Welcome to WISE eNews!

To Friends and Colleagues of WISE:

We are pleased to bring you the first electronic newsletter for the University of Michigan WISE Program.   Published twice a semester, the newsletter will provide interesting and informative snapshots of the varied programmatic activities, research, and advocacy that are a part of WISE.   We hope that you will enjoy it and share it with your colleagues.   However, if you do not wish to receive it, please let us know (umwise@umich.edu) and we will remove you.   And as always, thank you for your support of WISE initiatives!

Sincerely, Cinda-Sue Davis, WISE Director

Why women shy away from careers in science and math

Parents provide many types of messages to daughters that undermine both their daughters' confidence in their math and science abilities and their interest in pursuing careers in these fields, says Jacquelynne Eccles, a senior research professor at the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR) and the U-M Institute for Research on Women and Gender.

Even though girls got better math grades than boys, parents of daughters reported that math was more difficult for their child than parents of sons. "Parents of daughters also said their girls had to work harder to do well in math than parents of sons, even though teachers told us this was not true," she said. Click here for full story.

WISE continues Oral History Project

Have you ever heard the story of University of Michigan botanists Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter? They made history in 1938, becoming the first women to successfully make it down the Grand Canyon. Fortunately, their stories have been well-preserved. Those of other Michigan alumnae have not.

The Women in Science and Engineering Oral History Project will begin collecting the histories of University of Michigan alumnae in engineering, the physical sciences and medicine who graduated between 1930 and 1959. “It is so important to acknowledge and recognize the contributions and experiences of these women who have come here before us,” says Dr. Cinda-Sue Davis, WISE Program Director. “It’s an important part of Michigan’s past that needs to be preserved.” Click here for full story.

Math professor Hochster speaks to incoming graduate women in science

During a WISE-sponsored welcome dinner for first year graduate women in science, Math Professor Mel Hochster described research on gender discrimination in hiring practices. "If you feel guilty because you think you may have benefitted from affirmative action at some time-," Hochster told the audience. "Don't.". Click here for full story.

M Go Blue Bots meet the Lego challenge

Drop in on an M Go Blue Bots practice any Sunday afternoon next fall, and you will observe a very unique kind of team – girls programming on laptops, girls building with Legos, girls debating the merits and demerits of a robot design, girls working to solve a research problem and girls laughing – laughing a lot.

The M Go Blue Bots is an all-girls robotics team that uses Lego Mindstorm kits to compete in the international First Lego League challenge issued every September with regional competitions taking place in mid-November. Click here for full story.

WISE Residence Program - A Semester in Review

December always brings out the best in WISE women. To celebrate the holiday season, WISE women continued to participate in Salvation Army bell ringing and decorated holiday cards for others. Also, the first ‘Secret Sisters’ week was initiated as a means to encourage WISE women during finals. Click here for more news from the WISE RP.