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Forging my own trail

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Forging my own trail

Today on #MeetAScientist, get to know evolutionary ecologist and biogeographer Dr. Patricia Salerno. Patricia grew up in Venezuela, where she discovered her passion for biology and field work. She later moved to the US to do her PhD and postdoctoral research, where she found her way into the world of science communication. In addition to talking about the differences between science in Venezuela and the States, Patricia shares how she found her way to the work she does today and how she continues to (as she says) "machete her way" to carve out a career that suits her best.

Weekly Wrap-Up

Weekly Wrap-Up

What an awesome day yesterday was! Women from around the world gathered for #IWD18 and social media was bursting with images and articles celebrating women. All I could think was that more days should be like this, everyday should be like this! Many of our pods gathered for our now annual Pint Night. The photos will fill your heart: Chicago, Providence, NYC, Wageningen, Vienna, Aberdeen, Bozeman, Boulder, & Dublin all raised a glass or ice cream pint (and another). 

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Transforming science education in Puerto Rico

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Transforming science education in Puerto Rico

This week on #MeetAScientist, get to know Dr. Greetchen Díaz is the Director of the Science Education Program and Community Partnerships of Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR). With March around the corner, 500 Women Scientists is preparing to launch our pod-wide campaign to host Science Salons for Puerto Rico. So we're thrilled for Greetchen to share the work she has been spearheading at CienciaPR to transform science education in Puerto Rico through problem-based learning that addresses disaster relief and resilience in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Weekly Wrap-Up

Weekly Wrap-Up

Hello friends, I'm writing today from a small patch of sunshine that may mark the turning point in our long dark European winter!  Luckily bad weather hasn't slowed our fast growing organization. This week we welcomed many more pods from all over the world! March 8th is international women's day and what better way to celebrate than with your pod for our (now) annual Pint Night!  Remember to keep us posted on all your 500WS activities - tag us on twitter and facebook or simply send us an email- we'd love to hear from you! Have a great weekend.

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Science is a public good

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Science is a public good

This week on #MeetAScientist, get to know Priya Shukla, an ocean and climate scientist based at UC Davis’ Bodega Marine Laboratory. Priya is also one of the pod coordinators for 500 Women Scientists Bay Area and has gathered a wealth of experience in science communication at an early stage in her career, which you can sample on her Twitter at @priyology.

Weekly Wrap-Up

Weekly Wrap-Up

Another week and another shooting in the US. Thoughts and prayers do little in the wake of such horror. If you want to take action, there are some suggestions in a previous post of ours here, and five direct ways to help. We are grateful for the strong group we have and if you have suggestions for how our community can contribute to the mess of American gun laws, please reach out to us. A big hug to all of you! 

Weekly Wrap-Up

Weekly Wrap-Up

“Every day, you are doing something that contributes to the group, but you may not realize it. Every young woman you mentor, every collaboration you develop with another scientist, every time you push against the norms to challenge others to do the same-- you’re doing work for us.” -Janelle, the Ithaca pod coordinator. 

Thanks Janelle for the inspiration. Happy weekend friends!

Take Action Tuesday

Take Action Tuesday

There is a massive gender imbalance in the sciences. In jobs and promotions, in publications, in grants received and in invited presentations, women are unacceptably underrepresented. Gender imbalance is only one axis of underrepresentation, the scientific careers of underrepresented minorities, especially women of color, are more severely harmed by this imbalance. Creating balanced science requires effort, diligence, and acknowledgement when the system is not working. As this week’s action we are preparing to hold individuals, scientific societies, conferences and institutions accountable.

Our mission is to serve society by making science open, inclusive, and accessible, and to transform society by fighting racism, patriarchy, and oppressive societal norms