The WIE Session at 2009 NSS/MIC in Orlando

"Fostering better use of the talent pool
of women in science & engineering"

Wednesday, 28 October 2009, 14:00 - 17:00

Organized by:
Barbara Obryk, Poland WIE AG Chair, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kraków, Poland
and
Sara A. Pozzi, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

The second time in the history of NSS/MIC Conferences, an IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Session was held during the 2009 IEEE NSS/MIC in Orlando, FL, following the last year Dresden's Session success. It took place on Wednesday, 28 October 2009, in the afternoon, and was open to all Conference attendees. The theme of the Session was: "Fostering better use of the talent pool of women in science & engineering". The Session, organized by Barbara Obryk (Institute of Nuclear Physics (IFJ), Krakow, Poland, Poland WIE AG Chair) and Sara A. Pozzi (University of Michigan (UM), Ann Arbor, USA), has provided the opportunity for exchanging ideas and information on issues of importance not only to the society of women in science and engineering but also to the general public.

At the opening of the Session all attendees were warmly welcomed by the Conference Host, Richard Lanza, the General Chair. Then Craig Woody, the President of IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society addressed and welcomed the public in the name of the NPS Society that is NSS/MIC sponsor and organizer.

The WIE Session eminent guests were introduced, among them Mary K. Gaillard, Professor of Physics at University of California at Berkeley, a Faculty Senior Staff member at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a Fellow of the APS and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the National Academy of Sciences and of the American Philosophical Society, and Karen Panetta, the WIE Committee Chair, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Tufts University and Director of the Simulation Research Laboratory at Tufts University. Presentations began with the talk given by Mary K. Gaillard on "Women in physics: a personal perspective". She shared with the audience her broad experience on combining her scientific work in the field of high energy physics with her family life, which she has succeeded so well with. She gave snapshots of a life in physics: the delights of scientific discovery, the politics of science, images of women in science, and how they are changing. She gave also her perspectives on attitudes towards women in an international context because approximately half of her career was in European research labs. Then Karen Panetta, who is the WIE Committee Chair, spoke in a very vibrant way, about the Women In Engineering activities worldwide and shared with the audience her wide knowledge how to inspire, engage, encourage, and empower IEEE women and not only.

For the panel discussion, the WIE Session Speakers were joined by young women, starting their career in physics and engineering field: Jennifer Dolan, Ph. D. student at UM and Hailey MacDonald, graduate of UM and engineer at Disney. The discussion was a valuable contribution to the topic of the Session. Having as panelists also young students made the discussion very lively.

At the conclusion of the session a very lively and interesting informal discussion followed when refreshments were served. Karen Panetta (the WIE Committee Chair) has answered all questions regarding WIE activities and the WIE advertising materials were distributed among participants. Our WIE Session was a success; several dozens of people attended it. The outstanding contribution of our speakers and panelists was all-important to this success.

Let us express our deep appreciation for support which our Session received from the Brookhaven National Laboratories and Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society, without which our idea could not have materialized. We also acknowledge the support from the NSS Trainee Grants that covered conference travel for Jennifer Dolan and many other students.

We hope to use the experience that we have gathered this year during the WIE Session at coming NSS/MIC Conferences.

WIE Session Co-Chairs:
Barbara Obryk (barbara.obryk@ifj.edu.pl)
Sara A. Pozzi (pozzisa@umich.edu)

see flyer

Richard Lanza, the 2009 NSS/MIC General Chair, speaking at the 2009 IEEE NSS/MIC WIE Session

Craig Woody, the IEEE NPSS President, speaking at the 2009 IEEE NSS/MIC WIE Session

Sara A. Pozzi, University of Michigan and Barbara Obryk, IFJ Krakow, the organizers of the WIE Session at the 2009 IEEE NSS/MIC in Orlando

Mary K. Gaillard of the University of California at Berkeley speaking at the 2009 IEEE NSS/MIC WIE Session

Karen Panetta, the WIE Committee Chair, starting her talk at the 2009 IEEE NSS/MIC WIE Session

Sara A. Pozzi, University of Michigan and Barbara Obryk, IFJ Krakow, with Karen Panetta, the WIE Committee Chair, during the WIE Session in Orlando

Karen Panetta, the WIE Committee Chair, answering questions after her talk at the 2009 IEEE NSS/MIC WIE Session in Orlando

Panel discussion during the WIE Session in Orlando (from left to right):Jennifer Dolan (Ph. D. student at the University of Michigan), Hailey MacDonald (graduate of UM and engineer at Disney), Karen Panetta (the WIE Committee Chair), Barbara Obryk (IFJ Krakow), Sara A. Pozzi (University of Michigan), Mary K. Gaillard (University of California at Berkeley)

The panelists Jennifer Dolan. and Hailey MacDonald , PhD students of the University of Michigan, at the discussion during the WIE Session in Orlando

The audience of the 2009 IEEE NSS/MIC WIE Session in Orlando

The audience of the 2009 IEEE NSS/MIC WIE Session in Orlando

The audience of the 2009 IEEE NSS/MIC WIE Session in Orlando