Institute plans effort to boost women in science

The Women In Science & Engineering Leadership Institute plans two town hall meetings in April to discuss how the institute should work to promote the advancement of women in science and engineering.

The meetings are Tuesday, April 2, noon-1:30 p.m., 108 Plant Sciences, and Thursday, April 25, 4-5:30 p.m., 1111 Genetics/Biotechnology Auditorium.

With the help of the National Science Foundation, the university has established WISELI as a “living laboratory” for gender equity. The institute serves as a catalyst for initiatives intended to enhance the advancement of women in science and to measure the success of such efforts.

At the meeting, WISELI leaders will introduce the organization to the women it hopes to serve, and to explain its mission. Professors Molly Carnes and Jo Handelsman are co-directors.

Women in sciences and engineering on this campus will have the opportunity to help WISELI prioritize its proposed initiatives, says Jennifer Sheridan, WISELI executive director. Women from these units also will be invited to participate in a discussion of their working conditions, and will be asked to tell WISELI leaders what they think through the use of an automatic response survey system.

The new UW–Madison initiative, supported by a $3.75 million National Science Foundation grant, is intended to help broaden representation of women in science at all levels.

WISELI will evaluate the success of existing programs and monitor new initiatives. Information: 263-1445, wiseli@engr.wisc.edu, or: http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu.