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NSF PR 95-62 - October 23, 1995
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Advanced Research Awards Increase Visibility of Active Women Scientists
25 New Visiting Professorships Announced For Fiscal
Year 1995
As part of an ongoing effort to help women overcome
hurdles in science and engineering, the National Science
Foundation has granted 25 new professorship awards
under its Visiting Professorships for Women (VPW)
program.
The VPW program gives experienced female scientists
and engineers the opportunity to conduct advanced
research at academic institutions of their choice,
where they have access to the top scientists in their
fields and the most advanced research facilities in
the country. The award provides funding for travel
to the host institution, basic research expenses,
and salary for a period of six to 15 months. Since
1982, nearly than 350 women have received VPW awards.
The recipients of this year's awards, which total
about $ 3.21 million, are geographically distributed
across 15 states and represent 16 scientific fields.
The VPW program is one of several NSF programs that
address underrepresentation of women. In 1992, women
constituted 45 percent of all workers in the U.S.
but only 18 percent of the science and engineering
work force. Underrepresentation varies by field; for
example, according to Science and Engineering Indicators,
women comprised 30 percent of all chemists but only
11 percent of all geologists in 1992. The same year,
they comprised only nine percent of working engineers.
During a recent evaluation of the program, awardees
who were asked to rate the impact of VPW reported
that they spent nearly twice as much time on research
during VPW as they did at their home institutions,
and that their professional careers had benefited
greatly. Ninety percent or more of awardees surveyed
reported that the program had a positive impact on
their research programs, professional development,
and scientific reputation.
"The VPW award brings three important resources to
bear on an "awardee's research program: protected
time to focus on research, high-quality colleagues
with whom to exchange ideas and collaborate, and premier
research facilities," said Margrete S. Klein, who
manages the VPW program for NSF. "This combination
goes a long way toward eliminating the unique set
of hurdles that women face in entering, persisting
and succeeding in science and engineering."
However, some of those hurdles are more difficult
to pinpoint than a lack of access to colleagues and
facilities, Klein added. For that reason, role modeling
is also a key component of the VPW program. In addition
to conducting their research, awardees are expected
to spend about 30 percent of their time interacting
with students -- lecturing, mentoring and working
together on research.
"When a female science or engineering student meets
a working scientist or engineer who is also female,
she is less likely to give up on her field of study
when things get frustrating," said Klein. "Attrition
of women from science and engineering study programs
is still much higher than that of men. The VPW program
helps experienced female researchers reach their long-term
career goals, while also helping those who aspire
to follow her to keep their career goals on track."
Attached: List of FY95 VPW Awards
VISITING PROFESSORSHIPS FOR WOMEN 1995 AWARDEES
NAME |
HOME INSTITUTION |
HOST INSTITUTION |
Bachman, Gwendolyn |
Univ. of CA/Los Angeles |
Univ. of Oklahoma |
Baldridge, Kim S.D. |
Supercomputer Ctr |
Univ. of CA/San Diego |
Bjornerud, Marcia |
Miami University |
Michigan Tech. Univ. |
Clark, Beth E. |
Univ. of Texas/Austin |
Univ. of Arizona |
Demers, Cornelia E. |
Worcester Polytechnic Inst. |
GA Inst. of Tech. |
Droser, Mary L. |
University of CA/Riverside |
Univ. of Cincinnati |
Eberly, Janice |
University of Pennsylvania |
Harvard Univ. |
Eisner, Wendy |
Ohio State Univ. |
Univ. of Alaska/Anchorage |
Fomenkova, Marina |
NASA/Ames Research Ctr |
Univ. of CA/San Diego |
Lillard, Angelina S. |
Univ. of San Francisco |
Univ. of CA/Berkeley |
Liuti, Simonetta |
Univ. of Virginia |
College of William and Mary |
McBride, Patricia |
Fermilab |
Princeton University |
Mihail, Milena |
Bell Communications Research |
Columbia Univ. |
Palmer, Joyce E. |
Smith College |
University of Mass./Amherst |
Phillips, Ruth |
Univ. of Wisconsin/Milwaukee |
Univ. of Washington |
Rapoport, Natalya |
University of Utah Brigham |
Young University |
Roat, Rosette M. |
Washington College |
Virginia Commonwealth Univ. |
Rubinfeld, Ronitt |
Cornell University |
MIT |
Sadosky, Cora |
Howard University |
Univ. of CA/Berkeley |
Sutton, Ann |
Cold Spring Harbor Lab |
SUNY/Stony Brook |
Trajkovic, Ljiljana |
Bell Communications Rsch |
Univ. - CA/Berkeley |
Vernon, Mary K. |
Univ. of Wisconsin/Madison |
Univ. of Washington |
Waldeck, Janet R. |
Pennsylvania State Univ. |
Univ. of Pittsburgh |
Yemane, Keddy |
University of Pennsylvania |
Univ. of Pennsylvania |
Zhang, Hong |
Clemson University |
Louisiana State University |
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