 With the announcement of the 2019 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine, again no female scientists have been recognized. As someone who shares our mission to showcase and support scientists who are women, please be sure to come to a special colloquium as part of our Board Meeting in November. With an impressive and thought-provoking agenda, we are opening the event beyond the membership to interested colleagues. You will need to register because space is limited, and there will be a cost of $100 to help defray our direct expenses, but I assure you it will be well worth it! The Society’s mission is to support and showcase the careers of eminent women and minorities in science, and I am providing you with lots of information attached here, and hoping that we can take advantage of your substantial first-hand experience and commitment to this mission. The Board Meeting, which we will host at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, November 20-21, 2019, will be substantive and practical. The 1.5 day event will feature senior scientists as well as young researchers and leaders of promise. A centerpiece will be an evening event on November 20th featuring a Wistar Institute Women in Science reception and speaker. Click here to see the meeting agenda. Registration is open and we have made terrific progress in confirming an impressive agenda. We will keep you posted as we complete the agenda, but we are excited to share the confirmations so far. Important highlights include:
The Rosalind Franklin Society, the only organization of its kind, was established to honor the achievements of Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958), a British pioneer in the discovery of the structure of DNA, whose work was not fully acknowledged in her lifetime or posthumously. With a Board and Advisory Board of foremost men and women in research and education, and industry leaders in biomedical science, including five Nobel Laureates, the Society substantially influences the sheer numbers, accomplishments, and influence of women scientists. Our work with the prestigious institutions represented on our Board and on the Council of Academic Institutions as well as with the federal government and other partners, is even more important as we experience change of administrations in Washington. We are thrilled that Francis Collins continues to lead NIH. His recent statement to the NIH Director’s Advisory Committee underscores his keen leadership, announcing that he will no longer speak on scientific panels if they don’t include women ("manels"). But we must continue to be there to stand with him to protect science funding and advocate for the young women and minorities who rely on this support. Recent Highlights The significant progress and visibility of women in science in recent years is gratifying. We continue to regularly highlight the successes and challenges of women in science through our RFS Briefings. We are especially proud that Rita Colwell, RFS President, continues to receive recognition such as the Vannevar Bush Award for her significant, life-saving contributions in the areas of global infectious diseases, water, and health. And of course her leadership at the National Academies, at Maryland, and in the corporate world is a model for us all. We also know that much remains to be done to achieve parity for women and minorities in science. To address this, our Board Meeting will showcase an esteemed agenda of presenters, both established and new scientists, who will share their personal and professional journey. As in the past, these videotaped presentations will be available on our website to inspire both men and women in science. We do hope you will be able to be part of this. So register now! The Rosalind Franklin Society is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3). |