Britain's National Council for Educational Technology is concerned that women make up only 23 per cent of the Information Technology workforce and the proportion of girls studying computer science at A level is declining.
The manager of a project designed to encourage more girls to take
up the subject says, 'We know when we look at computer science
degrees and at IT in the workplace that women are not taking up
opportunities in that arena. For quite young girls, there is a
certain peer group pressure for them to see computers as things
that boys use.
They focus on the working of the machine rather than on what the
machines do. Parents increasingly see IT as a possible career
for their daughters. Yet they don't buy machines for their daughters.'
Women in IT spokesperson, Ellen Neighbour, fears that some initiatives encourage women only into the 'soft' side of computing and only up to trainee positions. WIT organises information events, operates a mentoring scheme in large companies and is considering creating its own pages and bulletin board on the Internet to offer information on careers and training.
A Labour Party bill based on discussion with WIT proposes, among other things, the provision of single sex computer clubs and for more women teachers to be sent on computing courses. (Source: The Times, 5 May 1995)
The majority of Australian science journalists are women (62 per cent) and most are under 45 years of age (82 per cent). Three quarters have tertiary qualifications, but only 12 per cent have science qualifications. Such are some of the findings of Professor John Henningham of Queensland University. His article, published in Search, vol 26 no 3, April 1995, covers a wide range of information on our science journos and makes fascinating reading. (Source: FACETS, June 1995)
Felicity Grace, reporting for AIWRAP on a seminar at which Transitions: New Australian Feminisms was launched, commented on Sophie Watson's contribution: 'Sophie's paper highlighted the way in which men's needs are talked of as rights and interests whereas women's issues are dealt with as needs and problems. Her conclusion suggested a way forward for policy writers and implementors. It may be possible to use the available discourse of "rights" and "interests" to shift the focus of women's demands and change both which issues can be raised, and how they are dealt with in the social policy arena.'
The Faculty of Science at Sydney University has announced new degree courses beginning in 1996: Advanced science, Environmental science, Molecular biology and genetics. Other new courses on offer at Sydney will be Bachelor of Computer Science and Technology, Bachelor of Psychology, and Bachelor of Applied Science in the Department of Health Sciences.
Engineering is to allow specialisation in environmental engineering and enhance the business and management skills of its students while Agriculture will introduce a Bachelor of Horticultural Sciences concentrating on urban and environmental aspects of horticulture. (Source: University of Sydney News, 31 May 1995)
Dr Anna Williamson, a researcher with CSIRO, featured in a Sydney Morning Herald report on 6 July. The news item announced a method of treatment for fruit which replaces the use of potentially harmful pesticides with a harmless biological way of blocking the effects of fungal diseases which cause black spots on fruit and vegetables. The result is not only more attractive looking produce but produce which meets growing demands for chemical-free goods. It is thus of great importance to both home and export markets for our primary products.
The discovery, to be patented by CSIRO, was sparked off by Dr Williamson's experimental work with disease treatments using the naturally occurring microbes on fruit skin. The discovery reflects the increasing concern about the bad effects of many chemicals on soils, plants and animals.
Ms Jane Langford, a PhD student in the Department of Pharmacy at Sydney University, has developed a new drug to prevent infection in skin wounds or abrasions. The concentration of her combination of antibiotics is far lower than comparable overseas preparations but is just as effective and is much safer. The research was supported by a grant from Upjohn Pharmaceuticals and the product has been patented. (Source: University of Sydney News)
Further to a brief item in our last issue, that Marie Curie had finally been accepted into France's previously all-male hall of fame, the Pantheon, comes news of a new French banknote celebrating the achievements of Pierre and Marie Curie. The 500-franc note is one of a series illustrating the inventions of the 20th century.
Proceedings of the Women's Suffrage Centennial Science Conference, Celebrating Women in Science, held in September 1993, are available from the Association for Women in the Sciences, P O Box 184, Wellington, New Zealand. Cost: $NZ 30 including GST and P&P (presumably within NZ).
Amongst the eighteen winners of Sydney University's Chancellor's Scholarships in Engineering (CSE) in 1995 were eight young women. Natalie Bendeli (Killara High), Ingrid Groer (James Ruse), Vanessa Haverd (Ascham School) and Sheridan Rapmund (Meriden School) entered first year Chemical Engineering; Lauren Ashmore (Abbotsleigh), Nonie Carter (St Ives High), Eloise Forbes (Kincoppal) and Sharon Tickell entered first year Electrical Engineering.
The CSE program, established in 1988, is funded by industry and provides a number of scholarships at $10,250 a year and experience in industry each long vacation. Recipients must have achieved a scaled aggregate mark of at least 96 at the NSW Higher School Certificate exams or the interstate equivalent and demonstrate personal qualities such as imagination, inventiveness, self motivation, leadership, communication skills, and practicality.
Dr Wendy Craik, fish biologist, leaves her position as executive officer of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority, to take up her appointment as the first woman director of the National Farmers' Federation, a strong and traditionally conservative political lobby group. A Sydney Morning Herald report describes her as having a reputation for expertise in sustainable resource management and being sympathetic to Aboriginal land rights. She is quoted as looking forward to 'being a role model for women in agriculture' and bringing a 'consensual style to the job'.
This year Natalie Lloyd became the first woman PhD in Engineering at Curtin University. Reflecting on her undergraduate experiences, she recalls it was 'intimidating to walk into a lecture hall of 250 people and only 4 females'. She commends the current provision of a co-ordinator to encourage women into engineering and science and to aim at retaining them.
Her thesis focuses on the use of high-strength concrete in columns and its behaviour under particular kinds of stress. Natalie is state convener of the Women in Engineering panel which arranges sessions where students can meet graduates and women working in engineering and thus provides a vital support network. (Source: The Institution of Engineers, Australia)
Carnarvon Senior High School on the WA coast aims to increase girls' participation in maths and science by linking girls in year 8 with year 11-12 marine studies students in gathering and assessing local water samples and marine life. The juniors have designed and constructed water sampling equipment including niskin bottles for collecting water samples, secchi disks for measuring water turbidity, current drogues, deep and shallow measuring devices and plankton nets. (Source: The Gen)
A week long maths and physics camp for girls from years 5 to 8 was held recently at Point Wollstonecraft in the Hunter Region. The camp featured seminars led by professional women including an RAAF pilot, a research medical physicist and radio physicist, an architect, a radiographer, an electrical engineer, a forensic scientist and pathologist, a veterinary surgeon, a zoo keeper, an environmental scientist and a forestry officer. (Source: The Gen)
Applied science students in the final two years at Hobart's Rosny College are investigating the commercial applications of such enterprises as growing herbs, producing essential oils, raising native seedlings, using hydroponics and propagating strawberries through tissue culture techniques. The scheme was introduced to provide activities of relevance and interest to science students and has attracted students from a range of ability levels, many of whom would not have taken up science, and about half of whom are girls. (Source: The Gen)
The Sydney Morning Herald of July 22 carried a group of articles focusing on women in universities. They recorded that women students were in the majority but were still concentrated in traditional areas of study and that, in spite of Government recommendations for improvements in the career opportunities for women in universities, women still occupy under 11 per cent of senior academic positions. While the proportion of women in teaching and research in higher education institutions has grown considerably (to 47.3 per cent in 1994) most are employed at the lowest, untenured levels where salaries are about $30,000 a year.
A report of a survey by the National Tertiary Education Union concluded that 'gender differences are not simply the legacy of past practices but continue to be produced by a system in which male employees are more likely to gain permanency and senior positions'. Professor Millicent Poole, Deputy Vice Chancellor of ANU was quoted as saying that 'there is plenty of evidence to suggest that women in higher education are actually discouraged from putting up their hands for senior positions'.
Professor Suzanne O'Reilly, recently appointed to Macquarie University's Centre for Geomechanical Evolution and Metallogeny, is the sole female professor of geology in Australia. It is interesting to note that, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, her school physics teacher in the early '60s refused to teach girls. He believed they were not interested in science and so exiled them to a verandah outside the classroom.
The National Women in Engineering Committee had some funds allocated for reimbursement of child care for parents attending Institution of Engineers, Australia functions. The funds were distributed to the states and were available via claim forms from IEAust or groups organising the meetings.
The Autumn issue of Media Centre News has an interesting article on a women's TV channel in New Zealand - WWN. The station's philosophy makes interesting reading. WWN believes in non-sexist, non-violent programming for women, by women, about women, of interest to women. It believes that women are a main-stream majority market not to be trivialised, marginalised or patronised and that while many of the concerns, needs and celebrations of women are different from those of men, they are no less important.
It provides environments for women to interact and have their say, subscribing to the extraordinary and radical view that women are people. WWN women understand that equality does not mean being the same! They celebrate their 'woman-ness' and would like to see themselves reflected in the mainstream media. WWN viewers like 'Smart and Sassy', like to be 'amused and amazed', and know that every woman is an extraordinary woman.
Other articles cover topics such as perspectives of women in TV, community TV, pay TV and women, women in advertising awards. There are co-ordinators in ACT, Queensland, SA, Vic and WA and the National and NSW body can be contacted at 107 Denison St, Camperdown NSW 2050. Phone: (02) 550 6734. Fax: (02) 243 4541. Membership for waged people $20, unwaged $10.
The August 1995 Newsletter of Women Into Politics Inc. reports on the appointment of Faye Lo Po as Minister for Women in the Carr Government in NSW and the new Director-General of the NSW Department of Women, Ms Carolyn Bloch. Ms Bloch was formerly Director of the Board of Vocational Education and Training, and of the Migrant Employment and Qualifications Board.
Other items of interest include a suggestion to computerise polling booths, the idea of two-member electorates - one man and one woman - to ensure equal representation, and responses of the major parties to WIP's submission re women's under-representation in Australian parliaments and political parties.
Amnesty International's Candle Day will be celebrated this year on 20 and 21 October. It is one of the organisation's biggest fundraising events. If you can sell badges or help in any other way, phone 1800 808 157. Amnesty's Women's Network seeks to publicise human rights abuses which particularly affect women and to mobilise people to press for change. Membership of the women's network is free with an Amnesty Interational membership and includes a newsletter every two months. Contact: Tanya Jeffcoat, 3rd floor, 134 Broadway, Sydney 2007. Phone: (02) 281 4188.
According to Peter Pockley, writing in The Sun-Herald on August 20, Professor Ros Haynes' recent book, From Faust to Strangelove, should be required reading.
Trained as a biochemist, Professor Haynes switched to English studies when she became concerned at the lack of understanding of scientists of the social impact of their research. Her book sets out to revise the all too common image of scientists as mad, dangerous, secretive or arrogant. It may help scientists see their place in popular culture and adopt more open approaches to correct the negative view so often seen in fiction.
Carrie Bengston, WISENET member and postgraduate Communications Student at the University of Technology, Sydney, is investigating ways of increasing WISENET membership and involvement. She'll be looking at WISENET's objectives, researching its present status and devising strategies to keep WISENET going strong. If you've got any comments or ideas, email carrieb@dap.csiro.au or phone her after hours on (02) 664 2347.