Weekly Wrap-Up

Weekly Wrap-Up

I used to run competitively and pacing yourself is really important. Too fast and you'll suffer later in the race, likely running much slower than your potential. But, too slow is just that - too slow. This week I was thinking about how I pace myself in life, at home, with science and with 500WS. Do I pack my days too full of meetings, emails and conference calls?  Do I leave enough time to drink my coffee in the morning, take 'me time' breaks, and have space to breath? How do you find the right pace for your life and career? I'd love to hear from you! 

Take Action Tuesday: Mind Your Mental Health

Take Action Tuesday: Mind Your Mental Health

It’s back to school week, which brings on a range of emotions — from excitement at new beginnings to anxiety brought on by the unfamiliar. So this week, we’re asking you to take time to check in with yourself amidst all the tumult that comes with this season. We can’t change the world if we don’t take care of ourselves first.

Weekly Wrap-Up

Weekly Wrap-Up

Do you ever do the legs up the wall stretch? Not only does it give relief to your legs and feet, but almost immediately calms your mind and relaxes your body. I was doing that exercise last night and thought, how can I extend this relaxed feeling all the way through the weekend? So that's my plan once I finish work today- put down my computer and focus on cultivating a quiet, relaxed mind. What does your weekend have in store? 

Weekly Wrap-Up

Weekly Wrap-Up

"Believe it till you achieve it" is the new "fake it till you make it." You're not faking anything. 

A great mindset to apply as we come up on the Fall; many of us are starting up the school year, searching for jobs, and realizing we only have 4 months left in the year! Use this weekend to give yourself credit for what you have accomplished so far this year and what you will accomplish in the future. Hugs to all! 

Pod of the Week - Youth Pod!

Pod of the Week - Youth Pod!

You can't help but be inspired by the Folsom youth pod. After learning about 500WS from her mentor, pod President Chinmayi set up a sign-up sheet at her school's "club rush". She quickly drew in a small group, and in a year their club has grown to 15. They are now organizing activities that support young girls in STEM and increase recognition for women scientists, and they are planning more ways to interact with their community. These highs school ladies are still trying to decide which science topic they like most - their interests range from environmental science, biochemistry, and neuroscience to computer science and marine biology - but they united in a mission of open, inclusive and accessible science. Thanks the the whole Folsom pod for letting us feature you today! 

Take Action Tuesday - Award Edition

Take Action Tuesday - Award Edition

An academic prize can have a significant impact on self-confidence and work wonders on your resumé. Even if you don’t win, putting together an application can help you evaluate your skills and get your CV in order. When Prof Haley Gomez of the Cardiff University was up for a €1.8 million grant, the first thing they asked in her interview was about a public engagement award she’d received in Wales. “It’s almost a badge that says you are externally recognised as having achieved something by your community. It’s also something to distinguish yourself against others in grant applications.”

Pod of the Week - Madrid

Pod of the Week - Madrid

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.

, ,

Creating New Perspectives

, ,
Creating New Perspectives

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!

Weekly Wrap-Up

Weekly Wrap-Up

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

Take Action Tuesday

“Get in trouble — good trouble” U.S, Representative John R. Lewis (D-GA) #goodtrouble

Rep. John R. Lewis wrote “Dr. King and others inspired me to get in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble.” We feel similarly inspired to get in #goodtrouble and stand up against the continued assault on immigrants in the US. The US Census has proposed adding a question about citizenship to the once-a-decade nationwide census. Many agree that this question will discourage noncitizens from participating in the census and expose noncitizens to immigration enforcement.

Action 1: Speak up against the citizenship question in the 2020 census: http://cqrcengage.com/censuscounts2020/?0

Peaceful protest is the cornerstone of our fragile democracy. We must use our voices to stand up for people whose voices are being silenced and whose families are being torn apart by the cruel immigration policies of the US administration and ICE.

Action 2: Know your rights with ICE and be prepared: https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/ice-home-and-community-arrests/

Weekly Wrap-Up

Weekly Wrap-Up

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!

Take Action Tuesday

Medical experts agree that breastfeeding has profound positive physiological and psychological impacts on both mothers and babies. However, breastfeeding can be a challenging journey for mothers due to lack of information, support, and access to private facilities. This is especially true for mothers in male-dominated careers, like STEM (and especially more challenging for students without their own private offices). 

This week, we ask you to respond to the US White House’s opposition to an international resolution that promotes breastfeeding.

US federal laws mandate that nursing women need to be provided both breaks during the day and appropriate (non-bathroom) locations to express milk. We invite you to advocate on behalf of either yourselves - if you are nursing mothers - or on behalf of your co-workers to ensure that your place of employment has proper lactation accommodations. If you are a conference organizer, please make sure that your meeting venue has a lactation facility.

We also invite you to support organizations, such as La Leche League, “Make the Breast Pump Not Suck”, and mamava, that provide education to and advocacy for nursing mothers.

Lastly, if you are currently nursing, consider participating in the Big Latch On August 3rd-5th, which is an international event that aims to support, promote, and normalize breastfeeding.

500 Women Scientists is on its way to becoming a powerful organization representing the voices of tens of thousands of women scientists all over the globe. With your gift we can pay for the vital infrastructure we need. Plus, your donations help keep 500WS resources free and open, one less barrier to women in science.