Why calling a female scientist a whore is a problem for ALL in #STEM

I usually don't blog, hardly ever by looking at this blog. But today I'm pissed. Really pissed and I am going to tell you why.

A few days ago I saw on Twitter that Dr. Danielle N. Lee (@DNLee5) was asked to blog for Biology Online, and declined to do so after she found out that there was no pay, so the editor contacted her and called her an "urban whore".

I don't know Dr. Lee, never met her, read her work, or even knew she existed. However I do know that she was incredibly disrespected by someone that is supposed to behave in a professional manner, that is supposed to be there to promote ideas, new thinking, to increase diversity in the scientific field and yes, I am writing about Scientific American (@sciam) who is partnered with the original offender Biology Online. You see, they [@sciam] removed a blog she posted about the incident.

Now you ask, why are you pissed at Scientific American? They are just partners, loosely at that with Biology Online. In the last few years Scientific American has hosted a myriad of blogs, articles and workshops on the lack of diversity in STEM fields, especially academia. So I find it hypocritical that they then removed Dr. Lee's blog about the incident. Especially because they are the senior [power] in the room. They are supposed to set the example.

Collusion? Confusion? Miss-communication? I don't know, but I do know that Scientific American has failed to stand up for one of their own, and for what science stands for. Because science is about truth. And the truth is that shaming a female academic for speaking her mind or asking to be paid is not how science is made.


This pisses me off because about 2 years ago I was invited to speak at an NSF workshop for minority students. At this 3 day event, there were presentations scheduled. During the Q&A of one presentation I made a comment on the font color (yes, the font color) and who I could not see something in the slide, could they please repeat the message. The speaker was the organizer of the NSF sponsored workshop and he said: "Oh, you must have an STD that doesn't let you see clearly" and everyone laughed and moved on.

I was speechless. I basically was called promiscuous and that I has a sexually transmitted disease and therefore my comment was invalid and could be dismissed. Really? This is what was being taught to those students in attendance: If you dare make a comment to a senior researcher YOU will be shamed.

Not one senior person in attendance said anything. Not my fellow female faculty members at the table, in the room, or any of my fellow department members, not one person. All were ok with the insult. No one stood up for me that day. And we all know that silence is tacit agreement.

So after the presentations ended,. I got up and went to the organizer and co-organizer and told him he was inappropriate, disrespectful and did he see what message he just sent. He apologized, the co-organizer (a female Professor.) also apologized, and then they hurriedly rushed off. To this day I have not been invited to any of the LSMAP events, while my colleagues still are.

So you see Dr. Lee I don't know you, but I do know how you feel when someone that is supposed to be a leader tries to step on you. No one stood up for me then, which is why I am standing up for you now.

#IstandwithDNLee

Projects

Lots of projects right now, both teaching and external. Trying to learn how to manage all these balls that are in the air at the same time, and desperately trying not to drop one.

10 minutes at a time I guess.

Writing a book chapter

I have agreed to write a book chapter, and it's due tomorrow Nov 1 and guess what? Yup, so NOT done. Thankfully the final deadline is Nov 26, and o right now I am working furiously on this amidst my class and teaching obligations. So my costume for this Halloween is HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGER becuase that is who I will need to be for the next few weeks

*cries*



No matter who much I plan I dont seem to ever finish anything on time, maybe one day.

World Water Day

 World Water Day

Today is March 22, 2011 World Water Day and I see no better moment to start my blog in relation to water related issues. For the year 2011 the focus will be on Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge (http://www.worldwaterday2011.org/) an event and awareness campaign coordinated by UN Water, UNEP and UN Habitat in coordination with academics, municipalities, governments, and NGO’s that are trying to solve the myriad of problems that come from having a scarce but vital resource with an ever increasing demand.

I could cite statistics, figures, journal and magazine articles, provide charts and figures, but instead I’ll focus on one organization that is trying to make a difference in this global problem. This organization is called the African Well Fund and true to their motto, “Building hope…one well at a time” they have affected the lives of thousands in Africa (http://www.africanwellfund.org/)..

The African Well Fund started because of rock and roll. Yeah, simply put a bunch of fans of a certain Irish rock band who have been inspired by their music went to see the lead sing, a very Irish, very big (in ego and yes, in presence) sunglass wearing blarney speaker talk about Africa. Simple as that.

So what happened? Well, in 2002 there was a speaking tour in the U.S. Midwest, which piggybacked on an awareness tour of Africa for various US government officials. At some of these speaking engagements, some fans attended and were inspired…to do something. Now this is where the fun begins. Thanks to the Internet many of these fans had met at shows, and kept in touch (some even when keeping in touch when it meant phoning and writing on pen & paper). So, they decided to gather money and build a well somewhere in Africa, and the Arican Well Fund (AWF) came to be.

Now, almost 10 years later, AWF which directs 100% of donations to the projects has collected over $780,000 (US) and help build almost 250 projects in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda Zambia and Zimbabwe. Partnered with Africare, (http://www.africare.org/ ) one of the most respected U.S. charities, it has positively affected the lives of almost 290,000 individuals.

And I am very proud to support them, and in case you are wondering the rock and roll band is U2, and yes, the ubiquitous Bono the lead sing. And one day, we will be able to turn to them and say “All because of you” A small group of inspired individuals, that wanted to affect change in the world, and had a small idea that has grown over time. True to its core principles, they build hope…one well at a time.

And so the time is upon us, when the 9^th annual Build a Well for Bono’s Birthday Fundraiser which runs from March 22^nd though May 10^th. This year's campaign will go to benefit water and sanitation projects that will be implemented by AWF partner Africare at girls schools in Benin that have been built by Angelique Kidjo's Batonga Foundation. For more information, please go to the "Because we can, we must" campaign   http://www.africanwellfund.org/Bono-Well-2011.html