Just signed up for tribe.net today.)
Honestly, I've yet to have any significantly negative experiences associated with being a woman in the sciences. Maybe because the biosciences are more "squishy" than the more mathematically-oriented fields? That, and dang, something like >70% of my vet school class was women, and that was 11 years ago! -
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Re: why S & T
Fri, February 6, 2004 - 9:33 PM"I'm a veterinarian ...Honestly, I've yet to have any significantly negative experiences associated with being a woman in the sciences".
Yeah I can see that. Its kind of funny. For years as a girl, when asked what I wanted to be, I said vet. About the same time that I started falling out with computers (jr high) was about the time that I changed my answer for what I wanted to be when I grew up.
Glad there are some science fields with more women!
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Re: why S & T
Sun, February 8, 2004 - 7:00 PMI've been a science geek for as long as I can remember, primarily biology with a major interest in "living dinosaurs" such as sharks, reptiles, and scorpions. I got my first microscope at age seven and it's been a non-stop science experiment ever since.
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Re: why S & T
Mon, March 22, 2004 - 9:43 PMWow, I'm in amazing company!
This tribe caught my eye because it's something that I try to promote to young women- especially underserved or low income, English as a second language girls.
I never thought this would turn into a gender thing for me- I enjoyed both my undergrad and grad school experience with just the usual complaints that come with a science (chemistry) career- competition, lack of grant money, hard to break into... I've worked with some amazing men during my career, but I am noticing that most of my cohorts are males, and am starting to wonder why.
I've also noticed that many young women here in California aren't getting the support I felt like I received to pursue science and technology.
thank you for creating this space! -
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Re: why S & T
Thu, April 1, 2004 - 9:01 AMGlad to have you! I agree on the helping out women especially unpriveleged girls.
And WOW you work at the Monterey Aquarium!!! SO COOL! What do you do there? -
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Re: why S & T
Sat, April 3, 2004 - 4:55 PMI wear many hats here-
official titles: Education Specialist, and Senior research technician...
I teach pre K -12 graders who come to the Aq for field trips all about the animals, habitats and funky adaptations animals, plants and algae have to survive in the ocean... am involved with our Teen Programs- Young Women in Science and Student Oceanography Club High School Conservation Team. Long names...
I'm currently looking to get more involved here at the Aq. in research- I love teaching, but I miss learning! And since I don't have a teaching credential, I'm not use to the teacher speak and curriculum development.
so that's it in a nut shell....
My background is very different! I have a PhD in physical chemistry. I studied a large protein. But what got me into looking at proteins was my time being a research diver during undergrad, diving and studying sharks. I went into undergrad as an art major. Funny where science and life takes you... -
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Re: why S & T
Sun, April 4, 2004 - 12:23 PMthat's awesome! I'm working on my phd in chemistry right now (inorganic) but feeling that I will chose something of a "non-traditional" career. How was the transition for you? -
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Re: why S & T
Sun, April 4, 2004 - 7:56 PMI wasn't looking for a non-traditional job... it more just came to me. I was a little burnt out on the whole Palo Alto scene, boyfriend at the time took a job in Monterey, so i moved down to finish up the writing process. While I was doing this, I volunteered for the Aquarium, and even before I could officially apply for any job there, they offered me my current position.
Looking back on it though, it might not have been the wisest thing...
I wish I did take some time off between grad school and starting a job. And as friendly and wonderful of a work place the Aq is, it is a non-profit work environment, and as someone who was use to the rigors and structure of academia- I thought academia was wasteful in time and resources- the Aq has proven to be difficult at times.
where are you now? And what are you looking to get into? I'll admit, I wasn't thinking about what I was going to do after academia. I was just going along loving the research side of things. But now that I'm off the beaten trail as far as not being a bench scientist or working for the man, I don't think I could ever go back. i like knowing that I'm working towards sustainability. Athough my science has NOT grown, deepened or become sharper, I'm glad that I shied away from the taditional PhD grad position. I have learned things about myself and what I am passionate about over the last two years...
i'd love to conitnue this conversation...
please feel free to emial me directly. I'm heading out to Hawaii for a little bit of a vacation on Tuesday, but plan on checking in on Tribe while I'm out there... -
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Re: why S & T
Mon, April 5, 2004 - 12:08 PMHey I volunteer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Well not as much as I would like :( Since I live in SF and gasoline keeps going up in price, my visits to the aquarium have become less fequent.
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Re: why S & T
Wed, April 14, 2004 - 8:51 PMI'm a science geek. When other kids wanted to be flight attendants or princesses, I wanted to be an archaeologist. I settled for a BS in Biology, concentration in Entomology and then went to work in tech support out of school....go figure. :) -
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Re: why S & T
Mon, May 3, 2004 - 6:38 AMYeah, I always wanted to be an archeologist as a little girl too.
I got to do a couple of digs while in college and I had really mixed feelings about it. I had tried to line up doing an internship at the museum where the pieces we dug up were processed, cleaned, cataloged etc. The prof who was helping me took too long and I ended up doing a different internship. I often wonder what my life would be like now if I had done that. Archeology rules. -
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Re: why S & T
Wed, July 14, 2004 - 9:52 AMIt was wonderful reading about other women's interest in science.
I always wanted to send rockets to other planets. When I was about 13 I finally got a telescope (a cheapie) and loved being out on the front lawn at night looking at the stars. Always wanted to know "why?". In high school there were few girls interested in science and even fewer in college.
1960 - I wanted to go to CalTek, but they didn't accept girls (neither did Harvey Mudd). I was accepted in physics at UC Berkeley but because there was no place in the dorms at Berkeley, my Dad wouldn't let me go. Ended up in physics at UCLA (and in the dorm) - the only girl in an entering class of 243 boys. It was real clear that if I wan't going to date them, I wasn't welcome. At 17 I wasn't tough enough to stick it out. Switched to history - got an MA. Taught for a while. Became a police officer (first on the department). Finally went back to school and studied computers. Employed doing artificial intelligence work. Missed people. I went back to school in psychology and got a PhD. Now I am involved as an investigator with a new electromagnetic technology for relief of pain. Can't stay away from from the "why?" question. -
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Re: why S & T
Wed, July 28, 2004 - 9:21 AMI'm exploring different career options right now. I have a basic liberal arts degree with areas of emphasis in chemistry, psychology and women studies. After having a baby, I decided to go to nursing school and become a nurse-midwife. My son is almost 2 now, and I'm sort of moving away from my super-immersion in the pregnancy/parenthood part of my life. Becoming my own person again, you know.
Anyway, I really enjoyed all the nursing prereqs I took, and now, on the verge of applying to a nursing program, I'm thinking about different science things I could get into instead. I'm kind of overwhelmed! So many cool things to do. The coolest thing I've come across is biological photography, but I understand there's not a huge job market and it takes a while to get your foot in the door.
I definitely want to get in school, do the work and start making some money as soon as I finish, but I don't want to spend 2 years in nursing school only to discover that it's a pain in the ass taking care of people all day. I'm making an appointment next week to talk with a career counselor to see if I can narrow my focus.
Any suggestions?
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Re: why S & T
Fri, January 21, 2005 - 9:49 PMI must have missed this post before. Josie, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE story!
It was so brave of you to even TRY to be the only girl in a class of men that size. I was one of 5 women on a consulting gig with almost 200 consultants and I had to go to therapy to get through the situation. I paid my dues there for a year and bought myself a great career, but not without some personal emotional sacrifice.
I also know what you mean about missing people when getting involved in technology. I love my current position of Sales Engineer because I get to have the best of both worlds.
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Re: why S & T
Wed, July 28, 2004 - 8:01 PMI've got an engineering degree and have been working in the consulting biz for 10+ years now. I actually specialize in infrastructure rehabilitation and condition assessment of underground assets - sewers in particular :) As a kid there was that pull towards archeaology (Indiana Jones made it seem soooooo romantic) but thought engineering would offer a more stable career. From there I just kind of drifted into the asset management that I do today.
Women/girls need to be shown more science options throughout their entire school life so they know not to close doors before they are ever opened. There's also a whole other rant I could go on about self-esteem, but that's for another thread.
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