Women Professors

How many female math, science or engineering teachers (high school) or professors (college) did you have in school. Well, I'd wager not many. That's because womean still earn a smaller percentage of the new PhDs in these fields than do men. More women are joining the academic ranks, but the rate of growth is still rather slow. Check out the Scientific American article Why Aren't More Women Tenured Science Professors? to read more about it and wiegh in on the topic.

Say It Ain't So...NPR News & Notes Cancelled

Yes, you read or heard right. N&N and the lovely Farai Chideya have been invited to leave the NPR line-up. Get the details at We Love You! (And, Yes, We Are Cancelled). March 20 will be their last day.

I am sad. First Bryant Park Project, now News & Notes. It's like the Horror film where the Black Actors always go first. I enjoy almost all of the NPR news programming. And I really enjoyed the African-American/Minority American programs and angles. I thought it brought more issues to the mainstream conversation.

Is there anything we can do to stave this off? Hey, African-American Radio Consortium, any ideas?

And something a little more recent:
African American Women in Science: Experiences from High School through the Post-Secondary Years and Beyond by Sandra Hanson

NSF-AAAS Student Research Conference Underlines the Importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

John Haynes, Professor and Dean of Science and Mathematics at Morehouse College, Atlanta
Credit: Photos by Sidney Perkowitz

Re-post: NSF Press Release

December 5, 2008

ATLANTA, Georgia-Historically black colleges and universities play a significant-but often unrecognized-role in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education of minority students in the United States, producing scientists and engineers ready to apply their education to the important problems of the day. These messages were strongly delivered by students and educators at the National Science Foundation's 2008 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program Research Conference, organized by the AAAS.

In 2004 nearly half-49%-of bachelor's degrees in physics and 39% in chemistry awarded to African-Americans came from historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), according to a recent report by the Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology and the American Institute of Physics. One well-known HBCU, Morehouse College in Atlanta, graduates more bachelor's degrees in science per year than some countries, said John K. Haynes, professor and Morehouse's dean of Science and Mathematics, who spoke at the conference.

According to Shirley Malcom, director of Education and Human Resources at AAAS: "We must invest in development of talent and potential for science and engineering. HBCUs provide access to many students and introduce them to the possibilities of education and careers in STEM." HBCUs, she said, "contribute disproportionately as the baccalaureate origins institutions in many fields that are crucial to U.S. competitiveness and national security."

Much of the research described by HBCU undergraduates at the event directly addresses pressing national needs. For example, a poster headlined "Preparation of Biodiesel from Waste Oil" presented by Ashley White, a junior chemistry major at Jackson State University, Mississippi. Asked why the work is important, she responded: "Because we need cheaper gas! And we need to stop depending on foreign oil. We can do this ourselves." She went on to describe the chemistry involved in converting discarded vegetable oil used for cooking into diesel fuel. The quality of the fuel is acceptable, she added, but the process needs to be improved for greater yield.

Another poster described research in steganography, an area that turns out to be important for national security. The poster's presenter, Kevin Harris, a junior applied math major at North Carolina A&T State University, defined steganography as "disguising information without arousing suspicion." One virtually undetectable method is to encode a message within a digital graphics file by tweaking the data bits in a way that leaves the image unaltered. While this sounds like something out of a James Bond movie, Harris cited a recent FBI White Paper on the subject that shows its seriousness in an age of terrorism.

These two posters were among some 275 student poster presentations and over 100 talks at the four-day HBCU-UP conference, held 23-26 October in Atlanta. The presentations covered virtually every major field of science and technology, with cash awards offered for the best research as chosen by a panel of experts. This is the second year under a three-year NSF grant that the AAAS has organized a student-oriented event with the atmosphere and format of a full-scale scientific conference, this year with over 800 attendees. The conference featured student research abstracts in a glossy program book and gave the students opportunities to explore offerings from various graduate schools and employers.

The student activities were supplemented by workshops, and plenary talks from some of the leading players in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at HBCUs. James H. Wyche, director of the NSF Division of Human Resource Development, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, spoke of the significance of STEM education for global competitiveness and noted the importance of key "transit points" in keeping potential and current HBCU science students on track toward their careers, such as the transition from 11th to 12th grade.

Haynes, in his plenary address, emphasized the excitement of today's forefront science and the importance of a research experience in undergraduate science education. Carlton E. Brown, president of Clark Atlanta University, another major HBCU, reported large numbers enrolled in STEM courses at his institution but noted that graduation rates are lower than desired. He said raising the number and skills of qualified middle- and high school science teachers would be crucial for improving university-level graduation rates in those fields.

In a later conversation, Haynes placed HBCU training within the framework of a national commitment to STEM education. "The country realizes it's got to tap all of its resources," he said. "Other countries are producing many more students in science. The question is whether we have the national will. The next president has to send a clear message to the country that all of its citizens should receive quality education." As a critical factor, Haynes added, that should include pre-college education.

For some students, the conference gave an opportunity to reflect on their HBCU experience along with their research. Jasmine Greene, a sophomore biology major at Lemoyne-Owen College, Memphis, Tennessee, presented work on the interaction between chromium metal ions and the neurotransmitter aspartate. Even trace amounts of certain metallic elements can impair human neural behavior. Greene's project is the first to examine possible harmful effects from chromium. The results will be submitted to the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
When asked about the pros and cons of attending a historically black college compared to a school with a diverse population, Greene responded that while she strongly favors diversity, an HBCU offers "a family bond."

"The teachers really care," she said. "I'm not just a number."

Justin Morrissette, a graduating senior in chemical engineering at Hampton University in Virginia, gave a different response to the question. Morrissette studied viral infections of bacteria in the Pacific Ocean, which could have consequences for the prevalence of plankton and the food chain that it supports. He carried out his research partly at institutions that are not HBCUs; for him, the most important thing in choosing where to learn and work was to follow the science.

The buzz of activity around the student presentations was matched by the buzz of activity around the conference exhibits. Over 80 exhibitors and recruiters, mostly representing graduate schools across the United States but also from employers such as the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, illustrated that the pool of HBCU undergraduates is indeed a valued resource for further STEM education and jobs.
For all the activity and student enthusiasm, however, the current economic downturn could potentially alter federal and other funding for science education including HBCUs and their supporting programs. Some HBCUs suffer from lack of the resources needed to provide complete student research experiences. Bad economic news may trigger other problems because "many of these students need financial help to go [to college]," said Yolanda George, deputy director of AAAS Education and Human Resources. "Many of the students come from rural areas--first-generation college students."

Added Malcom: "We can anticipate tough budget years ahead for R&D, to the extent that these can be considered a 'nice to have' rather than a 'must have.' If, however, R&D become necessities or, better still, investments, we can make a case for support even in tough times."
Haynes sounded perhaps the most optimistic note of all. Even in the face of financial difficulties, he said, we should realize that "global awareness is where we're going so internationalizing the experience of students is the next new frontier... We have to get young people out of [provincialism] to see there's a wide world with opportunities."

See the full list of young researchers who won awards for oral and poster presentations at the National Science Foundation's HBCU-UP conference in Atlanta.

Learn more about the NSF's Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program.
More images from the Conference here.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering, with an annual budget of $6.06 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 45,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

Promoting Diversity in STEM: Society of Wetland Sciences offers Conference Travel Award

The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) announces the availability of undergraduate student awards for travel to attend the annual SWS meeting –June 22-26, 2009 in Madison, Wisconsin.

The SWS is committed to increasing diversity in its membership and is offering full travel awards and mentoring at the meeting for undergraduate students from under-represented groups (African-American, Latino-American, Native American, Pacific Islanders, and persons with disabilities).

SWS Diversity Program: 2009 Undergraduate Mentoring Awards

These awards are supported by the National Science Foundation and several SWS Chapters(Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Central, Western, and PacificNorthwest). ***All Travel Expenses paid (air, hotel, meals, and conference fees***. The areas of interest of the student participants range from freshwater to marine and involve a wide variety of organism types.

Undergraduate participants must be citizens or permanent residents of theUnited States or its possessions. An undergraduate student is a student whois enrolled in a degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a baccalaureate or associates degree. Students who are transferring from one institution to another and are enrolled at neither institution during the intervening summer may participate. Spring 2009 graduates are eligible as well.

Application materials and additional information are available from:

Dr. Frank P. Day

Old Dominion University

fday[at]ODU.EDU

pdf of application

Application deadline is November 28, 2008.

There are additional Travel awards for student members of SWS offered on a chapter by chapter basis. Visit SWS STUDENT TRAVEL AWARDS to look up information about eligibility in your region.

Lack of Diversity in Science is Bad for our Nation, Economy.

Study says that Lack of African-Americans in Science Field Hurting Industry.

by J. Coyden Palmer

A study that surveyed Fortune 1000 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) executives representing leading science and technology companies in the United States, was released last week by Bayer Corporation.

The survey found that women, African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields and that the result could hurt the nation as a whole. The findings of the study should alarm whoever is going to be the next president of the United States the report stated. Minorities are seen as perhaps the saving grace for the country if America is going to keep its place as the leader in the STEM industry, the report noted.


Read the rest of the report on BDPA Foundation page.


I am cross-posting this article because this is one of my battle cries. The need for enhanced diversity in STEM fields - beginning with enhanced education and outreach opportunities to members of these under-represented groups.

Related posts about this topic.
Assertive STEM Education Training Programs may prove beneficial
Why 'Perfect Representation' in STEM is important



I am also a staunch supporter of community involvement and initiatives that reach out to these groups. So even if the school system can't handle it (for whatever reason) I believe and know that there is plenty of talent and energy that can pick up the slack and provide students with supplement STEM education.


I dedicate some of my time and energy to share science with students - in my real life, not just online. I participate in a variety of outreach programs from mentoring and training students in research, guest speaking, tutoring and service in my professional organizations.


So, with that in mind I want to encourage everyone to find a way to get involved to close the math & science achievement gap in this nation. Tutor. Assist with a Science Fair or Knowledge Bowl or National Computer Competition or any other academic program or fair. Have your company sponsor a Family Math and/or Science Night at the school or local community center.

Something. In fact, here's something you can do right now - and if you can leverage company or organization support that is great.


DonorsChoose is an annual fundraiser that raises money to supply classrooms with the things they need. Won't you help students at low-income schools* get the supplies they need to get a quality science and math education?
*(Schools with a high proportion of students receiving free and reduced lunches).

There is also a Blogger Challenge to get Communities of Bloggers to raise a high amount of funds. I know Blog Communities like ScienceBlogs do it every year. I'll look into the details and see if I can get members of the AfroSphere/AfroSpear to participate.

Maybe we call all do our little part.

Science Diversity Meme - Latino/Hispanic Scientists

September 15 is the beginning of Latino or Hispanic Heritage Month. (It concludes October 15). America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

Like my Women in Science Meme in March, I am hosting a Diversity in the Sciences Meme and challenging everyone to name 5 Latino Scientists, Engineers, and or Mathematicians. In the end, I hope we can get a great list that represents each major STEM discipline.

Why am I hosting such a meme? All too often, the story of the scientific discovery doesn’t mention anything about the discoverer. And without a human story or face to attach to the discovery, very often, most students (elementary through college) simply assume that the scientist was a Man, was middle-aged or older, and was white or European. One the easiest ways to promote diversity in STEM is to make a conscious note of the diversity within the discipline and share a real human story. So, will you join me in this meme?

Can you name 5 Latin/Hispanic Scientists?

Rules:

1. Be sure to name their discipline or field.

2. You can't choose people from your own institution or company. (I may go soft on this one, this time)

3. You can't Google or use the internet to aid in your search. (But if you know someone is a scientist, but not sure what disciple, you can look that up).

4. You can consult textbooks, journals, and class notes.

5. You can ask others to help you brainstorm, but they can't use the internet just to get 5 names fast (see #2).

6. Living and deceased scientists are acceptable.

7. Links to or references about the named scientists are greatly appreciated. Let's share the knowledge, and tell mList as many as you can, even if it isn't five.

Major Discipline Fields: (you can add more)

Astronomy

Biology

Biomedical & Medicine

Chemistry

Engineering

Genetics

Geography

Geology

Mathematics

Physics

Psychology

Social Sciences

Space & Planetary Sciences

I encourage you to post this meme at your page and track back.

Thanks

Thanks to Renaisauce for inspiring this phenomenal idea.

image credit: oneamerica.net

World Cultural Diversity Day - May 21st

Today is World Cultural Diversity Day as declared by UNESCO - The United Nations Education, Social and Natural Science, Culture and Communication Organization. By celebrating the dialogue of cultures through words, sounds and images .

The Day aims provide world citizens with an opportunity to deepen understanding of the values of Cultural Diversity and to learn to "live together" better. This is why UNESCO appeals to the Member States as well as to all civil society to celebrate this World Day by involving as many actors and partners as possible.
We must now give greater recognition to culture as a contributor to truly sustainable development that respects people and environments, and serves the cause of dialogue and peace. In this way we shall be able to recover the sense of our joint commitment to promoting "the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind."

Koïchiro Matsuura - Director General - UNESCO

Keeping true to this blog's theme, I am including links to UNESCO's Education, Natural Sciences, and Social & Human Sciences pages. For the rest of the week, I will highlight more about UNESCO and thier important work in these disciplines.

American Institute of Biological Sciences Announces Awards for Diversity Initiatives

AIBS honors diversity in the biological sciences with two Diversity Scholar Awards and one Diversity Leadership Award. The American Institute of Biological Sciences is committed to increasing the participation in biology of individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. Each year through the Diversity Scholars and Diversity Leadership Awards, AIBS recognizes the academic achievements of individuals from underrepresented groups as well as programs dedicated to broadening participation in the biological sciences.

AIBS President Rita Colwell and Executive Director Richard O'Grady praised the Ecological Society of America's program, Strategies for Ecology Education, Development and Sustainability (SEEDS), for its "creativity, commitment, and effectiveness in promoting diversity in biology."

With the goal of diversifying and advancing the profession of ecology,the SEEDS program provides a full spectrum of mentoring and learning opportunities to underrepresented undergraduate students. These include SEEDS ecology clubs and chapters, research fellowships, group field trips, and travel to the ESA Annual Meeting where students are assigned a mentor for the duration of the meeting. SEEDS directly serves over 200 students and its chapters serve nearly 2,000 students. These students credit the program with enabling them to pursue a career in ecological science and to forge lasting relationships with both peers and mentors that help support their academic pursuits.

In 1992, underrepresented minorities represented 5.7 percent of the Society's membership. In 2006, that number had grown to 11 percent. The number of American Indian/Alaska Native members more than doubled and that of African American members nearly tripled. The Society has made a long-term commitment to continue the mentoring opportunities for students and members alike, particularly those organized and supported at the Society's annual meetings. ESA's SEEDS program will be recognized during the 2008 Annual AIBS meeting on May 12, in Arlington, Virginia. Melissa Armstrong, ESA Diversity Programs Manager, who has worked with SEEDS since 1999, will accept the award on the Society's behalf. The Ecological Society of America is the world's largest professional organization of ecologists, representing 10,000 scientists in the United States and around the globe. Since its founding in 1915, ESA has promoted the responsible application of ecological principles to the solution of environmental problems through ESA reports, journals, research, and expert testimony to Congress. ESA publishes four journals and convenes an annual scientific conference.

Science Diversity Meme: Women Scientists Summary

credit: whyfiles.org

Wow! the Science Diversity Meme was quite successful. I've learned about so many women in science, math, technology, and the social sciences. The lesson learned - I became more attentive to paying attention to the 'person' who was a scientist. I began paying attention to who was being interviewed during Science Fridays on NPR. I paid attention to who was being interviewed for science and nature prorgams on Discovery Channel. I becamed focused on jotting down the names of these persons. For the television shows, I was noting how many may have been persons of color. Just an interesting note. And if you're trying to 're-tune' your students into paying more attention to the 'life cirucumstances' that yield scientific discovery, I recommend giving them such assignments. Have them learn more about the person, focus on the diversity of the field.

Here are the links to all Meme Participants. Each blog listed several Women Scholars and their commenters listed MANY other scholars.
Greg Laden's Blog at ScienceBlogs Eclectic Echoes Good Math, Bad Math -- adds in Computer Science as science field. Dinochick Blog - adds in Paleontologists. Planet Musings Dynamics of Cats - read comments, includes spontaneous discussion about Astronomers from different ethnic groups, too. Uncertain Principles: Physics, Politics, Pop Culture

Also, though these blogs didn’t participate in the meme, I came across them anyway and I have them to be included in this summary.
Tiny Flame: Women in Science post Jan 21, 2008
The Information Paradox: Women in Science post on Mar 31, 2008
Urban Science Adventures: Women in science post on Mar 3, 2008 and on Mar 10, 2008
Black Data Processors Association Education and Technology Foundation: Black Women in Mathematical Sciences on Mar 6, 2008
Women in Science Blog post on April 1, 2008 Scientiae Carnival: Fools and Foolishness and on Apr 05, 2008 Big Think: Shirley Tilghman on Women in Science

Here is a catalog of Women in Science

Life Sciences
Wildlife Biologist Amy Vedder
Neuropsychologist Nancy Wexler
Linda Buck, Molecular Biologist, currently at Howard Hughes. Recently go the Nobel Prize for work on the olfactory system (although she recently had to retract a paper, but it doesn't seem to be a big deal. The bulk of her work has stood up to pressure.)
Vivian Budnik, University of Massachusets. Neuroscientist. Studies addiction pathways and protein signalling. Eve Marder, Biologist and Neuroscientist, Brandeis. Pioneering work in neural circuitry formation and emergent rhythms. Once moderated a discussion with the Dali Lama at the AAAS meeting in DC a few years ago.
Nora Volkow, current head of the National Institute for Drug Addiction (NIDA) at the NIH. Did brain imaging to examine the role of addiction as a brain disease. Travels extensively internationally.
Karen Gale, neuroscientist, Georgetown. Studies basal ganglia, thalamus and limbic system expression of GABA receptors, and has been influential in analysis of epileptic rat models.
Mary Beckerle, Executive Director of the Huntsman Cancer Center (Salt Lake City) Dept. of Biology. Also a professor at the U of Utah and an expert on cell adhesion and motility.
Barbara Weiss
Mae Jemison, MD (NASA Astronaut) * listed multiple times
Dr Funmi Olapade
Beatrix Potter (fungus)Jane Goodall B. McClintock M.E. RuvuloC. KnottA. YoderLinda BuckHelen KellerRosalyn YalowRosie FranklinBarbara McClintock
Bobbie Lowe
Ruth Hubbard
Marty Crump
Erica Wildy
Sharon Franks
Karen Venti, Biochemistry *
Penny Boston - BiologyDiana Northup - Biology
Beth Shapiro - Biology
Sue Hendrickson - PaleontologyJennifer Blank - Geochemistry
Jane Goodall * Biology and AnthropologySylvia Earle - Marine Biology / OceanographyEugenie Clark - Marine Biology
Rosalind Franklin - BiologyB. Galdikas - BiologyMeave Leakey - PaleontologyLouise Leakey - Paleontology
Barbara Block - Marine Ecology and BiologyLisa Levin - Marine Ecology / OceanographyCindy Lee Van Dover – Oceanography
Laurie Marker - Biology
Gerty Cori *- Biochemistry
Genetics: Rosalind Franklin*
Beatrix Potter (fungus)Jane Goodall B. McClintock M.E. RuvuloC. KnottA. YoderLinda Buck!Helen KellerRosalyn YalowRosie FranklinFlorence NightingaleHilde Mangold (would have won a Nobel if she hadn't died tragically)Salome Glueksohn-SchoenheimerRita Levi-MontalciniMarianne Bronner-FraserNicole Le DouarinChritiane Nusslein-Volhard (Nobel laureate)Carla ShatzSusan McConnell

Physical Sciences
Astronomy: Henrietta Leavett
Geology: Tanya Atwater,Mary Anning, Marie Tharp, Inge Lehmann, Helen Tappan Loeblich.
Madam Lavoisier, wife of somebody. Judy SealeySusan YoungSara/Sarah Wilson? (South Africa)Kay BehrensmyerMary LyellEmi Ito
Marie Currie
Karen Venti, Biochemistry *
Mae Jemison, MD (NASA Astronaut) * listed multiple timesCarolyn Finney (Geography)
Henrietta Something...The lady who worked at Harvard Observatory and helped discover binary stars.Jocelyn Bell (Pulsars)Rosie FranklinMadam Curie Maria Goppert (sp?) (atomic structure)
Margaret Wertheim
Jennifer Ouellette
Alanna Schepartz (Yale)Laura Kiessling (Wisconsin)Carolyn Bertozzi (Berkeley)Alice Ting (MIT)Catherine Fenseleau Carol Fierke (Michigan)
Lise Meitner - PhysicsShirley Jackson - Theoretical PhysicsHenrietta Swan Leavitt - AstonomyMarie Curie - Chemistry and PhysicsIrene Joliot-Curie - ChemistryHelene Langevin-Joliot - PhysicsCaroline Herschel - AstronomyGerty Cori *- BiochemistryMaria Mitchell - Astronomy Jill Tarter - AstronomyLisa Kaltenegger - AstrophysicsElizabeth Catlos – Geochemistry
Carolyn Porco of the Cassini Imaging TeamLaura Danly of the Griffith ObservatoryMargaret Tolbert of the Univ of Colorado
Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel
Climate Scientist Inez Fung
Planetary Geologist Adriana Ocampo
Physics: Wendy Freedman, currently director of the Carnegie Obervatories. Helped being insight about the rapid expansion of the universe.
Lisa Randall, Theoretical physicist and author. Recently appeared on the Colbert Report
Planetary Science: Candice Hansen, JPL, recently part of the team that discovered an avalanche on Mars.
Jocelyn Bell (Pulsars)Rosie FranklinMadam Curie Maria Goppert (sp?) (atomic structure)Lisa RandallHelen Hogg
Chemistry: Judy SealeySusan YoungSara/Sarah Wilson? (South Africa)Marie CurieHelen Joliot-Curie

Math and Technology Sciences
Dr. Elva Jones, chair of Winston Salem State University's Computer Science Department and professor of computer scienceMath: Hypathia, Caroline Herschel, Sofia Kosavaleskya, Edna Krammer Lasson, Irene FonsecaRobot Designer Cynthia Breazeal
Biomechanist Mimi Koehl

Social Sciences
Dereece Smither
Meredith West
Jane Goodall *- Biology and Anthropology
Amber VanDerwarker – Anthropology
Mary Leakey – Anthropolgy
Sociologist Marta Tienda
Forensic Anthropologist Diane France
Anthropology: Diane Fossey, Mary Leakey
Laurie Santos, Yale. Psychology. Helped author the recent article "The Origins of Cognitive Dissonance: Evidence From Children and Monkeys"

Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. - The Dream Reborn

credit - http://www.summit.mccsc.edu/

It was just after dinner time, around 7 o'clock in the evening, forty years ago today, that a peacemaker and rights advocate was forever silenced. Though more commonly credited for the eruption of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, Dr. King was a Human Rights Advocate. He championed the cause of the oppressed, economically, socially, and politically disenfranchised. In fact, he was refining his advocacy focus in 1968 and had embarked upon the Poor People's Campaign. His advocacy visit in Memphis was apart of that campaign.

Now it is a new day, a new millennium, in fact. But there are still poor people and that campaign needs rekindling. An organization, called Green For All, has re-ignited Dr. King's torch of justice and advocacy - for both people and the environment - The Green Collar Jobs Campaign! There is a conference in Memphis, TN, this weekend, the commemorative weekend of Dr. King's assassination, to celebrate his life and legacy of advocacy.

Right now, there are no other issues that are more paramount to this world than the environment. But for whatever reason, the Black Community is largely absent and the traditional Black Advocacy organizations are silent. That is a shame, because the state of the environment affects us all and we have a responsibility to sustain it and be sustained by it.

“In an ecological age, it’s not like the environment is separate from Black people. We have this fantasy that somehow the white people are supposed to deal with the environment and the polar bears and the whales, and I guess we live on some other planet. But the reality is that when the environment is poisoned, our children get poisoned first. So we should be the foremost environmentalists." - Van Jones, Founder of the Green For All founding president of Green For All talking about The Dream Reborn Conference, hosted by Green for All in Memphis, TN, at the Cook Convention Center April 4-6, 2008. Excerpt taken from an article in the Tri-State Defender.

The Dream Reborn Conference will host over 1000 people coming together to celebrate MLK's extraordinary life and present positive solutions from today's generation of visionary leaders to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.

Fear of messing up may cause whites to avoid blacks

I came across this interesing post at ScienceBlogs: Fear of messing up may cause whites to avoid blacks.

Here's a snippet.

Now a provocative new study from Northwestern University suggests that whites who are particularly worried about appearing racist seem to suffer from anxiety that instinctively may cause them to avoid interaction with blacks in the first place.

“The Threat of Appearing Prejudiced and Race-based Attentional Biases,” by Jennifer A. Richeson, associate professor of psychology and African-American studies and faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research (IPR) at Northwestern, and Sophie Trawalter, post-doctoral fellow, IPR, recently appeared in the journal Psychological Science.

Study participants indicated that they worry about inadvertently getting in trouble for somehow seeming biased. As a result, the study suggests, they behaved in a way that research shows people respond when faced with stimuli that cause them to feel threatened or anxious: they instinctively look at what is making them feel nervous and then ignore it.

In this case, study participants, 15 white college students, indicated that they were motivated to respond in non-prejudiced ways toward blacks primarily for appearance’s sake because of concern about social disapproval -- rather than because of their internal values.

Race and Science Blogging - What's really going on?

Serendipitously, I stumbled on an online conversation among members of the ScienceBlogs.com community. Seems most of the community's science bloggers are white and only 3 bloggers are known to be people of color.

What's up with that? has been the question for most. It has been addressed and cross-linked a million times. It's worth the read and click through.
Where Are the Science & Race Blogs? originally posted October 2006
OMG! ScienceBorgTM is like totally racist! (Updated)
Why more racial diversity in the science blogosphere would be a good thing
Jello Salad is a Weird Ethnic Food
White privilege and raising a child (Mommy Monday)

In response to these questionsWhy is there a lack of racial diversity among science bloggers?
I have the following to say:

My blog specifically deals with race, socio-economics, and science.

One of my aims/soapbox issues is that science topics are relatively rare in the Black Blogosphere and I try to infuse/share more science among African-American bloggers.
A major issue with the lack of racial diversity in science blogging involves identifying the number of Bloggers of color who are in science/engineering fields - whether or not they blog about race issues.
In my personal efforts to identify Science Bloggers of Color, I only know 4 that I discovered through Black Blog Rankings:
Raw Dawg Buffalo
Karen Venti
Urban Science Adventures
Diary of a PhD Student -AfroSpear member
5 if you count African-American Environmentalist Association (and I hesitate to count it, but they do blog about these environmental issues and race matters)

Since reading these aforementioned posts from ScienceBlogs, I've discovered 3 more -
Babe in the Universe - Latina (I think) Cosmology or Astronomy
Ed of Not Exactly Rocket Science - Biomedical Research
and that last guy on the evidence page. (I've obviously never ran across the blog, before. Sorry, I can't link it.


Correction, 4 more blogs.
Clifford Johnson of Cosmic Variance and Asymptotia and for the PBS Show Wired Science group Blog Correlations - Physics
K8, Cat, Mission blogs about science, academia, feminism and race issues, but I think she's a person of pallor

Science Diversity Meme - Women Scientists

March is celebrated as Women's History Month and to celebrate, I'm hosting my first meme on diversity in the sciences.
Can you name 5 Women Scientists from each scientific discipline?

Rules:
1. You can't choose people from your own institution or company.
2. You can't google or use the internet to aid in your search. (But if you know someone is a scientist, but not sure what disciple, you can look that up).
3. You can consult textbooks, journals, and class notes.
4. You can ask others to help you brainstorm, but they can't use the internet just to get 5 names fast (see #2).
5. Living and deceased scientists are acceptable.
6. Links to or references about the named scientists are greatly appreciated. Let's share the knowledge.
List as many as you can, even if it isn't five. And multi-cultural lists are a plus.

Major Discipline Fields:
Astronomy
Biology
Biomedical & Medicine
Chemistry
Genetics
Geography
Geology
Physics
Psychology
Space & Planetary Sciences

I encourage you to post this meme at your page and track back. Thanks

Thanks to Renaisauce for inspiring this phenomenal idea.


Other Blogs Hosting this Meme

The Urban Scientist Reader Blog at ScienceBlog.com
Greg Laden's Blog at ScienceBlogs
Eclectic Echoes
Good Math, Bad Math -- adds in Computer Science as science field.
Dinochick Blog - adds in Paleontologists.
Planet Musings
Dynamics of Cats - read comments, includes spontaneous discussion about Astronomers from different ethnic groups, too.
Uncertain Principles: Physics, Politics, Pop Culture

Science Blogging and the AfroSphere

Over MLK 2008 weekend there was a science blogging conference: NC Science Blogging Conference. There were many panels including one on Gender and Race in science. An over view/transcript of the panel can be read at Christina's Library Rant.
This conference, in its second year is a lot like the upcoming Blogging While Brown Conference in its aim and intentions. I couldn't make it to the Science Blogging Conference and likely won't attend the Blogging While Conference this summer. So I am very happy that recaps were posted on blogsites.

Check out some revelations on this topic - Science Blogging.
2008 North Carolina Science Blogging Conference
Science Cafe: Public Understanding of Science
Gender and Race in Science Blogging panel at the NC Science Blogging Conference

Okay, I think it is important to infuse more science info into the melinated blog universe. I know we have all have alot to say and surely it includes more than politics, social commentary, and entertainment/celebrity gossip.

Wanted: NSF Engineering Program Director for Diversity

My Engineering references can be light at times, I'll admit. But here's an opportunity to make Black History!
The National Science Foundation is announcing an opening for a special job in Engineering: Program Director for Diversity for Engineering.
Check out the announcement: here

Black History on NPR

Sunday Weekend Edition of NPR featured a story about a Black History Month Program at the Smithsonian : Play Celebrates Untold Stories of Black Inventors. Read the write and listen to the broadcast.

Also worth checking out are the related links, especially:
Tell Me More, January 29, 2008, Making Black History Month Fun for Kids. An audio you must dowload and listen to.

News & Notes, Feb. 28, 2007, A Black History Month Pop Quiz. It's an audio that you MUST dowload and listen to. Is Black History month outdated, no longer relevant? Hold your opinion until you hear this segment.

Black History Month Scientists Spotlight I.

In reference to my lack of Engineering coverage on this blog, the first Black History Month Scientist Spotlight will introduce you to Dr. Eugene DeLoatch and Dr. Michel Reece, both of Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.

They were featured in Episode 116 of the Delta SEE (Science and Everyday Experiences) Radio Program. Download the program and share with others.

Black History Month is coming - Highlight contributions of African-American Scientists

Okay, the time is coming when students will be called upon to integrate Black History into their class courses. My one and only pet-peeve with this topic in science courses -- Everyone did a report on George Washington Carver. Now, don't get me wrong, Dr. Carver was a great man and a great Scientist. But c'mon, there are plenty of LIVING Black Scientists in the here and now.

So, if your child, younger siblings, little cousins, students, or other young people you teach mentor or are in contact with have to do such an assignment, please insist that they do a report on someone who was at least alive in or born after 1950.

To get them started give them a copy of People of Color in the Sciences: Astronomy to Zoology.
Also check out Science Spectrum Online, interviews with living Black Scientists on Delta SEE Radio, and AAAS Science Update: Spotlight on African-American Scientists.

Black Faces, White Spaces - Blacks and the Environment

Dr. Carolyn Finney of UC-Berkeley studies African-American participation in environmentalism and outdoor recreation. She has documented what many in the science, conservation, and environmentalism fields have noted for quite some time. African-Americans barely participatory in these activities - as students, as a career option, or even as recreationists. She posits that the environment, conservation, the idea of nature and the movement to protect it are viewed by most in the Black Community is mostly a White dominion. I have also commented on this because I receive similar feedback from many African-Americans (from different socio-economic levels). This may have to do with what she calls “racialization” of space, and can result in a narrowing of black identity and discourage African American engagement with the environment, whether as visitors to national parks and forests or as employees and activists in environmental organizations. Read more here: Black, White, and Shades of Green.

There is a need to engage more Blacks, particularly those that live in cities. I worked a nature center and supervise interns, if you will, from the inner-city. Man, it's challenging. They are the typical non-visitor who had their minds made up that state parks and natural areas wouldn't be interesting to Black people. Though I struggle to get them to behave and interact with others more professionally, I am proud to say that they no longer hold those views. They come up with interesting ways to try to get their friends and neighbors out to visit the nature center. The biggest issue for my folks is transportation. So, financial ability is a factor for some Black people... But what about middle-class, financially capable Black folk? Our work is still cut out for us.

Dr. Finney has some very interesting findings and recommendations for involving more Blacks in nature (as activist, recreationist, or as a career option). I'm studying it over. I hope to learn a lot it and I hope to improve my efforts to get more African-Americans outside and involved. Read her full report here.

Go Green!

Political Environment & Green Movement in America...comment

Specific to AAEA's point that Blacks are more involved in the political movement than the environmental movement, you're absolutely right.

There's more history and momentum in the polical ring. It's familiar. Since the Civil Rights Movement, there have been a number of organizations that rally people around these issues. Why? Because people know EXACTLY how political and economic matters directly and immediately impact them.

That's not quite the case for einvironmental issues. And that goes for the general public but it is especially true for African-American and economically disadvataged groups. And who or what organizations are the trusted authorities on matters related to the environment for these groups? No one. I imagine you want AAEA to be that authority. Maybe one day it will, but not today.

For one, your organization is primarily focused on environmental justice issues. That's why I think the political comparison matters so much to you. EJ is important, but before advocacy comes awareness. Quality and widespread Environmental Education is key to getting people more involved in the green movement. People just don't know or understand or care to understand how environmental issues impact their lives.

And if Black people don't know the basics, then how on earth do you make the great leap that there should be more Black people in high positions in popular Environmental organizations?

The truth of the entire matter is that there are relatively few Blacks in the application pool to select from. The lack of diversity in these organizations has little (perhaps nothing) to do with discrimination and everything to do with lack of interest in the discipline by Black college students. This is a PIPELINE issue. First, most black students aren't terribly interested in majoring science in college. Of those that do, many switch majors or drop out for various reasons, not the least of which is poor academic and social preparation for the demands of college science. Of that small number MOST declare an interest in health related science (pre-med, nursing, pharmacy....you get the picture). Within communities of color, interest in nature, ecology, environmental science, makes you an oddball. Careers or interests in natural resources are unconventional. Let's not forget that. And as an African-American scientist, I know all too well that the pipeline trickles at the grad school and higher level. I imagine the contributors to the AAEA blog know that too.

However, it has been my personal experience that participants of the GREEN movement are actually very liberal and egalitarian. They want more diversity (ethnic and socio-economic).
And as a member of the Green movement and several scientific professional societies I know it to be true. Almost all have a diversity initiative that they work hard for.


And to absolutely frank, I find the remarks made on the blog and the linked article Environmental Groups Ignore Diversity Survey inflammatory and anatagonistic. Maybe those other organizations didn't complete the survey because of your organization's obvious bias. You attack the organizations that don't participate and those that do participate you accuse them of being discriminating. Can't win for losing. This might be hard to accept, but maybe AAEA should do a survey to access its professional reputation and/or credibility within the environmental movement. I don't know. I've never heard anything ill, but I've known about AAEA for a while now and I decided not the become a member and my mind still hasn't changed. Why? I thin the organization is more an EJ organization and I'm an Environmental Educator. The organization just doesn't fit my interests. And though those other organizations are politically involved, EJ isn't their primary focus either. Those other organizations are primarily focused on Conservation, Preservation, and Education. Again, a fit issue.

But, I want it to be known that there are several initiatives designed to increase the number of young people from under-represented groups to pursue careers in the environment and natural resources. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I think you get the picture.

Minorty Environmental Leadership Development Initiative
The American Institute of Biological Sciences posts a Diversity Outreach Directory
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences
The Wildlife Society has a Minorities in Natural Resources Committee