500 Women Scientists

This week we are so excited to introduce you to 500 Women Scientists Madrid. The new pod launched in March 2018, but already they have started to make waves in Spain. By brilliantly using International Women's Day as their launch point combined with strategic interviews, they have been able to quickly grow their group, start serious discussions, and are leading the charge in Europe! Follow the pod on Twitter @500WomenSciMAD and read on to get to know how the Madrid pod is changing the face of science in Spain.

This week’s action supports science outreach and shows the world #ThisIsWhatAScientistLooksLike.  

This week on #MeetAScientist, get to know Dr. Ruth Schmidt, a microbial ecologist, postdoctoral fellow at Université du Québec, and member of the 500 Women Scientists Leadership Board. She chats about her experiences working in Egypt during Arab Spring, communicating science through art, and working on 500WS's partnership efforts. For more from her, follow Ruth on Twitter @RuthLSchmidt!

We've been busy this summer writing and planning fall activities. We are especially excited to have our piece on the NAS sexual harassment report published in SciAm. The report came out earlier this summer, but it took some time for us to thoroughly read through and put all our thoughts together (and check our anger). We think everyone should read the report themselves, but we also have put together a succinct summary for you. Alright, now time for a weekend of rest so we can get back at it next week! Cheers friends

We are really excited to be attending the Ecological Society of America annual meeting in New Orleans next week. Not only will we have a chance to catch up with new and old friends, but we have 3 opportunities to make a real difference. Even if you can't make the meeting, check out what we have planned: 1.  Path to Being A Strong Ally in Science 2.   500 Women Scientists: How Many Ecologists Does It Take... and 3. Elections Matter! - maybe you can set up a workshop at your next conference? Message us to find out more! 

Have a great weekend and keep up the great work. And if you have been taking the summer off like me - then soak up these last days/weeks of rest and know you will kick butt this fall!

This week on #MeetAScientist, get to know Dr. Lexi Moore Crisp, a biologist and 500 Women Scientists leadership team member. Many of you may know Lexi as one of the international pod coordinators, working to connect our network of pods around the globe. She's also co-founder of the Philly pod and is working to transform how we think about mentorship within our community. In this interview, she chats about everything from badger burrowing to the need to feel comfortable with failure.

I've been thinking a lot about optimism over the last few weeks. To live in a better world, we have to be able to imagine it first. That requires optimism—heaps of it. So I've been coming to see optimism as a habit of mind—one that I have to practice at. Curating these weekly wrap-ups are part of that active practice. They're a list of what we've done, what we love, and what we have left to do.

This week on #MeetAScientist, get to know Dr. Aayushi Uberoi, a microbiologist and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine. We chatted with her passion for science and how it led her to her research on the skin microbiome, as well as what she wishes people knew about microbes!

This week is one in a number that has highlighted how high the stakes are for our future, which is why we're so excited about our newly launched campaign to Get Out the Vote. Regardless of whether you're based around the world, the message I took away from the webinar is the same: if we can mobilize around our values and build a collective story to inspire others to action, change will come.

Today we encourage you to Own Your Title, start preparing for the mid-term elections, and motive yourself by rereading Maya Angelou’s ‘Still I Rise’.

Happy first international #LGBTstemday (one day late)! And Happy Independence Day (2 days late). The summer is here and while we would all rather be on a beach with a coconut based drink in our hand, there is resistance to do! We will be here all summer to help you plan. Use the summer to meet up with your pod or network of women at a conference, and keep us posted! Enjoy the weekend ;). 

“Be bold. Be courageous. Never be afraid to speak up and speak out. Together we can build a more perfect union. #goodtrouble” Representative John Lewis

The Declaration of Independence in the U.S. is a document of protest. If you are an American, there is no better way to show your patriotism on the 4th of July, than to take an action to improve your country. =

My mentor sent me a message yesterday, she said "We have had conservative Supreme Courts before and lived through it. We will weather this storm and come out the other side." It may not be comforting to know that an even larger storm is coming, but know, no matter what arrives, we will stand together. To prepare yourself and get some good motivation, I recommend reading Dr. Chandra's thread and the links. Keep your heads up! 

This week on #MeetAScientist, learn about University of Washington Chemical Engineering professor Lilo Pozzo. Lilo's research group explores properties of nanomaterials with applications spanning from photovoltaic cells to protein engineering. Born in Argentina and raised in Puerto Rico, Dr. Pozzo recently spent time in Puerto Rico with her research group helping restore power to the island using microgrids and solar arrays.

I know this week was overly frustrating in the US (we have some suggestions below on how to #keepfamiliestogether). While the US administration, and governments around the world, try to sow chaos and distrust in their citizens it is our responsibility as scientists to be leaders in our communities. We have the opportunity to share facts and support policies backed by the truth. We can be leaders by writing op-ed's in our local papers, doing interviews with media on policies relevant to our research and communities, and we always have the option to stand up for what we know is right. As part of 500WS you never will be alone in your activism. Happy Summer Solstice, keep up the good fight! 

Inspired by an article we wrote last year, the El Paso women recognized that their border community was uniquely positioned, and a pod could bring together people from many backgrounds with one goal in mind: to change perceptions of what a scientists looks like in their own community. While the pod is still in the early stages of growth, already they are finding creative ways to interact with their community - including a fossil hike! Thank you ladies for taking time to introduce your pod to us! 

As scientists, it is our responsibility to speak to the evidence and actively call out policies that are destructive and harmful. #takeactiontuesday