Session J6: Women in Academic Science: Balancing Career and Children

11:15 AM–2:15 PM, Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Colorado Convention Center - 207

Sponsoring Unit: CSWP
Chair: Andrea Liu, University of Pennsylvania

Abstract ID: BAPS.2007.MAR.J6.1

Abstract: J6.00001 : CSWP Panel Discussion: Women in Academic Science: Balancing Career and Family

11:15 AM–2:15 PM

Preview Abstract

Authors:

  Susan Coppersmith
    (University of Wisconsin, Madison)

  Marija Drndic
    (University of Pennsylvania)

  Ka Yee Lee
    (University of Chicago)

  Nadya Mason
    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  Katherina Vollmayr-Lee
    (Bucknell University)

Many people who are considering pursuing academic careers in science worry about how to balance career with family. One challenge is the two-body problem, where partners are searching for jobs that are reasonably close together. Another challenge, particularly for women, is children: many women worry about whether they can have children as well as successful careers, and if so, when might be the best time to have them. This panel discussion will bring together five women who span a range of stages in their faculty careers and who all have children. Several of them have spouses who are also academic scientists. They will discuss practical strategies that they have adopted to address the challenges of career and family, as well as their views on what departments and institutions can/should do to help.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2007.MAR.J6.1