Category Archives: Events

STEM CIRCUIT 2019-2020

Dear AWIS-Chicago members,

Are you interested in a gaining a new perspective on your career path? We are thrilled to present the first STEM Circuit of the 2019-20 academic year on Northwestern’s Chicago campus! Join Chicago Women in STEM Initiative on Tuesday, Nov. 19th from 5 pm to 7:30 pm for “Career Transitions Between Academia & Industry, and Beyond”.

  • Learn first-hand advice from women who have successfully navigated various career transitions.
  • Be inspired by women’s stories of forging their own path and thriving beyond academia.
  • Connect across disciplines and career levels with invited industry professionals and academics during small group discussions.

Please register here. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/career-transitions-between-academia-industry-and-beyond-tickets-79182491965

Everyone is welcome to this free event! Light appetizers and refreshments will be provided.

Invited speakers:

Shyama Majumdar, Ph.D., MBA

Oncology Ventures Associate

Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

University of Chicago

Marina Damiano, Ph.D.

Owner & Scientific Communications Consultant

Damiano Group Scientific Communications

Please visit our website for more information about STEM Circuits, a monthly interdisciplinary and cross-career level mentoring program for Chicago-area women in STEM.

AWIS Chicago announced the awardees of the 2019 Motivator Awards!

Colleen Zaccard has been awarded the AWIS Motivator Award (Early Career) for her significant contributions and service as the Inaugural Chair of the Chicago Women in STEM Initiative, providing new resources and opportunities for women pursuing a career scientist trajectory.

Marilene Pavan has been awarded the AWIS Motivator Award (Mid-Senior Career) for her remarkable professional journey to overcome adversity in the pursuit of a scientist trajectory, coupled with her efforts to contribute to the STEMM Pathways program and IGEM, building capacity for inclusive excellence in STEMM.

The Award’s Ceremony was held October 24, 2019 at ENO Bar on North Michigan.

CPS Annual Science Fair 

The best science projects from students in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system will once again be featured at the annual CPS Science Fair http://chicagosciencefair.com. This is the last year that the CPS Annual Science Fair will be held at the Museum of Science and Industry.

AWIS Chicago has been a proud supporter of this science fair for many years, choosing which young girls show the most promise and deserve a Special Award. We provide a rubric for judging and choose five girls as awardees.

This rewarding volunteer opportunity was open to both AWIS-Chicago members and non-members.

WHEN: Friday, March 16th, 2018
WHERE: Museum of Science and Industry

All Previous Scientists of the Month

Join AWIS Chicago for our 10th Annual Awards Dinner

Please join AWIS Chicago in our 10th year of celebration of women in science, as we honor Yamuna Krishnan and Miiri Kotche, recipients of the 2016 Innovator and Motivator Awards. Our annual awards dinner will include short talks by our distinguished awardees about their work, career paths, and insights on women in science. Registration includes family style dinner, unlimited water and pop, and networking.

When: Thursday, July 14, 2016 from 6:00 Pm to 9:00 PM (CDT)

Where: Athena Greek Restaurant 212 S. Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60661

For more information and to register please click here.

We hope to see you there!

AWIS-Chicago Awards Female Students at the 66th CPS Science Fair

By Ana Shulla-Mesi, PhD

The 66th annual Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Student Science Fair took place at the Museum of Science and Industry on March 17-20, 2016. Representatives from the Association of Women in Science (AWIS) Chicago served as Special Award Judges to recognize outstanding female students in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The STEM areas represented at this year’s Science Fair were Aerospace Science, Behavioral Science, Biochemistry, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science, Electronics, Engineering, Environmental Science, Health Science, Materials Science, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics and Zoology. There were a total of 357 science projects presented and more than sixty percent of these projects (223) were led by female students. Female students comprised a large majority of presenters in the areas of Zoology, Behavioral Science and Biochemistry. In the future it would be great to see more girls presenting in other fields including Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science.

2016-03-18 11.51.04

AWIS-Chicago board members, Barbara Di Eugenio and Ana Shulla-Mesi together with volunteers Susan Meschel and Jacqueline Gresham awarded five $50 Amazon.com gift cards to outstanding female exhibitors showing promise in scientific research.

This year awardees were:

Madeline Yu, 8th Grade/Environmental Science

Nadiya Tarnavchyk, 7th Grade/Chemistry

Hanna Mularczyk, 11th Grade/Mathematics

Veronica Garklavs, 10th Grade/Chemistry

Samone Patterson, 10th Grade/Electronics

AWIS-Chicago will continue the tradition of recognizing and promoting female student scientists. The next Science Fair will be held at the end of March 2017. If interested in volunteering at this event keep an eye for the announcement from AWIS Communications.

Nominations are NOW OPEN for the Annual Innovator Award and Motivator Award by AWIS Chicago

The annual AWIS Chicago “Innovator Award” exemplifies AWIS Chicago’s commitment to recognizing women in the Chicagoland area who have provided innovative research contributions in science and engineering. We are also aware that although good mentors are an important component to a successful career, their contributions are often overlooked. To highlight the invaluable support that a great mentor provides, AWIS Chicago is also accepting nominations for the recipient of our “Motivator Award”. Superb mentors from any or the broad branches of STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) are eligible for this award.

Criteria for both awards are listed below:

Innovator Award Criteria:
· A female scientist with innovative contributions to fields of science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM)
· Geographically located within the Chicagoland area
· AWIS membership not required

Motivator Award Criteria:
· An individual (male or female) with demonstrated service, support, and mentorship of women in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM)
· Geographically located within the Chicagoland area
· AWIS membership not required

The Innovator Nomination Form and Motivator Nomination Form  can be submitted by March 15, 2016 to info@awis-chicago.org. Any other questions please feel free to email us.

We look forward to hearing about your favorite mentors and leaders!

 

 

Mentoring Circles Kickoff-October 31, 2015

AWIS Chicago has started a mentorship program “Mentoring Circles”! This pilot program matches students/postdocs/early career scientists with experienced mentors across the Chicagoland area. The Kickoff training event was held on October 31st at Northwestern University Chicago campus, featuring Dr. Rick McGee, Associate Dean for Faculty Recruitment & Professional Development at Northwestern University, who led an engaging and interactive workshop on mentoring relationships.

For more information on joining the Mentoring Circles program please email awischicago.circle@gmail.com.

Summer Picnic Potluck-July 19, 2015

AWIS hosted a summer potluck picnic at the Montrose Harbor on July 19, 2015. It was an “old-fashioned” picnic, and everyone contributed by bringing blankets, chairs, tables and food! It was great to be able to get everyone together on that beautiful summer day and to see some new faces in the crowd!