Do Women in Science Have to Try Harder?

March 4, 2015
Laura Bush

Laura Bush is a former managing editor of Pharmaceutical Technology. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief of BioPharm International, a sister publication of Pharmaceutical Technology. 485 Route One South, Building F, First Floor, Iselin, NJ 08830, lbush@advanstar.com, tel. 732.346.3020

Do women working in science fields have to work harder to gain respect? Jeannette Grasselli Brown, who spent her career in the petroleum industry, will address that question when she kicks off the “Women in Spectroscopy” session this afternoon, in room 268.

Do women working in science fields have to work harder to gain respect? Jeannette Grasselli Brown, who spent her career in the petroleum industry, will address that question when she kicks off the “Women in Spectroscopy” session this afternoon, in room 268.  

Anna Donnell and Diane Grob Schmidt, both of the University of Cincinnati, will tackle two other key questions in their talks: What is required to create an environment that encourages and supports women in science? And, What do women have to do to gain technical credibility and excellence? Mary Kate Donais of St. Anselm College will then provide her own advice for dealing with career concerns, suggesting that women in science “take chances and trust their instincts.”

In the other presentations, women will provide perspectives and advice gained from their spectroscopy careers. Fran Adar will share her experience working at an instrumentation company, Jennifer Cossham of Wiley will offer a view into the world of scientific publishing, and Kathy Kalasinsky of the National Institutes of Health will map a journey through spectroscopy that has taken her from physics to chemistry to biology. Sherry Lynn Hemmingsen of Jasco, in turn, will talk about “an unconventional career in teaching.”