Dear Colleagues, 

I am pleased to include another issue of RFS Briefings with some timely and encouraging updates on women in science.

Of special interest, Google Doodle recently celebrated pioneering Indian biologist Kamal Ranadive.

It was the 104th birthday of Kamal Ranadive, an Indian biomedical researcher known for her groundbreaking research on the connection cancers have with certain viruses. Her work researching cancer among women and children inspired female scientists in India to work on cancer research. Read more.

Please continue to share important news and opportunities with us so that we may share it with you, and others who are committed to supporting the careers of exceptional women in science. 

Stay safe and sound, 

Karla Shepard Rubinger
Executive Director
Rosalind Franklin Society
www.rosalindfranklinsociety.org 

Susan Hockfield receives prestigious Charles L. Branch BrainHealth Award. 

The Center for BrainHealth® brought together a who’s who of academic leaders, scientists and philanthropists to honor Dr. Susan Hockfield as the 10th recipient of the Dr. Charles L. Branch BrainHealth Award – the Center’s highest science honor. “No one is more deserving of this award than Susan Hockfield,” said Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD, Distinguished Professor and Chief Director of the Center for BrainHealth. “She has been a category breaker her entire career, promoting the convergence of interdisciplinary collaborations to maximize any single discovery. Welcome to the BrainHealth family!” You might be interested in Dr. Hockfield's RFS presentation from last fall. Read more.

Study casts doubt on theory that women aren't as competitive as men.

The theory has been touted as a possible explanation for America's longstanding gender wage gap. But new research by UArizona economist Mary L. Rigdon suggests women exhibit their competitiveness differently. Read more.

Senators launch bipartisan Women in STEM Caucus.

Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) are launching a bipartisan caucus focused on creating more access and pathways for women and girls to participate in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. “We have to change the narrative for young girls, and maybe even for educators, because we want to have them be sure young girls see themselves doing these jobs and these jobs feel accessible,” Rosen told The Hill. Photos: © Greg Nash Read more.

The COVID pandemic has harmed researcher productivity – and mental health.
Surveys show that women, parents of young children and people of color are most affected by pandemic-related disruptions and need more support. Read more.

Promoting diversity and inclusion in STEMM starts at the top.

As leaders of one of the nation’s most preeminent scientific organizations, we have an obligation to enact change within the research community and within our own walls, and to ensure excellence, innovation and DEI in science. We can no longer simply say ‘we cannot find diverse talent’ or that the problem lies elsewhere. We must build our capacity, here at the top of the scientific enterprise, to lead DEI efforts and actively promote new approaches, practices and policies that bring about real results,” write Marcia McNutt and Laura Castillo-Page. Read more.

Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare – 2022 Nomination Form.
The Vilcek Foundation and The Arnold P. Gold Foundation announced an open call for nominations for the 2022 Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare. We are grateful that the Vilceks have been longtime supporters of RFS.The award shines a spotlight on immigrant leaders who have made an extraordinary contribution to humanism in healthcare in the United States. You may nominate any foreign-born person living and working in the United States whose work in healthcare exemplifies humanism and has created lasting and wide-spread change in U.S. healthcare. Read more. 

Carrying forward Marie Curie's legacy in the 21st century.
As we reflect on Curie’s legacy and the progress that has been made, many actions are still needed to prevent and cure cancer as well as to advance the careers of women in science and medicine. Read more.

Lost Women of Science, Episode 2: The Matilda Effect. 
A passionate outdoorswoman, a “rugged individualist” and a bit of an enigma—the few traces Dorothy Andersen left behind give us glimpses into who she was. In this episode,  the Lost Women of Science podcast tracks down people determined to stitch together her life. Read more.

The Top 25 Women Leaders in Biotechnology of 2021.
The accomplished women selected for this year's awards have distinguished themselves through their professional achievements and contributions to their organizations. They represent a diverse range of positions, specialties, and backgrounds. Read more.

The Scientista Foundation is looking for new team members! 
These positions are for anyone looking to get involved with a foundation which focuses on empowerment of those underrepresented in STEM. Read more.

Nancy Hopkins, pioneering biologist and advocate for gender equity in science, wins STAT Biomedical Innovation Award.
“It’s very easy to forget how much progress there has been because we haven’t arrived where we’d like to be. So we see the problems that still lie ahead. But you periodically have to pause and say, ‘Oh, my gosh, look how far we came,’” said Hopkins at the 2021 STAT Summit, where she was honored for her work. And she was a founding Board member of RFS. Read more.

L'Oréal USA announces 2021 For Women In Science Fellows.

This year's Fellows conduct research in the areas of neurobiology, microbiology and biogeochemistry, physics, and materials chemistry. In addition to grant funding, Fellows receive mentorship, career coaching and recognition. Read more.

Legislation would create entrepreneurship center for women in STEM.
Female entrepreneurship is on the rise in Massachusetts, but it needs a boost. Rep. Alan Silvia said he hopes the Abigail Adams Entrepreneurial Act will create a center to provide funding and mentorship opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Read more.

Scientists question Max Planck Society’s treatment of women leaders.
A group of 145 leading female scientists from across the world has signed an open letter to Germany’s Max Planck Society (MPS), expressing concern over “the highly publicized dismissals, demotions, and conflicts involving female directors of Max Planck Institutes”. Read more.

Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education.
The Action Collaborative's Year 2 Annual Report summarizes the Action Collaborative's collective progress in the 2020-2021 year, identifies areas for future focus, discusses trends in organizations' reported areas of work, and highlights work shared by member organizations and partner network organizations. A complete collection of "descriptions of work" authored by member and partner network organizations is available in the repository. Read more.

Obituary: 'Unsung hero' of science laid the ground work for epic DNA discovery.
June Lindsey played a key role in the discovery of the DNA double helix, but she was never formally recognized for her work. Lindsey died in Ottawa earlier this month at the age of 99. Read more.

One of the billionaire scientists behind the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on what’s next.

Turkish-German scientist Özlem Türeci, who founded BioNTech with her husband Uğur Şahin, was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in March for work developing the BioNTech/Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images.Read more.

Buck Institute awarded $12.7 million from NIH to join SenNet, Cellular Senescence Network.
Buck Institute professors Judith Campisi, PhD and Birgit Schilling PhD, have been awarded a $12 million grant from the NIH’s Common Fund to join the newly established Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet), a national “tissue and cell mapping” effort involving 13 research institutes. Read more. 

Marianna Limas, Social Media Manager
Nilda Rivera, Partnership and Events Manager