Today I read two articles on the experiences of women in science:

First, via Shakespeare’s Sister, a post from Cocktail Party Physics, “things are often not what they seem to be…”.

…The program to which we were writing had a goal of teaming graduate science and engineering students with K-12 teachers, so we had recruited a few graduate students — all of whom happened to be female — to come and work with the kids.  We didn’t set out to get women students, those were just the students who were interested in participating.  Our goal was to see what the students learned about the process of science in their quest to make a bulb light with just a battery, a bulb and a single piece of wire.    

About halfway through the process, as I’m standing there watching with a smile as bulbs are lighting and students are saying “cool” and smiling about how they understand science, Gayle approaches me.  

“Guess what?” she asks.  “The students don’t believe you’re scientists.”

Next up, via Hoyden About Town, “Why ‘Female’ Science Professor?”

In the URL of my blog, I am simply “science-professor,” but the pseudonymous name I use as a blogger is “Female Science Professor.” Why the extra adjective? Does it matter in my work as a scientist and a professor that I am female?

Many times it does. In fact, when I first started using the moniker, my reasons were a bit cynical. I had been so often reminded by colleagues, in their words and actions, that I was different from the “regular” (read: male) science professors, that I decided to use the extra adjective to describe myself.

Read ’em both.

Seriously, Sterling, VOTE. HIM. OUT.

Prop 8 Trial Tracker is asking for folks to do live and taped reenactments of the Trial Testimony, including closing arguments.

The Supreme Court did not allow the trial to be televised. The words spoken by both sides during the trial, and during closing arguments, are some of the most powerful statements in favor of gay marriage anywhere.

Everyone everywhere should hear what was said.

So grab a transcript. Grab your friends. Grab a camera. Read it aloud. Record it. Upload it.

Do it.

Hello, test.  Hello, test

RT @MilesGrant RT @drgrist: Oil, coal & natural gas operations have all exploded & killed people in last month. I believe the term is “collateral damage.”

There’s also a leak at a nuclear power plant that has leaked before (apparently the acidic water is eating away at a cap).

Don’t you think  it’s time for us to begin to do two things?

1. Move to wind and solar
2. Stop wasting so much energy

Stevens and I are scheduling our move to fuel-efficient cars, and we’re also looking at our energy consumption at home. We keep too many things turned on all the time (coughservercough), and some items we have pull electricity even when they’re turned off (I’m looking at YOU, digital cable box).

We’re really good at turning off lights and using the lower energy options on our appliances, but I keep being reminded that there’s more we can do:

• Shop local to reduce the distance food has to travel to us (and benefit local business!)
• Buy organic where possible, because pesticides and non-organic fertilizer are made with petroleum products…aside from not being, y’know, good for you to eat.
• Dry clothing on clotheslines, if your HOA allows it (if you have an HOA). If not, move to get your HOA to allow it
• Carpool, carpool, carpool
• Mass transit
• Save water, shower with a friend! (sorry, that was an ad from the 1980’s drought in NYC)

I know I’m leaving some obvious things off the list. Leave your favorite energy-saving ideas in the comments!

June 3rd LCDC Meeting Features Energy & the Environment

As the LCDC launches its “Locally Grown” initiative for community service and gears up to support Jeff Barnett in the November Congressional election, we turn to a major issue that is of vital importance to Loudoun County, our state, our nation, and our planet – Energy and the Environment.

While being central to the economic recovery, job creation (including the green economy) and transportation challenges, “Energy and the Environment” leads the daily news cycle with updates on the oil disaster in the Gulf that starkly illustrates the dangers of the “drill-baby-drill” mantra echoed by Sarah Palin and her followers. See one newspaper’s opinion in the following editorial entitled “Gulf’s Lesson for Virginia.”

Amid the bad news in the Gulf, several magical initiatives are underway in Loudoun. At our June 3rd meeting, learn much more about the inspiring new efforts in Loudoun to lead the nation in Green Programs from Loudoun Supervisor Andrea McGimsey. Andrea’s talk will be followed by an energetic Q&A session.

Date: Thursday, June 3rd

Place: Tolbert Elementary School (Leesburg) Map

Social: 6:30pm

Meeting: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Post-meeting Social: 9:15pm – ??

P.S. Remember to bring unopened coffee to the June 3rd meeting for donation to our monthly food drive.

Visit the LCDC Facebook page for the latest newsI’ll be there with my son (and, yes, his DS. No sitter tonight). We’ll be leaving early, but I hope to see you there.

Read it.

JMG quotes Delgaudio talking about HR 4530.

Many comments following the post are pretty hateful and disrespectful, I don’t recommend reading them.

As seen at Blue Virginia

As seen in Leesburg Today, and discussed around my kitchen table (and many others, judging from my inbox traffic): The six-lane roads scheduled for Ashburn are coming off the schedule. They’re too expensive and they’re not needed.

What we do need is to have our state legislators make the Greenway operators institute a graduated fee for the Greenway.

And you all know that my personal feeling is that we need more buses and bike routes.