The Women in Science Panel discussion. (Left to Right) Panelists: Ellen Keister, the Director of Education for the STROBE Center within JILA; Ana Maria Rey, JILA and NIST Fellow; Margaret Murnane, JILA Fellow; and Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, JILA Science Communicator
Some of the most important research and discoveries in science have been made by women. To celebrate these inspiring individuals and to support the next generation of female scientists, the United Nations dedicated February 11 as "International Women and Girls in Science" day. To honor this tradition, JILA hosted a panel discussion/open-forum with both JILA Fellows and JILA staff as speakers. The panelists were: Ana Maria Rey (a NIST and JILA Fellow), Margaret Murnane (JILA Fellow), Dr. Ellen Keister (Director of Education for STROBE, a science center within JILA) and Kenna Hughes-Castleberry (JILA's Science Communicator). Audience members asked a variety of questions for the hour-long panel discussion, ranging from stories about discriminatory practices to making the community a more supportive place. All four panelists emphasized the need for confidence, self-care, and an empowering network for success. Those who attended commented that the panel was helpful and gave them ideas for future events.
Written by Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, JILA Science Communicator.
The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program supports university-based centers and institutes where the collective efforts of a larger group of individuals can enable transformational advances in the most promising research areas. The program is designed to foster major breakthroughs at the intellectual frontiers of physics by providing needed resources such as combinations of talents, skills, disciplines, and/or specialized infrastructure, not usually available to individual investigators or small groups, in an environment in which the collective efforts of the larger group can be shown to be seminal to promoting significant progress in the science and the education of students. PFCs also include creative, substantive activities aimed at enhancing education, broadening participation of traditionally underrepresented groups, and outreach to the scientific community and general public.