Caregiver Travel Grants for pre-tenure, full-time faculty with nursing infants

Presenting at, and attending conferences, is a key means for scientists, engineers, and other professionals to further scholarly activities, build collaborations, and establish reputations in their fields. Nursing parents face unique hurdles in realizing these critical networking opportunities, including age limitations and cost of conference childcare (if childcare is even available/offered), challenges pumping and managing breastmilk throughout the conference, sponsor travel reimbursement restrictions, and the significant financial strain of bringing a caregiver.

We are excited to announce that the Office of Research Programs has launched a trial Caregiver Travel Grant Program to support conference attendance for pre-tenure, full-time faculty, for two years post-birth. (Adjunct positions, post-docs, and graduate students are not covered by this program at this time.). Please not that for the purposes of this grant, "full-time" extends to those who were full-time Assistant Professors but have temporarily changed title or FTE due to an Extension of Continuing Appointment Decision.

Grants will reimburse up to $500 of the caregiver’s air- or train-fare per fiscal year, for the purpose of assisting with the care of a nursing infant during the conference. Designated caregivers can be a co-parent, grandparent, babysitter, or other individual of the faculty member’s choice.

For application materials and additional instructions, please visit ORP.  Applications should be submitted at least one month prior to conference travel.   Reimbursement will occur after the trip is completed.

Making Space for Marginalized Voices, Women's Empowerment Brunch 2021

ESF's 6th Women's Empowerment Brunch invited participants, panelists, and keynote to consider ways to Make (or Reclaim) Space.

Emcee Emily Li (EnvStudies 2022) introduced Dr. Emily Stewart, Senior Director of Education & Curation, at Syracuse's Museum of Science and Technology  who discussed the ways the MOST has become more accessible for a variety of community members, including sensory friendly exhibits; reduced admission for veterans and active military, and EBT users; as well as supporting community science educators and youth science competitions.  (Families with middle schoolers:  check out their partnership with TACNY, called  Jr Cafe, which provides a free program with continental breakfast and free museum admission, generally 3rd Saturdays during the academic year.)  Panelists Alice Olom and Martikah Williams, co-founders of Black Artist Collective; Dr. Marcelle Haddix, Distinguished Dean's Professor of Literacy, Race and Justice in the Reading and Language Arts department in Syracuse University's School of Education; and ESF students Sachi Segan (EnvStudies 2022) and Isabella Fiorese (EnvScience 2023) answered questions about finding space, allyship, and ways of moving forward.

Panelists shared the necessity of resting, setting boundaries, and surrounding themselves with supporting people, and the challenge and exhaustion: 

of "having to act white" and the overwork of silent labor.  Women and other marginalized identities have to always be ready to respond to emails, even while on vacation.  One panelists who hails from a "collectivist, family-centered background" and being told by elder family members "Don't be too loud, Black and proud" for fear of risking citizenship process.

When asked how allies can make space for marginalized identities:  show up and speak up!  Challenge authority and speak for those who cannot.   Panelists countered with "are you educating yourself? Going where you are uncomfortable so others can be more so?  Thinking about and learning the details taught in Title IX training?"  They also noted that the question is upsetting because folks SHOULD know what an ally is by now, and label "ally" is used performatively, without active  engagement or demonstrative effort. Are so-called allies giving something up? Shifting power dynamics, leaving positions of privilege?  Its an intersectional question with many layers.  Fighting for Black people, Black LGBTQIA+, Black Muslims, fighting for and with.   Are allies standing up for these, even when they are not in the room?

In what ways can we move forward and make space?  Be honest that every day is a new challenge and that women have to fight all the time, especially Black women.  Acknowledge that its OK to "just be" for a minute.  Work with Cafe Sankofa and Women's Health, taking up brick and mortar with the 15th ward, understand what's happening with the I-81 project.  Land acknowledgements are empty; how do they lead to reconciliation of the violence that led to the use of these spaces?  BAC's mission is to interrupt, disrupt, break down barriers and speak to what's happening in our community, at any or multiple scales.  

Questions from the audience:  How do you physically create boundaries?  Takes practice, be specific.  Acknowledge what's causing you harm.  Understand what YOU need to be fully present.  May need to intentionality pause to figure out what your balance looks like.

When confronted with the phrases "Just take care of yourself" or "you should have said something", flip the script "I am struggling to establish boundaries, but I need them." Start small--it takes 21 days to create a habit.  One panelists had to unlearn "yes" because was working self to sickness.    For black women in particular, stories that are empowering but overwhelming, the protagonist is always strong.  Can we be fragile or vulnerable?

If boss does not respect need for rest, it's time to go.  A tip:  Review your job description.  If what you are asked to do is not listed, use that to negotiation.  Review other people's job descriptions, and call folks out when they aren't doing their jobs.  "You are director of _____; that's your job (and not _____'s).  

Suggestions:  Read White Fragility and How to be an AntiRacist, all of it!  More POC on boards, front money and invest in people and businesses that do the work. PAY for the Training, go in with other organizations to cover the costs.  1-3 POC out of 500 is not enough. 

Panelists love Gen Z, who are open and forward and use social media to call out, build up, and hold accountable.  

Last thoughts:  SU (academia?) has to come down from The Hill.  College has a utopian aspect, and college community should be more involved in community organizations like Black Cuse pride, BAC. which are small organizations that are constantly doing the work.  Bring elements back to ESF and SU.  

Be a good person, be more thoughtful, leave it better than you found it.  

  

The 2021 WEB was presented by the Baobab Society and the ESF Women's Caucus, in collaboration with The Writing Resource Center, Poetry Society, ESF Bookstore, Green Campus Initiative, and the Environmental Studies Student Organization,  with support of the Undergraduate Student Association, Counseling Center, Vera House,  and the Sustainability Office.  Organizers particulary wish to thank Chris from Vera House and Ruth from Counseling Services for being available for anyone in need of support, Christopher from ITSmedia for sound system set up (and providing student support during the event itself), as well as Bliss Bakehouse, Fat Cat Baking, Mello Velo, Recess Coffee for working with our budgets and guidance to deliciously meet dietary and low-waste constraints. 

To learn more about all WEB events, beginning May 2016, please visit the summaries compiled at:  http://esfwomen.blogspot.com/search?q=empowerment+brunch.

For questions about the 2021 program, contact thebaobabsociety@gmail.com and follow @thebaobabsociety on Instagram.  

Support Participation and Advancement of Women in STEMM

On Women's Equality Day (today), National Academies reminds academia to  “continue to drive bias, discrimination, and harassment out of our institutions and society. Despite decades of research, funding, and programs dedicated to increasing the representation of women in science, engineering, technology, mathematics, and medicine, the numbers, particularly in leadership roles, have remained low or stagnant in many fields, especially among women of color. Our [free, downloadable] reports explore the wide range of structural, cultural, and institutional patterns of bias, discrimination, and inequity that affect women, and the steps that can be taken to increase representation in STEMM.”  Historically, these materials are promoted most heavily to marginalized groups.  However, those impacted most negatively by marginalization cannot fix the bias, or the culture that penalizes them for asking, by themselves.   

We all have a role in creating, and maintaining an inclusive, equitable work and learning environment.  Our students learn not only from course content, but by the examples set by faculty, staff and administration in their classroom and team management, policies, and mentorship models.  NAP titles include:  Promising Practices for Addressing the Underrepresentation of Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine: Opening Doors (2020); Seeking Solutions: Maximizing American Talent by Advancing Women of Color in Academia: Summary of a Conference (2013); Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2018), The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM (2019), and Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering (2007).  These, and other reports and proceedings under heading of “women and minoritites”, are available to read online or download here.  Some titles are also available for purchase in ebook or print editions.

Some strategies suggested in these reports include:

• Networking and group mentoring for those in marginalized groups.  The ESF Women’s Caucus will be continuing its networking coffee breaks virtually this fall.  Please let us know your availability and a little bit about you  at  https://forms.gle/2xEqkXLSjzsDbPKx7  Also stay tuned for information from the IDE Committee/OIDE about affinity groups for students, and those newly forming for faculty and staff.
• Recognize that balancing work and family is a universal challenge, with potential impact on retention, equity and quality of work life.  The ESF Women’s Caucus, therefore, invites all caretakers (of children, parents, friends) to subscribe to FamilyResources to share resources, family friendly events on or off campus, or to request information from other list members.  To subscribe, email: listserv@listserv.syr.edu and leave the subject line blank, and message of:  SUBSCRIBE familyresources FirstName LastName.

In addition, the Association of American Medical Colleges Gender Equity Lab (GEL)  also invites registration for its upcoming webinar, Community Call: Creative Strategies to Address the Gendered Impact of COVID-19, September 3, 2020
3-4pm ET, With so many personal and professional changes to our lives as a result of the pandemic, more attention must be paid to how these changes disproportionately impact women, especially women of diverse backgrounds. During this community call, hosted by GWIMS, discuss with your colleagues creative solutions to the gendered impact of COVID such as caregiving and dependent care issues, working remotely, virtual practices and other topics – this call is open to all. [GEL] recently launched … to assist members with these emerging issues and more calls can be scheduled to meet the needs of the community and share resources. REGISTER.   Submit your questions and resources to discuss on the call.  Questions? Contact Rebekah Corlew or Diana Lautenberger

Mentoring networks resume this fall

Semesterly reminder that short breaks help individuals regroup and gain fresh perspectives, that women benefit Networking and group mentoring as their stress responses moderated by social supports.  Stresses will remain high while there are so many unknowns, so let us know when you could be available (about monthly) to meet virtually* and a little about you so we might group participants at  https://forms.gle/2xEqkXLSjzsDbPKx7  Also, if specific cohorts are already meeting on their own, or would be interested in doing so under a larger umbrella, let’s talk!

* I asked prior to last semester for thoughts about virtual meetings.  The general consensus was “no”, that conversation might be inhibited or people might find it distracting.  However, campus closures necessitated an unplanned experiment with this format.  Participation did drop for most coffee breaks, but there was a lunch cohort that continued to meet every few weeks.  This was invaluable for sharing information across offices, and strategies from working from home, in spaces that hadn't been planned for that.  The were welcome brief respites with friendly folks rather than crabby colleagues (some of whom may, or may not, be kids or partners also plunged into work/school-from-home 😊 situations).  Since many will continue working from home due to continued need to reduce density on campus/lack of physical meeting spaces, and some folks haven’t yet been relocated for planned renovation or surprise ventilation issues, coupled perhaps with child- and elder-support issues, we’ll be continuing remotely for the foreseeable future. 

 

Coffee Break: Virtual Edition

During the standard business week, it gets so busy that we have skipped lunch, opted not to refill water bottle to save that time (and that of the inevitable restroom break)—and we are running out of steam carrying more than our fair shares of mental load and taking care of everyone around us.  The new need for "social distancing" and remote learning for our students and for some of us, for our children, may actually increase the need for contact this semester.  So, put on the brakes, recharge batteries a bit, reconnect, bounce ideas off of one another, and offer and receive advice about handling work and life pressures--from wherever you happen to be.

Unfortunately, with this format, we must ask you to provide your own coffee/tea and snacks, but we can still offer an ear and a (virtual) shoulder.  We have got this, and we have each other's backs!  

We are keeping the same schedule, [Mostly] Third Thursdays (3/26 and 4/16) 3:30-4:30 and First Fridays (4/3, 5/1), 11:40-12:35, but rather than walking across campus:  meet.google.com/sru-kxfo-qt or dial: +1 518-600-1124  PIN: 751998318#

FamilyResources now live!

Childcare and eldercare issues are universal concerns, unbounded by title, gender, sexuality or marital status.   So, after discussion with some others about how better to share resources with employees and students, inclusive of all family structures, and facilitate direct communication among interested parties, we launched:  FamilyResources!  Intended for any parent (or other person caring for, or supporting in any way, any family member, friend, or colleague--past, present, or future) to share resources, family friendly events on or off campus (including online!), and to request or offer advice.

To subscribe, email: listserv@listserv.syr.edu and leave the subject line blank, and message of:  SUBSCRIBE familyresources FirstName LastName

Please note:  this was hatched before the community was plunged into "social distancing" and indefinite landscape-level virtual work and study.  These factors actually increase the need for strong support, so please subscribe and stay connected.

Also, the Women's Caucus is seeking partners interested in co-owning this group.  To discuss, please Heather Engelman, engelman@esf.edu.

Women's Empowerment Brunch

Patricia Cerro-Reehil, Executive Director, NYWEA Johnson opened the WEB with hurdles:  colleagues pushed to be internal counsel rather than client facing, flextime in acknowledgment of families and variable schedules, never feeling old enough to fill managerial roles (vs male counterparts growing beards, appearing more distinuquished and part of the club), that boards aren't reflective of social makeup--in gender or ethnicity.  Ask for what you need.  Be realistic about balance.  Focus of what's important and give it your all.

The panel, comprised of Reehil, Shumaila Bhatti, Janine DeBaise, Alyssa McDanile, Caleb Scib, answered questions posed by facilitator Brittany Wong and the floor about the hurdles they face, and the compounding impacts of the intersection with gender and other aspects of identity.  They defined feminism as equal social and political opportunity for access, security to make choices.  That the definition still needs to be explained means that it hasn't yet been rached.  Need more female perspectives in land planning and more.

They advice young people to get experience by "going above and beyond, but still find time for balance."  Some ignore sexual harassment on jobs because they "needed job.  No one else is complaining" until in "better positions" speak out.  One described ideas being mocked, and being treated as a joke.  Another tried to make complaints but was told they "misunderstood.  It was nothing."  Remaining colleagues pressured HR until an investigation was scheduled, months later.  

Male colleagues, mentors  and classmates can encourage and provide info and resources.  They can also push forward ideas (especially ones that have been ignored) presented by their female colleagues and classmates, panelists noted that transmen might not "present enough as male" to have much power or privilege.  

Those in power can do more to promote intersectionality though community building and acknowledging that there isn't intersectional understanding at this time!  Recognize the need for events like these.  Don't unsee things.  Let people reflect on their experiences, and don't dismiss it.  OK to ask simple questions, but don't start from position of stereotypes.

Require courses in cultural competency and environmental justice.  

For managing conflict, acknowledge the commonalities to move forward.  Also cannot ignore that biases and assumptions exist. 

Key points: Women (and gender non-conforming folks) face a higher penalty for messing up than male/straight peers.  This goes along with tenancy to give those individuals credit for their potential, while women (and gender non-conforming) have to demonstrate their competencies, often at high levels.  Also, women are assumed to speak more than we do.  Cultural competencies are learned, and colleges should provide opportunities through required coursework and trainings, and opportunities like these to listen to each others stories.

Women in Science and Engineering Panel

Students from all majors were invited to a Women in Science and Engineering Panel, featuring Q&A bon success and advancement of women in STEM.  Panelists included Cristina Albunio PE, Agency Engineer, OCRRA (formerly a consultant with Arcadis; alumna ERE); Katie Cooper (air dispersion modeling) and Maria "Mimi" Scicchitano (wastewater; alumna ERE), O’Brien and Gere; and Danielle Hurley, Department of Water, Onondaga County (alumna EFB).  Maria is also currently a part-time graduate student at SU.  The panel was moderated by ERE department chair (and sole female member in that department) Dr. Lindi Quackenbush.  The event was coordinated and hosted by NYWEA and the ERE Club.

What is the climate  like at your workplace?  May vary depending on the group, composition and the manager.  The percentage of women is more balanced in the younger cohorts.  Two had issues (different sectors) with single individuals that has treated differently, to the degree they went to HR--which improved the situations. (See follow up question below).  Women were dropping out at 8-10 yr mark because part-time was way out, not way up. All received encouragement to move forward.

Difference between industry and public sector?  Yes. 

In ERE, current class is ~50% female.  

Are any of you in the field you anticipated as a little girl?  Cristina says yes, was inspired by a tour at OCRAA's waste to energy plant, and lucky a position opened up there a few months ago.   Katie as well:  Meterology didn't come into her focus until a freshman in high school, but didn't want to be on TV, radio, etc., but air pollution route interested her through college.  Maria became interested in science in high school, but didn't consider wastewater until college.  Danielle: not many 5 year olds will tell you want to work in wastewater (Katie:  but they will ask what happens to what goes down the toilet!), but wanted to work with animals, focusing on fish in masters program.  Lindi discovered surveying in 10th grade.  

Were you ever told what you do like or don't like [as a child, because a girl]?  Yes, one was told to "do something easy and find a husband." Another  "Are you sure you can do that?" by engineer relatives.  Challenge accepted!  And she surpassed them in scope of job and credentials, noting that "Bias has been motivation to do more."  However, contrary to their mothers' generation, all were expected to go to college, and choices were no longer limited to teaching and nursing. One of their mothers was explicitly told no, although all her brothers were anticipated to go.   And another was told "So, what do you want to do?  You can be anything."  But when the response was "nuclear physicist", counselor backpedaled, revealing that by "anything", they'd meant "nursing or teacher." 

Had impression that older cohorts were male because that's who was going into engineering, not because women were dropping out at faster rates.  What could individuals do differently? Coworkers that successfully stayed within the field re-prioritized their time, and sacrificed career advancement opportunities.  Those that "off-ramped" to care for families have had a very difficult time finding opportunities to reenter the workforce.  What can companies do to make it easier for women to stay, or for it to be more acceptable for men to temporary off-ramp?  Many managers didn't realize that part-time was even an option, so didn't offer it and if they did, didn't know how to advise appropriately. Make the schedule transparent; individual schedules should show the times not scheduled to work clearly, so important meetings aren't scheduled when you aren't expecting to be there.  Pro-rate timelines for promotion, rather than eliminating the option. Increase communication within teams to meet client needs.  Expect all employees to have work-family balance.  Partner may also be in a time constrained profession which will also compound that.  One of the panelists with children noted that she was asked many times during pregnancy "So, are you going to go part-time, or become a stay-at-home mom?" and the repetitive nature of the question could cause employees to second-guess a choice that doesn't include either option.  [note: the expectation that this is going to happen at some point or another can also cause women to be overlooked for advancement opportunities].   She also noted that husband was never asked the same question, and recommended not asking it of anyone, or to make it equal opportunity "Are either of you going to cut back workload or stay-at-home?"

Cultural expectation:  In Australia, people take vacation.   If you take time off, you won't come back to all that compiled work.  Here, industry folks are expected to be available by phone and email even while on vacation and get negative comments when don't.   Which is not what company officially promotes.  For the panelist working around classes, also receives comments about that.  County employee--most positions are team based, so other people are on call for coverage during your vacation, which is a much better scenario.  One notes a spouse who has a position where he is not only not expected to check in from time off, he cannot--he must use company time and resources to check email.  Another's spouse has a similar schedule:  when shift is over, responsibilities are passed on to the next shift, and he's 'free' until next scheduled shift.

Other advice?  Advocate for self:  earn your advocacy, need to work hard and prove yourself, and also learn who to ask.  When hear something that bothers you, say something.  You'll feel better, and may make a change.  May need to go to a higher authority.  Small, soft-spoken "You will not be taken seriously."  

Do you have a network of supporters to bounce things off of?  How confident were you in approaching HR?  Neither's first impulse was to go to HR.  They discussed with family members, and trusted coworkers, who encouraged them to do so.   In general, when you are the only (or one of few) women,  its more challenging to recognize as a systemic issue.  But when you do, you choose either keep working in this environment as is, and it weighs on you, or address it.  Once you advocate for yourself a few times, it does get easier.  Find a network that you can bounce things off of, whether or not they look like you.  

What does future hold--what challenges moving forward and what do do about it?  Read Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg.   Get past gender issues, as children generally have two adults in their lives.  Help each other along.  

Encouraging our daughters, dads, and businesses.

I like this ad, asking parents to let their daughters get their clothes dirty in their pursuit of knowledge. (Even better, this is more about the kids, than about the product and service this manufacturer provides.  I think I'd love the commercial if I didn't also know that girls tend to think poor grades is a failure in themselves, rather than simply material that takes time to master as boys are socialized to do, and thus that it is better to praise effort than inherent intelligence.  But I digress.).  Girls can be just about anything they can dream, with encouragement and access, in the absence of biases, . Those social penalties of that bias are high stakes, too. Women that ask for higher salaries, as men often do, can be perceived as unlikable which erodes the perception of their competence rather than as go-getters as those male counterparts would.  Women and people of color with impeccably written letters of introduction and interest were systematically less likely to get responses from the prospective major professors than were white men, and less likely to get positive responses from those that did reply. Wither these are the result of biases, or favoritism which restricts access to many support mechanisms as recently posited scarcely matters.

Our sons also need a societal shift so they can be engaged fathers and partners, in the home and at work, rather than broody, unfeeling workaholic providers.  Will last week's Working Father' Summit, which acknowledges the economic reality of dual income families (but not necessarily that very few of those workers can limit their workloads to a mere 40-hours a week), and the upcoming working families summit, pave the way so that all our children can be all that they can in whatever fields they choose to pursue, while also nurturing their own families, and making positive contributions to their communities?  It makes good business sense--a 2014 evaluation  found that the newly implemented policies for paid sick and family leave (for all workers, not just mommies) found improved worker morale, a  reduction in the spread of illness, lower turnover, which likely all attributed to the increase productivity that was also identified.  Imagine what would happen if we also embraced paid vacation and capped the number of hours in a workweek like so many other nations have done?  Heck, businesses might have happier, more productive workers, and with the savings in overtime pay, maybe could afford to bring back a few of the highly skilled folks that have been layed off since 2008 and that pesky downturn in the economy.

Conversations in Equity and Excellence: Sex, chromosomes, and Success

Joan Bennett, a fungal geneticist at Rutgers University, delivered Friday’s “Conversations in Equity and Excellence” lecture on “Sex, chromosomes, and Success” at Syracuse University.  She began with a simple reminder that “girls and boys are usually distinguishable from one another at birth.”  But many differences from that point are socially or culturally imposed, including dress (little bows and earrings on infant girls), dueling in Germany (until banned by Hitler), foot binding in China, Thailand’s brass neck rings, and corsets (and the damage they caused to internal organs) in western countries. Current trends in plastic surgery are a modern version of this. 

Fig. 1.  Percentage of Women on Physics Faculty by Country. 

 http://amptoons.com/blog/2005/01/22/percentage-of-women-on-

the-physics-faculty-by-country/

“Biology matters!  But so does culture” she continues.  Women’s roles in society have been largely defined by biology, and in their relationships to men.  Even outside of family, there have historically been few opportunities for work:  prostitute, wet nurse, maid, and nun.  Midwifery was noted as the most respected position, but with limited opening.  In the sciences, women found places in agriculture, textiles and pottery.  Things began to change with the industrial revolustion when physical strength became less important, and when Queen Victoria and Empress Cixi held positions of power.  Educating women became more common, although not universal.  In WWII, women were called upon to “do the work that he left behind”  And the single most important factor that improved choices for women:  birth control.  “Its hard to have an intellectual life when everytime you have sex you risk getting pregnant.”  She notes that most methods were not common, or legal into the 1960s.  Among her own cohort, friends dropped out of college when they became pregnant and married.  Through this time, the fields open to women were nursing, teaching and library science.  Most other tracts were, and still remain, male dominated.  Women’s Colleges became havens.  And through the second wave feminism of the 60s and 70s, many women “stayed at home, but planted seeds in their daughters.”

"Now, women dominate undergraduate programs, but they remain stubbornly underrepresented in STEM fields."  She displayed a chart showing the % of women comprising Physics Faculty ca 2005, and dismisses the notion that women’s genetic composition varies that markedly between geographically close countries, confiding that culture must have something to do with it as well.  

In terms of success, Bennett introduces bias and gender schemas with a quote by Sally Kempton,  “It's hard to fight an enemy who has outposts in your head.”   She referenced the1970s study which demonstrated that far more women are offered orchestral seats when those auditioning are screened from those ranking them, and the 2012 PNAS articled that revealed that science faculty still harbor subtle biases that rate John higher than Jennifer, offer him a higher salary and more mentoring, despite identical (save first name) of the fictional applicants.   

The current hurdle that women must face is that in ‘traditional’ homes, each two adult household had a wage earner, and someone to take care of everything else:  2 people, 2 jobs.  But dual career couples also require someone for the unpaid work.  It doesn’t make sense to “just train men to take up more at home” because it’s a lot more work for both partners.

Figure 2.  Equitable expectations?  
http://www.leftycartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/wage_gap.png

Bennett also points to the cumulative disadvantage of micro-inequities outlined by Virginia Valian’s integration of psychology, sociology, economics, and neuropsychology in Why So Slow? The Advancement of Women (MIT Press, 1998).

What can we do?  “Organize!  Be aware!  And provide visibility to women who have achieved” by nominating for awards and other distinctions (http://raiseproject.org ), and writing Wikipedia entries. Mentor. 

Use Humor.  For instance, 2001 Sexist Geek Alive Ellen Spertus joked about her lack of sports prowess (but participation nonetheless), and donned a bodice built from circuit boards and holstered a slide rule on her thigh.  Her talent?   Teaching the audience to count in binary on fingers. 

Figure 3.  http://xkcd.com/385/

 “If Humor doesn’t work, try glamour” pointing to Danica McKellar’s popular press math books http://www.mathdoesntsuck.com .

Be aware of embedded media messages like “Saucy Feminist that Even Men Like.” (Time magazine cover, May 7, 1971, featuring Germaine Greer), or Anne-Marie Slaughter’s 2012 feature in The Atlantic “WhyWomen Still Can’t Have It All”  .  “Why doesn’t anyone ask this about men?  If you can’t substitute [the word] men for women, there is an embedded message” says Bennett. 

Do good science.  And celebrate the positive societal forces, rather than dwelling on the negative ones. 

When the talk turned to Q&A, SU Advance director Marie Garland inquired about what policies have helped Rutgers faculties deal with the “3^rd job”?  “Rutgers has wonderful tenure extension polices, but it hasn’t been good about child care.”  They do finally have limited on-campus infant care options. “ It isn’t the institutions place to dictate how families handle their situations,” but she reminds us that “it’s OK to hire someone else to clean, and perhaps pay the woman, as it most certainly will be a woman, more than she’d receive at McDonalds and pay her social security [contribution].”  The final question “Are women and minorities still overburdened [and under credited] with committee work?”  Yes.  She praised Stanford’s time banking system for rewarding extra teaching and committee service, and it's intent  to help faculty find both work-life and work-work balance (http://gender.stanford.edu/news/2013/school-medicine-initiative-helps-faculty-achieve-balance).  Credit can be exchanged for other things such as clerical assistance or meals to be brought home for their families.  “Quite a few men are taking advantage of the meal service.”   (Note:  the University of Central Oklahoma’s offers a more limited scope “Merit-Credit” system  http://www.uco.edu/academic-affairs/faculty-staff/merit-credit.asp that rewards teaching, scholarly/creative activity, or service with support toward it.)

For more about SU ADVANCE, please visit:  http://suadvance.syr.edu

ESF opens Nursing Mother's Room, 313 Baker Lab

On July 23, 2013, ESF designated Room 313 Baker Hall as a dedicated room for nursing mothers. After some minor adjustments, the room now has a chair, outlet and occupancy sign, and is only lockable from the interior, meeting NYS Department of Labor requirements for such a room--once they bring in a table. Although this room (after a few modifications) will meet requirements for employers to provide a private place to express milk for infants for their first 3 years, Tim Blehar, Department of Human Resources, assures us that any mom, including visitors and full- and part-time students, is welcome to use it for nursing or pumping.  No one will check the child's birthdate, and no reservations are necessary--just let yourself in, slide the occupancy sign to 'occupied', lock from the interior, and reverse steps when you are done.  Users must provide their own pumps and bring their expressed milk with them in their own cooler or to a food-safe refrigerator.

The administration has pledged to either upgrade the plumbing to a more functional sink and counter and the lock so that it meets ADA requirements, and/or to find an alternate location on campus that has those capacities, and is more centrally located.  They also liked the idea of putting up a bulletin board for moms to share information.  Please contact the Human Resources office at 470-6611 if you notice that this room requires maintenance, or (UPDATE!): Heather Engelman, 315-470-4752, if you have any questions about using the space.

On a related note, there is a changing table located in the newly completed family restroom in the basement of the Gateway Building.

UPDATE:  Administration was unable to locate a better space, so have been repairing walls and readying to replace the floor basin with a counter height sink and cabinet. UPDATE 1/6/14:  Renovations seem complete! Counter and sink are functional, there is a second, more easily accessible outlet, a facade now covers the previously exposed pipes.  They have even added a mirror, which both adds brightness and helps Moms check that all their buttons are lined up before heading back out (boy, that would have been handy for me!)

Negotiating Dual Careers

83% of women scientists and 54% of men scientists are partnered with other scientists link.  Those figures didn't look at other academic or professional partners, so a huge number of current and potential faculty are up against the "two-body problem."   

SU Wise invited SU and ESF doctoral students (women AND men), and other students and faculty who are now, or may be in relationship where both will have professional careers, to join their panelists for a conversation about:
-Can we both be equally successful?
-Who moves for whose career?
-Living apart?
- How/when do you ask about institutional dual career hiring practices?
-What do you negotiate for once position is offered? What are effective strategies?


The two most novel parts of this discussion:  that so many men attended!  And that SU now has a Dual Career counselor (via SU ADVANCE) that meets confidentially with every interviewee, at the time of their on campus interview,  to discuss what options might be available for a partner.  By bypassing the search committee in this discussion, they have a chance to look at other openings that might be a good match for the partner, so that when an offer is made, this office can provide better advice.  This service came to be after the realization that they were losing great candidates because they were unable to even make suggestions before the candidate found a workable solution somewhere else. 

All three couples agreed that SU's developing model would have been better than the situations they encountered.  They wondered:  where in the process do we mention the partner?  For one, early disclosure seemed the right way to go, for another, they noted that they'd received 4 workable offers, but only one from an institution where they had disclosed (there happened to be advertised positions in each of their fields, so they had each been fully vetted along with all the other applicants).  The panelists also discussed the value of applying lots of places, so that when an offer was received, they could say "my partner is also on the market, and received offers at x,y,z."  This was especially important if the department partner hoped to join hadn't been searching, so had no means to compare partner to other candidates.  Knowing that partner fared well when other institutions had made that comparison helped their cases.  There was also the impression that private institutions were "more nimble" in their ability to arrange a dual hire.

All three of these couples had made the decision not to live apart if it was at all possible, so dual residences and what to do if there are already children in the mix may be addressed at future panels.