Hosted by: Vivian Stojanoff

The 1/2-day seminar will include talks from several successful women who will address topics such as work-life balance and gender issues. -Mina Bissell (Distinguished Scientist, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory) Wife, Mother, Scientist?" Or is it The Other Way Around? -Surita Bhatia (Associate Professor, Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory) Strengthening Your Networks and Responding to Stress and Strain: What Women in STEM Can Learn From Soft Materials -Suzanne Davidson (Chief Financial Officer, Brookhaven National Laboratory) Introvert or Extrovert: Does Gender Matter? -Barbara Howie (Atorney at Law, President, Enterprising and Professional Women) How Lena Madesin Phillips Changed the World for Women -Gillian Winters (Vice President Long Island Physics Teachers Association, Smithtown School

Hosted by: Vivian Stojanoff

The truth and beauty in quasicrystals Abstract: Like mosaics observed in our childhood kaleidoscope, quasicrystals show remarkable patterns that can not be repeated in a regular manner. Discovered in 1982 quasicrystals are very hard and break easily, like glass. Due to their unique properties they can be used to convert heat into electricity, in surface coatings for frying pans, or can be used in energy saving LED's. In this talk Senechal, Louise Wolf Kahn Professor Emerita in Mathematics and History of Science and Technology at Smith College, and Fellow of the American Mathematical Society, will discuss the beauty and applications of the patterns observed in artificial and natural quasicrystal structures.

Hosted by: Vivian Stojanoff

Abstract: Gustavo Manso is Associate Professor of Finance at Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley. Manso's research focuses on corporate finance, financial institutions, financial markets, and entrepreneurship. Studying financial incentives, his research revealed that tolerance for early failure and reward for long-term success are essential ingredients in motivating both creativity and innovation.

Hosted by: Vivian Stojanoff

New Piece of Old Lace in My Office, Come See! Abstract: Textiles are a fascinating combination of art, anthropology, sociology, and the physical sciences. In her talk Waters will discuss how genetics and carbon dating can help in one of the biggest mysteries of the lace community - the virtual disappearance of the superfine linen thread used in 17th and early 18th centuries. A nuclear physicist, Waters is a Stony Brook Alumni and led the spallation target research efforts for the Accelerator Production of Tritium at Los Alamos.

Hosted by: BWIS

"Handcuffing the Killers: Conformational Control and Real-Time Monitoring of Caspase Proteolytic Activity," at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory on Wednesday, April 24, at 4 p.m. in Berkner Hall. Sponsored by Brookhaven Women in Science (BWIS) and Brookhaven Science Associates (the company that manages the Lab), the talk is free and open to the public. Visitors to the Laboratory 16 or older must carry photo I.D. When mutated, damaged or old cells don't die off properly, problems like cancer, auto-immune or neurodegenerative diseases can result. Seeing how apoptosis (programmed cell death) works could help scientists identify the molecular events that cause both normal and diseased cells to die. During her talk at Brookhaven, Hardy will discuss how researchers have developed an apoptosis "reporter" that tracks the actions of caspases, molecular scissors that cut key proteins to kill cells. The group used green florescent protein and attached a small protein tail to keep it dark. When caspases are active, they chop the tail off and give scientists a glowing green view of cell death. In addition to her work as a lab leader and professor, Hardy also helped to cofound a mutual mentoring program for women faculty in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines at UMass. Inspired by the book Every Other Thursday, which describes a mutual mentoring group in the Bay Area that has been meeting for 30 years and involves several National Academy members and prominent scientists, the mentoring program at UMass continues to grow strong. Hardy will share some of the organizing principles around this highly successful mentoring group she founded and with which she continues to be involved. Hardy earned her BS and MS in chemistry and biochemistry at Utah State University in 1994. She attended graduate school at the University of Calif

Hosted by: Kahille Dorsinvil

This annual event starts with various groups within the lab hosting tables and speaking informally with participants from William Floyd HS, Center Moriches HS, Greenport HS, and Mattituck-Cutchogue HS as they walk around and learn about the different groups at BNL. Pictures or posters of facility or research, examples of projects, tools or equipment, are all displayed. Three speakers briefly outline their career path -Why they chose science and how they got to where they are today. After lunch there is a brief tour of two amazing BNL facilities. These facility visits give participants an unprecedented look at how the science gets done. Finally, a researcher shares the details about their current research project (s), followed by Hand-On Science fun.

Hosted by: BWIS/Diversity

Collaboration with the Diversity Office for Women's History Month

Hosted by: Kathy Walker

Celebration of Women - Zonta Collaboration for Women's History Month. Lunch and speakers.

Hosted by: Vivian Stojanoff

OP2507

Hosted by: Vinita Ghosh

Update: Implementation of APS Site Visit Committee and BNL Task Force recommendations

Hosted by: Vivian Stojanoff

Biomineralization and Biological Sensors lecture

Hosted by: Vivian Stojanoff

Hosted by: Loralie Smart

Career & education tables will be set up to share information with young women students, who can interact with professionals in STEM and STEM-related fields. OEP programs, C-AD, science writing, science education, IAEA, SUNYSB WISE, and BWIS will be represented. Panel discussions with scientists from C-AD and NSLS and facility tours are scheduled.

Hosted by: Vivian Stojanoff

By 1514, reclusive cleric Nicolaus Copernicus had written and hand-copied an outline of his heliocentric theory in which he defied common sense and placed the sun, not the earth, at the center of our universe and set the earth spinning among the other planets. Over the next two decades, Copernicus expanded his theory through hundreds of observations, while compiling in secret a book-length manuscript that tantalized mathematicians and scientists throughout Europe. For fear of ridicule, he refused to publish. In 1539, young German mathematician Georg Joachim Rheticus traveled to Poland to seek out Copernicus and, in 1543, arranged to have Copernicus' manuscript published as De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres). Sobel's latest work provides an unforgettable portrait of scientific achievement, and of the ever-present tensions between science and faith. In her talk, Dava Sobel will describe the conflicting personalities and extraordinary discoveries that shaped the Copernican Revolution. She will also discuss her play, And the Sun Stood Still, in which she imagines Rheticus's struggle to convince Copernicus to let his manuscript see the light of day. Dava Sobel is an internationally bestselling, award-winning author: Longitude (1997 British Book of the Year) was made into a PBS documentary and mini-series; Galileo's Daughter (Pulitzer finalist).

Hosted by: Firoza Zanoni

Genetic mutations in the presenilin protein are known to cause Alzheimer's Disease. Presenilin is a multipass transmembrane protein. Going through the cell membrane multiple times it uses water to break other membrane proteins inside the water-excluding environment of the lipid bilayer, but how it catalyzes this highly unusual reaction is unclear. To help answer this question, we used a method called X-ray crystallography to determine the atomic structure of FlaK, a protein that is a close relative of presenilin. The knowledge of FlaK's atomic structure will help to shed light on presenilin's shape and function, which in turn could reveal new opportunities to treat or prevent Alzheimer's in its more common forms.

Hosted by: Kathy Walker

Award-Winning Documentary 'Pray the Devil Back to Hell' to be Shown at Brookhaven Lab, Aug. 3 July 19, 2011 Liberian women demonstrate at the American Embassy in Monrovia at the height of the civil war in July 2003 Photo Credit: Pewee Flomoku UPTON, NY — Abigail Disney’s award-winning documentary “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” will be shown at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory on Wednesday, August 3, at noon in Berkner Hall. Brookhaven Women in Science, Peconic Bay Zonta, and Suffolk County Community College’s Office of Multicultural Affairs are sponsoring the screening of the one-hour-long film that chronicles the remarkable story of a group of Liberian women — both Christian and Muslim — who banded together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their country. The public is invited to the free screening. Visitors to the Laboratory age 16 and over must bring a photo ID. Through interviews, archival footage, and striking images of Liberia, the film reconstructs the time in 2003 when women took on the violent warlords of the corrupt Charles Taylor regime, barricading the site of stalled peace talks. The women’s demonstrations culminated with Taylor’s exile and the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female head of state. The film is a compelling testimony of how women engaged in nonviolent activism can change the course of history. The film won the Jury Prize for Best Documentary when it premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2008. Since then, it has been shown in 60 countries and has won many more awards.

Hosted by: Kathleen Walker

Hosted by: Kathleen Walker

Hosted by: Kathleen Walker

Hosted by: Kathleen Walker

Bacteria communicate with one another using small chemical molecules that they release into the environment. These molecules travel from cell to cell and the bacteria have receptors on their surfaces that allow them to detect and respond to the build up of the molecules. This process of cell-to-cell communication in bacteria is called “Quorum Sensing” and it allows bacteria to synchronize behavior on a population-wide scale. Bacterial behaviors controlled by quorum sensing are usually ones that are unproductive when undertaken by an individual bacterium acting alone but become effective when undertaken in unison by the group. For example, quorum sensing controls virulence, sporulation, and the exchange of DNA. Thus, quorum sensing is a mechanism that allows bacteria to function as multi-cellular organisms. Cell-to-cell communication in bacteria was likely one of the first steps in the evolution of higher organisms. Current biomedical research is focused on the development of novel anti-bacterial therapies aimed at interfering with quorum sensing. Such therapies could be used to control bacterial pathogenicity.

Hosted by: Kathleen Walker

The U.S. has a poor track record of electing women. The 2010 election was the worst election for women in 30 years, resulting in a significant decline in the number of women serving in state legislatures. Less than 24 percent of state legislators nationwide are women. Less than 17 percent of the U.S. Congress is female. This under-representation of women in public office has a profound impact on policymaking. Enter the 2012 Project, a non-partisan, national campaign to increase the number of women in legislative office by identifying and engaging accomplished women 45 and older from under-represented fields and industries, like energy, technology and science. Come meet our panelists who will talk about their experiences serving in public office and working to elect women. They will explain why 2012 is such an important year and how vital it is that women in these fields run for public office. They will also help you connect with organizations that can further your bid to enter public service in practical, tangible ways. This is a must-attend session for anyone interested in making a difference in our country's future.

Hosted by: Kathleen Walker

Meet the speaker - The 2012 Project: A Year of Opportunity for Women in Energy, Technology and Science - Step Forward and Run.

Hosted by: Kathleen Walker

BWIS Wine & Cheese Party, 11/30 The BNL community is invited to the Brookhaven Women in Science (BWIS) Wine & Cheese Party to be held on Thursday, November 30, from 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Recreation Hall, Bldg. 317, in the apartment area. BWIS holds this event annually to thank all who have helped with and supported BWIS programs, welcome new members, and introduce the new executive board to the Laboratory community. To recruit new members, BWIS representatives will be giving out free raffle tickets at the event. Current BWIS members and those who sign up to be members at the party will be eligible to enter the raffle. Winners will be chosen during the festivities. Raffle-ticket holders must be present to win. Several bottles of wine and free one-year BWIS memberships will be given away as prizes. Both men and women are welcome to join BWIS. The group's mission is to promote the advancement of women in the scientific professions; provide a forum for the exchange of scientific, technical and professional information; and support each other's efforts on the job. BWIS also administers scholarships for women and provides educational outreach programs. Annual membership dues are $10 for BNL and BSA employees and $5 for all others. More information about BWIS and the membership application form are available at the BWIS website: http://www.bnl.gov/BWIS/. For more information about the December 10 event, contact Kathy Walker, Ext. 7105, or kwalker@bnl.gov.

Hosted by: Loralie Smart

Brookhaven Women in Science (BWIS) invites the BNL community to a summer reception and presentation of the Renate W. Chasman Scholarship for Women, on Thursday, September 2, from 5:15 to 7 p.m. in the Physics Seminar Lounge, Bldg. 510. Named after Renate Chasman, a renowned physicist who worked at Brookhaven, the $2,000 scholarship is awarded each year to a re-entry woman — one whose college education was interrupted, but who has returned to pursue a degree on a half time or greater basis. BWIS offers the scholarship to qualified candidates annually to encourage women to pursue careers in science, engineering, or mathematics. Refreshments will be served at the reception. For more information, contact Loralie Smart, Ext. 2425, or lsmart@bnl.gov.

Hosted by: Vivian Stojanoff

Hosted by: Lynne Ecker

Always There For Me: The Developmental Significance of Early Experience With Parents 12 noon, Thursday June 17, 2010 Berkner Everett Waters Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, Institute of Child Development Professor Waters will discuss current thinking and research on the nature of children�s ties to their primary caregivers and the influence of early relationship experience on independence, parenting, social support in marriage, care for elderly parents, and mentoring. In recognition of Father�s Day, the male parent, though rarely the focus of theory or research, will not go entirely unmentioned. Professor Waters received a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, Institute of Child Development. He is currently a professor of Social/Developmental Psychology at Stony Brook University where he is engaged in a wide range of research on attachment relationships from infancy through adulthood. Many women scientist have had supportive and influential male mentors and role models. BWIS is sponsoring this lecture as a thank you to our colleagues! For more information,contact Lynne Ecker, Ext. 2538, or lecker@bnl.gov The lecture is free and open to the public. Visitors age 16 and over must bring a photo ID. Sponsored by Brookhaven Women in Science. Empowering Women in Science and Technology. In many areas of science, men greatly outnumber women. Almost all women scientists have had supportive and influential male mentors and role models. Therefore, our networking group would like to sponsor a lecture to celebrate Father's Day as a "Thank you" to our colleagues who have helped us in our careers. Professor Waters will discuss current thinking and research on the nature of children's ties to their primary caregivers and the influence of early relationship experiences.

Hosted by: Vivian Stojanoff

BWIS Talk & Networking: ˜Women in Physics in the U.S., April 20, 2010 Sponsored by Brookhaven Women in Science, the second Brookhaven Networking meeting will feature Elizabeth H. Simmons, dean of Lyman Briggs College and a physics professor at Michigan State University (MSU), who will speak on "Women in Physics in the U.S.: Numbers, Causes, and Solutions." All BNLers are invited to the meeting, which will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, in the Science Education Center auditorium, Bldg. 438. While progress in the number of women who pursue careers in physics is evident, Simmons says that the percentage of women physicists remains low. Most of her talk will focus on recent research in social sciences that illuminates the variety of causes and suggests actions that individuals, leaders, and institutions can take to provide solutions. After completing her undergraduate degree at Harvard University in 1985, Simmons earned an M.Phil. in physics at Cambridge University as a Churchill Scholar. She returned to Harvard for her doctoral degree and postdoctoral fellowship, and then spent a decade as a professor at Boston University before joining the MSU faculty in 2003. A Fellow of the American Physical Society, Simmons won the ACE Michigan Network’s Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Award in 2005. She was selected as a member of the U.S. delegation to the International Conference on Women in Physics in 2008. For more information about the event, contact Kathy Walker, Ext. 7105 or kwalker@bnl.gov, or Vivian Stojanoff, Ext. 8735, or stojanof@bnl.gov.

Hosted by: Vivian Stojanoff

Vivian Cody, principal research scientist at the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute. Inc., and professor in the School of Medicine’s Structural Biology Department at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, will give a talk on “Applications of Structural Biology in Drug Design” on Wednesday, April 14, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Hamilton Seminar Room, Bldg. 555. The entire BNL community is invited to the talk, which is sponsored by Brookhaven Women in Science. Cody will discuss her studies of enzyme-drug complexes to design compounds that have potential for treating AIDS-related pneumonia, cancer and thyroid disease. Determining the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules can provide researchers with important information on how they function. Researchers use this data to design drugs that attack pathogens that cause disease. After earning a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Cincinnati in 1969, Cody was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Missouri, 1969-1970, and at the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Inc. (formerly the Medical Foundation of Buffalo), 1970-1972. She moved through the ranks to become the principal scientist at the institute in 2001. She joined SUNY Buffalo as an associate professor of medicine in 1979, and in 2001, she had risen to her current position. Cody has won numerous awards for her work, including the SUNY Buffalo Sustained Achievement Award in 2005. A year earlier, she received both the Women of Achievement Award from the Association of University Women and the Women of Distinction honor from the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women. She was also recognized with the YWCA Leadership in the Professions Award in 2002. Cody is a member of Zonta International, a service organization to improve the status of women, and is a member of the Zonta Club of Buffalo. For more information about the talk, contact Kathy Walker, kwalker@bnl.gov, or Vivian Stojanoff, stojan

Vivian Cody will be at the BWIS Board Meeting and talk on ZONTA. Founded in 1919, Zonta International is a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. With more than 31,000 members belonging to more than 1,200 Zonta Clubs in 67 countries and geographic areas, Zontians all over the world volunteer their time, talents and support to local and international service projects, as well as scholarship programs aimed at fulfilling Zonta's mission and objectives.

Hosted by: Lynne Ecker

BWIS Sponsors New Networking Group First Meeting Features Talk on BNL’s ‘Wellness Initiative’ Brookhaven Women in Science will hold the inaugural meeting of a new group, Brookhaven Networking, on Tuesday, March 30, at noon in Berkner Hall, Room B. At this first meeting, Melissa Bittrolff, a senior benefits representative in BNL’s Human Resources & Occupational Medicine Office, will give a talk on the Lab’s “Wellness Initiative,” in which she will discuss some of the benefits available to BNL employees that they may not know about. Bittrolff’s presentation will focus on resources available to BNL employees through the Lab and through their insurance companies to help keep them healthy. She will also give tips on how to save money on medical expenses. Join us for this great opportunity to get acquainted with fellow members. Brookhaven Women in Science has supported the educational and professional growth and development of women in the Scientific Arena through Brookhaven National Laboratory. Now, in the anniversary of our thirtieth year, we are looking to expand our mission by adding forums for networking, education, partnerships, mentoring and collegiality. Our membership is comprised of a diverse group of men and women who represent the scientific community. We are united by a common commitment to sharing our talents and expertise to provide professional growth opportunities for ourselves, our fellow members, and aspiring scientists. Please join us and be a part of making these differences become a reality! All BNLers are invited to the presentation and networking group meeting. For more information, contact Lynne Ecker, Ext. 2538, or lecker@bnl.gov.

Hosted by: Stephanie LaMontagne

All BNLers are invited to the Brookhaven Women in Science (BWIS) Wine & Cheese Party on Thursday, November 6, from 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Recreation Hall, Bldg. 317 in the apartment area. BWIS holds this event annually to thank all who have helped with and supported BWIS programs, welcome new members, and introduce the new executive board to the Laboratory community. Both men and women are welcome to join BWIS, whose primary mission is to promote the advancement of women in the scientific professions.

Hosted by: Lynne Ecker

DiTomaso will base her talk on survey data on the career experiences of 3,200 scientists and engineers from 24 major companies. Her survey findings indicate that most people who do well in their careers and make significant contributions to their organizations get assistance from others in their workplace in many forms, including offering opportunities such as good projects, providing resources that make good performance more likely, and opening up networking possibilities. DiTomaso will report on the results of the survey and provide a theoretical framework for understanding how these processes work in a research and development environment.

Hosted by: Loralie Smart

The 2008 Renate W. Chasman Scholarship for Women will be presented to Ms. Kasey Jacobs, who is entering the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Science to pursue her M.S. in Environmental Science. Light refreshments will be served at the reception.

Hosted by: BWIS

The entire BNL community is invited. BWIS Board members will be introduced.

Hosted by: Kathy Walker

Information about BWIS programs, including its scholarships, will be available, and BWIS Board members will be on hand to speak with anyone interested in joining the organization about its goals and policies. One of BWIS�s major goals is to promote the advancement of women in scientific and technical careers.