Networking

In March 2008, a group of women scientists who attend the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference met for the first time in a formal setting for a Women’s Networking Breakfast.  That year, with only word-of-mouth advertising over email and Facebook, and flyers at conference registration, over 100 women attended.  At that meeting, the women decided to form an email list, a website, and a blog, and to get together again at the next LPSC.

Nearly two years later, the email list is over 100 strong, and several sub-lists exist for topical discussion of mentoring, job-seeking, working at teaching colleges, and just plain handling it all.  The website has had 20,000 hits, and over 100 articles have been posted to the blog by the five coauthors.  The group now meets annually at the Lunar and Planetary Science conference to talk about the status of women in the field and have topical discussions on relevant issues.

If you plan to attend the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, please join us on Tuesday morning, March 2, 2010, for the annual Women’s Networking Breakfast and discussions.  All women in planetary science and related fields are additionally invited to join the main email list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/womeninplanetaryscience and send messages to womeninplanetaryscience@yahoogroups.com for posting.

The group encourages discussion on the email lists, on the blog, on Twitter (follow  @WomenPlanetSci), and whenever members find themselves at a meeting together.  In addition, you may wish to check out resources provided by the following organizations that specifically support women in sciences related to planetary science:

• American Astronomical Society – Committee on the Status of Women;
• American Physical Society – Committee on the Status of Women in Physics;
• Association for Women in Science;
• Association for Women Geoscientists;
• Earth Science Women’s Network;
• Geological Society of America – Mentoring Program for Women in Geology;
• Women in Aerospace;
• Women in Aerospace – Europe; and
• Women in STEM – on the air!

There are also organizations to support women faculty, such as:

• American Association of University Women and
• American Association of University Professors – Committee on Women and the Academic Profession

All planetary scientists, male and female, are additionally encouraged to join the American Astronomical Society’s Division of Planetary Sciences, the American Geophysical Union, and/or the Meteoritical Society, as appropriate for their discipline.  (Too pricey?  Try joining the AGU first and then DPS.  You’ll be happy to see that AGU members get a discounted membership!)

Welcome to Women in Planetary Science.