Women in Science Programs For Immediate Release
Women In Science (WIS) is a group of students, faculty and staff who meet three to four times a semester to discuss issues related to science and careers, hold workshops and sponsor guest speakers. Its purpose is to educate, raise awareness, provide career guidance, and support students in science.
WIS started as the result of a mini grant sponsored by the New York State Mentoring Educational Equity Grant to Drs. Pam Colony and Lynda McMaster-Schuyler, administered by the Office of Conferences and Training here at SUNY Cobleskill. Drs Colony and McMaster-Schuyler were interested in sharing their expertise and experiences in research with undergraduate women in the hopes of raising their awareness and exposing some of the difficult challenges associated with careers in the science field.
In the past, WIS has sponsored female guest speakers in Medicine, Chemistry, and Histotechnology. It has sponsored workshops on sexual harassment, assertiveness training, career exploration in chemistry, male's perspectives of females in the workplace, and the most popular workshop on "Times and Life" after Coby.
This last workshop has brought back recent Cobleskill graduates to discuss their transfer experiences and life at the "university".
This past October, ten students, four faculty members and two staff persons shared concerns and experiences and discussed the glass ceiling and career options over light refreshments in Prentice Hall.
In November 1999, Dr. Diane Peapus, an X ray crystallographer, from Cornell University, gave an informative talk on travel and work abroad. Her talk was preceded by a luncheon at the American Heritage, attended by students and faculty. She humorously filled her lecture with practical information relating to working abroad in academia or industry in addition to showing beautiful slides of Japanese treasures.
On Tuesday, December 7th, WIS is sponsoring a "Science and Medical Careers Forum - Opportunities, Obstacles and Experiences" featuring a surgical nurse, physician's assistant, small animal and avian veterinarian, and a polymer chemist. The forum will be in Grosvenor's Gallery in the Old Gym from 7-9pm. There will be many opportunities for students to ask questions, and refreshments will be served.
Next semester, WIS is planning to sponsor a workshop on "Identifying Different Supervisory Styles" to better prepare students entering the workforce. In addition, the Millennial "Life and Times After Coby" seminar will include recent Coby graduates at Cornell and SUNY Binghamton.
WIS welcomes Professor Barbara Brabetz, chemistry professor in the Natural Sciences Department, as another interested and contributing member of the fold and is pleased to recognize her excellent contributions to the program.
Women In Science is open to all students and has been of service to all students since its inception. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the support of Dr. Anne Myers, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
