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science / scientific talent / scientists : page 2 quotes articles sites books ........
I can tell you from my experience that I actually had an easier time in the 'harder' science classes because I was surrounded by people who thought the way I did. Taking 'baby' science was a waste of time, and logic itself was not handled in the same way by the teachers. I only made that mistake once. Believe me, if you love science, you'll have a better experience with the more demanding class. Plus, there's always that feeling of pride at having challenged yourself!
Danica McKellar (known for her role as 'Winnie' on "The Wonder Years"; in 1998 she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in math from UCLA) [quote from math advice column on her site]
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"I see my daughter, who is thirteen, going through this period of self-doubt: she started out sort of equal in all areas, and now she starts to say, 'Oh, I can't do math.' You have to go very actively against that mindset and say, 'There's no reason to say that - you can do anything.'"
Paula Szkody, PhD, Astronomy
[from interview by Douglas Eby for book: Notable Women in the Physical Sciences - A Biographical Dictionary]
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Biologist Candace Pert : "I've come to believe that science, at its very core, is a spiritual endeavor.
Some of my best insights have come to me through what I can only call a mystical process.
It's like having God whisper in your ear. It's this inner voice that scientists must come to trust."
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***********************Camilla Persson Benbow
Where are they now? Twenty years later researchers report on career, life choices of students
from 1980 study on gender differences in math abilityNASHVILLE, Tenn. - Twenty years after finding that gifted boys are better at math reasoning than gifted girls,
a follow-up study of these same gifted and talented students - now in their 30s - indicates these earlier differences
continue to influence their education and career choices.The follow-up study, published in the November 2000 issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the American
Psychological Society, shows that the women -- first tested as 12- to 14-year-olds - chose careers in which they could work with people and were less engaged in the physical sciences and engineering than their male counterparts, according to Camilla Benbow, lead author of the study and dean of Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of education and human development...."These findings have implications for higher education and expectations for equal representation of men and women across careers. If we afford these students a variety of academic opportunities, are supportive and do encourage them to explore the things they do well, irrespective of sex, our data suggests that gifted males and females will make different choices. They will achieve at the same level but in different areas. If these patterns continue, it may be unrealistic, for example, to expect to have a 50-50 ratio of men and women in engineering programs at universities. Maybe there might always be more men who are computer scientists than women." [from summary of study]
Camilla Persson Benbow is an editor of the book: Intellectual talent: Psychometric and social issues
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"I enthusiastically embrace the fabulous new discoveries of astrophysics,
but I do not want to stop there. I want these discoveries to swim in our imaginations,
to open our hearts to new ways of thinking and feeling about life, about men and women,
about catastrophes and rituals. I want us all to hear how the music of the spheres resonates
with the music of our hearts."Dr. Fiorella Terenzi - quoted from her site -
author of Heavenly Knowledge: An Astrophysicist Seeks Wisdom in the Stars~ ~ ~ ~
I always loved to build things and experiment, and I didn't care about what others thought about my activities, which were considered unacceptable for a girl at that time (I grew up in the 60's, before the women's movement).
I took the hardest math and science courses in high school... For women, the most important things are: have faith in yourself, and be persistent.
If I had listened to the teachers and classmates who made fun of my non-traditional interests, I would never had been able to pursue my dreams and goals of being a part of the great tradition of scientific knowledge and discovery.
Bonnie Buratti (a Principal Investigator at NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
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As a little girl, I had family surrounding me who enjoyed reading and who really encouraged the inquisitiveness that I think is natural with kids. Most young creatures -- not just human beings but youngsters of all sorts -- are curious. And scientists maintain that curiosity.
Oceanographer Sylvia Earle [mercurycenter.com interview]
~ ~ ~ ~"Walking a Tightrope: The Feminist Life of a Drosophila Biologist" by Marta Wayne / Abstract:Despite widely reported success in increases of the number of women enrolling in graduate school, the androcentric focus of science remains present in biology at every level: from what questions are asked, to what answers may be considered, to who may ask/answer the questions. This is an increasing problem for me both personally, as a woman who is a scientist and a feminist; and politically, because of the ever-increasing presence of science (particularly my field, evolutionarygenetics) in people's lives.
The continuity between the ways that assumptions of the male as norm occlude my field from the interpretation of data to thetrainingof women scientists is discussed. The growing scholarship in feminist sciencestudies offers the hope of a better science and a better climate for feministscientists, but communication between women's studies and life sciences professionals is as yet at an early stage.
from NWSA Journal's Special Issue, "The Science and Politics of the Search for Sex Differences"- to be out by November 2000
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[What advice would you offer women considering a career in archaeology?]"I would advise women to ignore anyone who attempts to discourage them, not to listen to anyone who tells them they might be unsuited to a career in archaeology. Archaeology is a great field for women. Women, often very persistent and hard-working, tend to do well in long-term research. Women, often not integrated into traditional power structures, may be more independent than men in academe. Women also tend to do well in interactions with local, rural people, who may be more suspicious of foreign men. I've not even had much problem with government bureaucracies. People are pretty nice, in general. Those who have a problem with women for some reason are few and far between."
Anna C. Roosevelt - Curator of Archaeology at The Field Museum; Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, etc. [from Society For California Archaeology interview]
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Women Perform Better In Math When Tested Without Men, Study Says -
Women perform as much as 12 percent better on math problems when tested in a setting without men, according to a study of Brown University undergraduates led by a graduate student of psychology. Specifically, women tested in single-sex groups scored a 70-percent accuracy rate on math exams; women tested in groups in which they were outnumbered by men scored a 58-percent accuracy rate, said lead author Michael Inzlicht, whose study appeared in the September issue of the American Psychological Society's journal, Psychological Science. [ScienceDaily report 9/13/2000]
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"Hello, Kismet," said Cynthia Breazeal in a singsong voice. Leaning closer to the object
of her attention, she asked, "Are you going to talk to me?" The exchange could be familiar
to any parent, but Kismet is not a child. It's a robotic head that can interact with humans
in a human-like way via myriad facial expressions, head positions, and tones of voice."The goal is to build a socially intelligent machine that learns things as we learn them, through
social interactions," said Dr. Breazeal, a postdoctoral associate at MIT's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
and leader of the Kismet team. ..."I think people are often afraid that technology is making us less human. Kismet is a counterpoint
to that -- it really celebrates our humanity. This is a robot that thrives on social interactions."from MIT press release: "MIT team building social robot" - Feb.14.2001
**related book: Robin R. Murphy An Introduction to AI Robotics
[Amazon.com review:] "Robin Murphy is extremely effective at combining theoretical
and practical rigor with a light narrative touch. In the overview, for example, she touches upon
anthropomorphic robots from classic films and science fiction stories before delving into the nuts
and bolts of organizing intelligence in robots."~ ~ ~ ~
...
When I was a child, I dreamed about space - I admired pilots, astronauts, and I've admired explorers of all kinds. It was only a dream that I would someday be one of them. It is my hope that all children, boys and girls, will see this mission and be inspired to reach for their dreams, because dreams do come true! Eileen Collins [in speech about being named Space Shuttle commander]
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**************![[Image]](images/jfoster2.jpeg)
One of the appealing things about her character in "Contact" was the intense involvement of astronomer Dr. Ellie Arroway with her work, says Jodie Foster: "The foremost thing about Ellie's character, that's true in the book, in the screenplay, and definitely on screen, is that she is completely and totally passionate. And that's something that I was dying to play: somebody that is very involved and very focused on an intellectual process, and that that process allows her to fly in ways that feels very loving and emotional.
"And feels very human. I think too often, intellectual processes are portrayed as some kind of dry, scientific thing that doesn't have a connection to the soul. And when you're obsessed by something, when something fascinates you, it's wondrous. And in fact, if anything, I think she's a zealot, so it's actually kind of a movie about a zealot who learns to have tolerance for other people's zeal."
from interview with Jodie Foster on making her film Contact*
*******Contact [Audio Cassette] by Carl Sagan, Jodie Foster (Reader)
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"Equality in the workplace and equal access to leadership positions for women are issues that have stirred considerable debate among scientists during the past several decades. Despite affirmative action, several well-publicized cases of discrimination, and organized efforts to raise awareness, women still lag behind their male colleagues.An increasing number of young women aspire to careers in research science and pursue and complete graduate training. However, only a few emerge as strong contributors, and still fewer rise to leadership positions. Even in the biologic sciences, which are chosen by more women than the physical sciences, mathematics, or engineering, only a fraction of the women who earn their degrees or finish postdoctoral training find independent positions in academia, government, or industry and advance further.
Indeed, Wasserman, who holds a doctoral degree in organic chemistry from Harvard but went on to obtain a law degree from Yale, is herself an example of the many women who complete scientific training but find success in other careers. Wasserman examines these complex issues through the experiences of women who have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
These 86 women, who constitute about 5 percent of the membership of the Academy, are the elite women of American science; their accomplishments clearly identify them as having succeeded in a traditionally male-centered environment. ... Each woman's experience is refreshingly different. However, some important parallels can be found among most of the stories.
Talent, intelligence, flexibility, and incredible perseverance are traits that shine through in every instance. Most of the women profiled in the book received critical encouragement, often from a family member who made it clear that it was not only acceptable but also highly desirable to ignore convention and find security through a career."
from The New England Journal of Medicine review of book:
Elga Wasserman The Door in the Dream : Conversations With Eminent Women in Science
**articles:
Hedy Lamarr: Inventor two articles on her little-known contributions to military communications
Scientist at Work "Ellen Langer's specialty may seem a little odd for a psychologist: she studies mindlessness." [NY Times]
What Is Genius Made Of? by Susan Adams "When physicist Michio Kaku hits a wall in his research on string theory, he straps on a pair of ice skates and heads out onto a New York City rink. The cocreator of string theory twirls around and around and around. "Once I'm on the ice, it's just me and Isaac Newton," says Kaku, a professor at the City University of New York. Filmmaker Michael Apted borrows Kaku's quirky comment for the title of his charming, poetic new film on how scientists create. Me & Isaac Newton... is not your ordinary sober-minded appreciation of eggheads at work. It's a surprisingly moving film that limns the whimsical, often playful process that produces life-changing scientific discoveries."
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4,000 Years of Women in Science
American Association of University Women
Center for Women and Information Technology
"Unquestionably, we must encourage more women and girls to study computer science and become the high-tech professionals for which there's so strong a demand. Equally important, however, is the quality of women's experience as users of IT. The headlines report that women are flocking to the Net in unprecedented numbers, but if we look further, we find that the Internet stampede includes relatively few poor women, minority women, or women outside the U. S. and Canada. These absences bode ill for the future."
The Collaboration for Equity: Fairness in Science and Mathematics EducationContributions of 20th century women to physics
GirlGeeks.org "..to encourage women to develop their careers in technology.."
Past Notable Women of Computing & Mathematics
The Society of Women Engineers
Society of Women Engineers, Caltech Student Section [California Institute of Technology]
Take Aim - to support mentoring of young women
Telementoring Young Women in Science, Engineering, and Computing
WITI Foundation "dedicated to advancing women in technology... increasing the number of women in executive roles in technology and technology-based companies; helping women become more financially independent and technology-literate; and encouraging young women to choose careers in science and technology."
Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering
"Everyday in the United States thousands and thousands of women are studying or working in computer science. Still, at times we may look around and not see another woman's face in our co-workers, classmates, or instructors. With this website I hope to provide women in computer science with a sense of belonging."
Women in Engineering Committee (part of IEEE)Women in Engineering Programs & Advocates Network
Women in Science and Technology (American Psychological Association)
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In scientific research, you're constantly faced with reviews, you're constantly being evaluated,
and that aspect of it I really don't like very much. It's just competitive, and that's what you have
to do to survive.In my field, with only two or three other women, at major meetings we often
go off with each other. But at some point, you don't think of yourselves as women --
you're basically all scientists.astronomer Paula Szkody, PhD, who works in the field of cataclysmic variables
from interview by Douglas Eby - in the book :
Benjamin Shearer, Barbara Smith Shearer. Notable Women in the Physical Sciences]
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