The American Chemical Society

WCC Newsletter

Copyright 1994, American Chemical Society
Fall 1994


Women Chemist's Committee Index
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From the Chair

The changed look of the WCC Newsletter says better than this editorial that the Women Chemists Committee is undertaking new things, looking at ourselves and the services we can provide women in the chemical sciences in a different way. We are printing a new brochure describing our committee and what we can do and hope to do. Ambitious plans are in the works. We have requested cooperation in meeting our new goals from the ACS Council and a number of Council and Board Committees. We are also asking you.

In the past, the WCC has often been asked to provide information or suggest strategies for including women in the plans of other ACS committees. We have been asked to amend our written statements to make it clearer that our goals include a diversity of women. It is not enough to say "women" includes all women - - because that statement sounds startling enough like "he includes she"! So there will be some fine tuning and there will be some acknowledgment that we did not do as well as we thought we had.

Another area of concern to the WCC and to some members of the Board is the small number of women who have been receiving ACS awards besides the Garvan-Olin medal. This year, however, four additional women will receive national awards, including our own past chair, Margaret Cavanaugh. Let's not let 1995 be an aberration. It is a time to express your interest in serving on a canvassing committee for an award. Identify your area of expertise and volunteer to the Committee on Awards. It may take an avalanche to produce a few women for these committees, but let us provide the avalanche. How else can we begin to promote women?

In addition, the Association for Women in Science is in the last stages of a grant from NSF to provide mentoring groups for professional women. Here the thought is that we can furnish names of sections with active Women Chemists Committees for attuning their interest and our enthusiastic women chemists. If your section has an active women chemists group and you are interested, contact Catherine Didion at AWIS, Attn.: Model Mentoring Project, 1522 K Street, NW, Washington DC 20005, 202/408-0742, fax 202/408-8321. Stay tuned. - Sister Mary Thompson, Chair Women Chemists Committee

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ATTRACTING

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An Evening with Helen

At the University of San Diego during the ACS meeting held there in March, about 50 attendees were treated to "An Evening with Helen" presented by Helen Free, the immediate Past President of the ACS. The title of Free's remarks was "How to Have It All." She spoke on how to balance the equation of having a scientific/research career, a spouse, children, and a home. Eminently qualified to speak on the subject, Free has had 50-year career with Miles Laboratory, a 47-year marriage to Al Free, also of Miles, is an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University, South Bend, and has raised a family of nine children. She reviewed for the audience the "Wet Towels Choices," or what to do when you find wet towels on the floor. You may pick them up yourself, leave them where they are (ignore it), train others to pick them up, or hire someone to pick them up. Other words of advice were as diverse as : help other women, don't make an issue of being a woman, be competent, exercise and eat right, never stop learning, always have Plan B ready, know your strengths and use them, and count your blessings.

Changing the focus of her program, Free gave her views on communicating for success. She stressed the importance for the speaker to speak in a language the audience understands. The evening ended with more than an hour of questions and audience discussion. The event was sponsored by the WCC of the San Diego Section, Sigma Delta Epsilon, the San Diego Chapter of GWIS, and AWIS. The organizers were Dr. Sheri Cole, National President of GWIS, Elsie Schrawder, local section President of GWIS, and Michele Ramirez-Weinhouse, Chair of the section WCC.

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Women in Polymer Science and Engineering Symposium

During the Washington ACS Meeting, the Division of Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering and the Women Chemists Committee cosponsored a symposium entitled "Opportunities for Women in Polymer Science and Engineering." The symposium consisted of three components. The first was a two day session in which established women from industry and academia gave technical talks on new and exciting research. The talks covered a broad range of topics in polymer science including theoretical studies, biological materials, polymers for the electronics industry and polymer-inorganic blends. The point of the session was to highlight the contributions of women in polymer science and engineering so as to provide role models and positive reinforcement to graduate students and younger women attending the symposium.

A panel discussion with audience participation was held on Monday afternoon as the second component of the symposium. The session was well attended and covered issues relevant to women in science including how communication differences between men and women affect career development, networking, and the problems facing two-career couples. All of the panelists stressed the importance of finding a mentor and seeking advice from senior colleagues. The session was followed by a reception which allowed for further discussion and encouraged interaction between the speakers and younger attendees. The symposium ended with a poster session where graduate students presented their work, many of whom received partial support from contributions to the symposium by industry and government agencies.

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DEVELOPING

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Changing Times: An Opportunity to Move Ahead
The 1994 Garvan-Olin Medal Award Address

Barbara Garrison, the recipient of the 1994 Francis P. Garvan - John M. Olin Medal, gave her audience some excellent advice at the Women Chemists Luncheon in San Diego in March. She summed up today's job climate with one word - nervousness. Everywhere are signs of changing times for science, from the National Science Foundation advisory committee, pressure from Congress, hearsay from colleagues, to the changing industrial modes of operation, and the true onset of world economics. The key is accountability. Is research of value to society? Do the academicians have an "easy life?" What are the respective industrial and academic contributions to research? Are we teaching enough and is it up-to-date? Is there enough organic and biochemistry at the freshman level or should we revamp the undergraduate curriculum? Are the outreach programs to kids and adults effectively getting the message across?

The very nature of research is changing, usually to a more interdisciplinary approach. Teams are needed for cooperation in cross-field work whereas in the past an individual could work alone or with their own group. The new environment requires relevance, that projects have strategic interest applicable to "something real." Surely these changes open many doors of opportunity.

Dr. Garrison asked these questions about her own career. Lots of people were working in her field of research, modeling the reactions that occur on surfaces, so she knew from the beginning that novel approaches would be required. Her computer modeling brought her into interdisciplinary work away from the area where she started. Although she may not have planned her research path in the past, she may have to do more planning for the future. Another change is that the world will not continue to be dominated by white males. Sometimes you get things or you don't because you are a woman. But there will be more opportunities for women and minorities in the workforce. This is a time when women and minorities can define their own niches. The message is this - these are times of change and things will be done differently. Thus women and minorities don't have to act like "good old boys" and can do different research, use different teaching styles, and can reach out differently.

A long time ago, someone asked Dr. Garrison "This is the way we've always done it and why should we change?" She swore she would never say that. Since she is the only woman to head a "top 20" chemistry department, one must surmise that this has been a philosophy that has served her well. -Melanie J. Cravey

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Women in Industry Breakfasts - A New Tradition

Since the last Women Chemists Newsletter, there have been two breakfast meetings for women who work in industrial chemistry settings. Both were attended by approximately 50 women.

At the Chicago meeting, the brainstorming breakfast was used to identify some concerns from women chemists in industry. It has become evident that the concerns of women in the chemical industry are common to women industrial scientists in general.

At San Diego, the first of those concerns was networking, and several workable ideas surfaced. Frankie Wood-Black, a research physicist/scientist at Phillips Petroleum, has begun a database of business cards which includes technical areas of expertise. Anyone wanting to "join" should contact her (918/661-5989, fax 918/662-2373). an e-mail network exists in the North Jersey section as well.

In Washington, Catherine Didion, the executive director of AWIS (the Association for Women in Science), spoke about mentoring. They have found that mentoring can be accomplished successfully one-on-one or in small groups, and long distance mentoring also works. This is especially good news for women who are isolated or are in small companies. We have also had discussions with the American Physical Society and they are now planning similar women's breakfasts for their national meetings.

Women in Industry breakfasts will continue at national meetings; the networking and interaction has been beneficial and a different group gathers each time. We hope to see you in Anaheim. But if you cannot attend national meetings, we are interested in branching out to regional and local sections. It you have a subject that you would like to see addressed in this forum, or want to help organize such an event, contact Lissa Dulany, group leader at Georgia-Pacific (404/593-6855, fax 404/593-6801). -Lissa Dulaney PROMOTING

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Congratulations

The ACS has announced the recipients for several 1995 ACS Awards. They are Angelica M. Stacy, University of California, Berkeley, the Garvan-Olin Medal; Donna Bedard, GE Corporation Research and Development, Schnecdedy, NY, the ACS Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Science & Technology sponsored by Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.; Margaret Cavanaugh, National Science Foundation, first recipient of the ACS Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences sponsored by the Dreyfus Foundation; Marcetta Y. Darensdourg, Texas A & M University, the ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry sponsored by Mallinckrodt Specialty Chemicals, Co.; and Alanna Schepartz, Yale University, an Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award.

Madeleine M. Joullí, professor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, received the 1994 Henry Hill Award of the ACS Division of Professional Relations. The award honors individuals who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to promoting fair treatment and well-being of chemists. In addition to her research in medicinal chemistry, Joullí has a distinguished record of substantive and sustained service to professional relations principles by "promoting equity and fairness in science and academe and the professional well-being of scientists," says Raquel Diaz-Sprague, immediate past-chair of the division. Her other awards include the ACS Philadelphia Section Award (1972), the ACS Garvan Medal (1978), and the prestigious University of Pennsylvania Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (1991). Joullí received the Henry Hill Award at a special symposium held by the division at the recent ACS National Meeting in Washington, DC.

ACS 50-Year Members: Dorothy Ballentine, Baltimore MD; Mary Grace Blair, Tulsa OK; Elizabeth E. Brown, Littleton CO; Florence D. Catone, Lakeport CA; Winifred M. Cort, Osprey FL; Janet E. Dickinson, Palm Springs CA; V. Marie Easterwood, Memphis TN; Judith Lelia Elkins, Mount Carmel, IL; Fernanda M. Flordalisi, Garden City NY; Edith B. Frick, Hockessin DE; Elinor H. Gladding, Wilmington DE; Mary M. Heilman, Davie FL; Martha A. Hill, Ontario; Marjorie G. Horning, Houston TX; Kristen Jorgensen, Seattle WA; Gertrude A. Lathrop, Black Mountain NC; Doris C. Lorz, Springfield MO; Carmen N. Mangieri, Barnegat Light NJ; Gerda G. Mayer, New York NY; Elizabeth R. McCall, New Orleans LA; Holly E. Mertel, Bluffton SC; Dorothy May Molnar, Frederick MD; Juliette M. Moran, New York NY; Antoinette A. Patti, Nashville TN; Elsa Perez-DePierce, Tlalnepantla, Mexico; Janet S. Perkins, Boston MA; Hannah E. Rosenthal, Lake Placid NY; Sister Agnes Schmit, San Francisco CA; Rachel S. Silk, Bethesda MD; Elizabeth K. Smith, Seattle WA; Marjory M. Smith, Santa Ana CA; Janet S. Splitter, Oakland CA; Dorothy E. Tombaugh, Tucson AZ; Ruth W. VanHorn, Lancaster PA; Shirley M. Vincent, Chatham NJ; Dorothy Wilson, Trenton NJ.

The National Academy of Sciences elected 60 new members in late April 1994. Among the new members were May R. Berenbaum, professor of entomology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Marye Anne Fox, Waggoner Regents Chair in Chemistry and director, Center for Fast Kinetic Research, University of Texas, Austin; and Judith P. Klinman , professor of chemistry, University of California, Berkeley.

Diane Grob Schmidt was selected as the 1994 Distinguished Scientist of Cincinnati by the Engineers and Scientists of Cincinnati (ESC). Dr. Schmidt, a Senior Scientist with The Proctor and Gamble Company, was the first woman ever chosen for the award by the ESC.

Marilyn K. Speedie, is the recipient of the 1994 Paul Dawson Biotechnology Award of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Professor Speedie, chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Maryland's School of Pharmacy, was recognized for her outstanding achievements in contemporary teaching and research in biotechnology and related sciences.

Isabella Karle, senior scientist specializing in crystallography at the Naval Research Laboratory, is the recipient of the Franklin Institute's 1993 Bower Award & Prize in Science. Karle was recognized for her work in developing electron and x-ray diffraction techniques that make immediate determinations of the three-dimensional structure of molecules possible. Her inventive work has facilitated research in chemistry, biology, and medicine.

Annapoorna Akella, Oregon State University, will receive an International Center for Diffraction Data crystallography scholarship to identify correlations between atomic structure and luminescent and nonlinear properties.

Barbara Imperiali, professor of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology, received a 1993 Excellence in Chemistry award from Zeneca Pharmaceutical Group. Her research focuses on the bioorganic chemistry of amino acids, peptides, and proteins and on the central process of glycosidation.

Judith P. Klinman, professor of chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, is the winner of the ACS Division of Biological Chemistry's 1994 Repligen Award. Klinman is well known for bringing the principles and tools of physical organic chemistry to bear on biological processes. Her research has lead to two recent breakthroughs: the discovery of a new redox cofactor in eukaryotes and the demonstration of hydrogen tunneling in enzymatic reactions.

Celia Marshak received the San Diego Section's Outstanding Service Award. Marshak is a Professor Emeritus in the College of Sciences at San Diego State University, where she also served as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. In addition, she was named a fellow of the AAAS.

Sheryl Ann Tucker has been awarded the 1994 Anna Louis Hoffman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Research given by Iota Sigma Pi. Tucker was a graduate student at the University of North Texas. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in Linda B. McGown's laboratory at Duke University.

Michelle Therese Renda is the recipient of the 1994 Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Chemistry given by Iota Sigma Pi. Renda is a graduating senior from Purdue University with a major in chemistry teaching. She plans to teach chemistry at the high school level and eventually pursue a higher degree in chemistry or chemical education.

Fei Liu has been awarded the Gladys Anderson Emerson Scholarship by Iota Sigma Pi. Liu is a junior chemistry major at John Carroll University and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry.

Dalila Kovacs, a first year graduate student at Michigan State University, is the recipient of the 1994 Members at Large Reentry Scholarship given by Iota Sigma Pi. Kovacs was a high school teacher in Romania before beginning graduate study in chemistry. She hopes to return to Romania as a professor and researcher after completing her work.

Janet Osteryoung was named the new Director of Chemistry at the National Science Foundation, replacing the late Ken Hancock.

Melanie J. Cravey was named the first recipient of the Outstanding Classroom Teaching Award by Texas A & M University, Galveston. In addition, they recognized her with the William Paul Ricker Distinguished Faculty Award.

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ACS-PRF Grants Approved in February and May 1994

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Eli Lilly and Company Travel Grant Awards
The following persons have received support to travel to scientific meetings in order to present research results through the Eli Lilly and Co. Travel Grant Awards:

Gao, Loebach, and Ruggiero presented their work at the ACS National Meeting held in Washington DC in August 1994. Thomason presented at a Genetics of Bacteria conference and Wachter at a Gordon Conference.

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In addition, the following special awards were made so that these women could attend the Symposium on "Opportunities for Women in Polymer Science: Theory, Experiment and Technology:"

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"A Feeling for the Organism"

"A Feeling for the Organism: The Life and Work of Barbara McClintock," by Evelyn Fox Keller, W. H. Freeman and Company, 235 pages, $14.95.

Barbara McClintock received a Nobel Prize for physiology/medicine in 1983. The biography of Dr. McClintock by Evelyn Fox Keller, "A Feeling for the Organism," has been issued as a 10th anniversary edition.

McClintock studied the genetics of maize and took time to know every individual maize plant in her fields during each growing season. Her careful observations of each plant allowed her to develop an extensive knowledge about a eukaryotic system. Her theories on controlling elements and transposition of genes in chromosomes came from these careful observations. It was some time before McClintock's theories were understood or acknowledged by her colleagues. McClintock had scientific colleagues and friends, such as the geneticist Marcus Rhoades, who admired and understood her contributions to genetics. However, she had great difficulty in maintaining funding to continue her work and support herself during her life. The book dealt with this long and frustrating time in her life in a straightforward manner.

McClintock's approach to thinking about cytology and genetics was covered thoroughly in the biography. She described her observations of cells through the microscope as if she were in the cell. This style allowed her to explain ring chromosomes, the meiotic cycle of Neurospora, transposition, genetic control in eukaryotic systems and suggest theories in other scientific areas such as human migratory patterns.

"A Feeling for the Organism" is a well-documented and referenced biography of a diligent, successful scientist, Barbara McClintock (1902-1992). The author, Evelyn Fox Keller, is a professor of Philosophy and History at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Keller's interest areas are biology and gender and science. -Kathy Nelson Juneau

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Women Recipients of ACS Administered Awards

The new mission statement of the Women Chemists Committee articulates the goal of promoting women in the chemical sciences. In tracking past success in "promoting" women, we reviewed the level of recognition of women within the Society as reflected in the awards they have received. The data have been taken from the ACS Awards Booklet, 1994 Edition. Since the recipients are not listed by gender, names were used to identify women awardees. Our apologies for any who were missed or added due to this method of analysis.

Since 1923, when the Priestly Medal was instituted, the total number of ACS administered awards given to individuals is 1314. Of those, 87 have gone to women, 6.6%. Of the 87 women awardees, 52 were recipients of the Garvan-Olin (previously the Garvan) Medal specifically designated to be given to a woman. Excluding the Garvan-Olin Medal, 35 of 1262 recipients of all ACS administered awards have been women, 2.8%.

The total number of awards given to individuals for scientific work since 1923 is 1144. Women have received 62 or 5.4% of those awards. Excluding the Garvan-Olin awardees, 10 women have been recognized for their scientific work, 0.9%.

The number of women recognized for their contributions in teaching chemistry is much higher. Of the 132 recipients of teaching awards, 23 are women, 17%. Nineteen of 58 recipients of the Conant Award for High School Chemistry Teaching are women. Of the 31 recipients of the Nobel Laureate Signature Award for Graduate Education in Chemistry, one student and one faculty advisor are women. The George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education has been given to two women among the 43 recipients.

The ACS Awards catalog lists 52 awards given to individuals, two of which will be awarded for the first time to 1995 recipients. Of the other 50 titled awards, 36 have never gone to a woman. Most notable in the list is the Priestly Medal. Other than awards given to multiple recipients each year, only three list two women as recipients; none list more than two. The three awards, followed by the ratio of women to total recipients are : the James T. Grady - James J. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public (2 of 38), the George C. Pimental Award in Chemical Education (2 of 43), and since 1973, the Conant Award for High School Chemistry Teaching (7 of 22). Those generally given to multiple recipients include the Conant Award prior to 1973 (12 of 36) and the Arthur C. Cope Scholars Award given for Excellence in Organic Chemistry (2 of 87). There have been five years since 1984 when no woman received an ACS administered award other than the Garvan-Oln Medal, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1992, and 1994. The recent news that five women are to receive awards in 1995 is welcome. Only four years have seen more than one woman recipient of awards (excluding the Conant Award when it was given to multiple recipients), 1988 (2), 1991 (3), and 1993 (4).

For information on the awards, you may request a copy of the ACS Awards Booklet from the Awards Committee office in Washington DC. -Debbi McCarthy

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Bulletin Board

What Do You Think?

As editor of this newsletter, I occasionally receive letters describing uncomfortable or illegal situations that women chemists have experienced in their professional lives. One such letter posed some questions for women who might be in a position to mentor or advise young women chemists at the beginning of their careers. The letter writer asks "Do we (more experienced women chemists) need to re-evaluate what we are telling younger women([in light of the possibility of harassment on the job)? Do we need to prepare them differently for the world of work?" If you have some ideas or comments, please write and tell me what you think.

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Russian Penpals

On a recent trip to Perm State University in Perm, Russia, I talked with several Russian chemists and educators interested in making contact with faculty in the US. Their main interest is to develop professional correspondence with US chemists in their areas of expertise, especially since they have limited access to the chemical literature. Anyone interested in initiating such correspondence may contact me to obtain names, addresses, and brief resumes which outline each chemist's research. -Deborah A. McCarthy, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry and Physics, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN 46556-5001, 219/284-4660, fax 219/284-4716, dmccarth@saintmarys.edu

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Discrimination at Work?

The April 1994 issue of Workforce Report prepared by Corinne A. Marasco of the ACS's Department of Career Services focuses on the legal aspects and recent increased awareness of sexual harassment. She concludes that, "It appears that as long as work and family continue to be considered mutually exclusive, the structure of the labor market will continue to disadvantage women by not accommodating family needs." This well-referenced document provides valuable details for both employers and employees. A copy can be requested by writing The Department of Career Services, ACS, or calling 202/872-6153.

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Local Women Chemists Committees

Twenty local ACS sections report that Women Chemists Committees have been active in their sections. These are: California, Central North Carolina, Central Utah, Cincinnati, Columbus, Connecticut Valley, Detroit, Georgia, Idaho, Lehigh Valley, Maine, North Jersey and New York (Metro Women Chemists), Panhandle Plains, Princeton, San Diego, Southern California, Texas A & M, University of Kansas, and Western NY. Successful activities sponsored by these groups include potluck networking dinners, panel discussion on career issues for students, hands-on demonstrations for younger students, and sponsorship of breakfasts or luncheons at regional ACS meetings. To learn the name of the contact person in your local section, or if you would like information that may help you start a local WCC, contact Cheryl Brown, Local Sections Public Relations, ACS, 800/227-5558, option 52.

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Nobelist Gives Prize Away

Michael Smith, cowinner (with Kary Mullis) of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1993, is giving most of his $500,000 award to research on schizophrenia, science outreach programs, and the encouragement of women in the sciences. The specific recipients are the Schizophrenia Society of Canada, the Society for Canadian Women in Science & Technology, and a program designed to extend resources and training to science teachers in rural areas.

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ACS Ombudsman

As a service to members of the ACS, an ACS staff office of ombudsman provides a focal point for members to voice ideas and concerns, and primarily to solve non-routine customer service problems. You may contact the ACS ombudsman at 800-ACS-5558, select 5, then 4.

Don't Miss the Deadline Deadline for the next group of Eli Lilly Travel Grants is March 15, 1995.

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"Outstanding Women in Mathematics and Science"

Barbara McClintock is included in this photo collection of 23 American women scientists. Short biographies of each scientist accompany the 8" x 11" black and white photos. Some representative scientists are: mathematicians Anna Pell Wheeler, Olive C. Hazlett and Grace Murray Hopper; pharmacologist Gertrude B. Elion; and electrical engineer/astronaut Judith Resnik. The collection makes an excellent display for classrooms and libraries. Available from the National Women's History Project, 707/838-6000, $12.

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In Case You Missed It

Please note the review by Jane K. Baker of "Women in Chemistry and Physics: A Biobibliographic Sourcebook" edited by Louise S. Grinstein, Rose K. Rose, and Miriam H. Rafailovich (Greenwood Press, 88 Post Rd. West, Westport CT 06881, 1993) that appeared in the February 14, 1994 issue of C&EN, pg 33. The book would be a useful resource in high school, college, and public libraries.

Send It! If you know of someone who would like to receive the newsletter and is not currently on the list, call Cheryl Brown at ACS, 800/227-5558, option 52.

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The Women Chemists newsletter is published twice a year and is distributed by the Women Chemists Committee of the American Chemical Society. All comments should be directed to Cheryl Brown, Staff Liaison, ACS, 1155 Sixteenth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036. Committee Chair: Mary E. Thompson. Editor: Dee Ann Casteel.

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