UA Holds Event Celebrating Women in Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Women in STEM Experience initiative will host its second Pathways to Success conference from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, in Shelby Hall on campus.

The conference will offer support, encouragement and education to women who are juniors, seniors and graduate students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math-related fields.

Keynote speaker will be Dr. Mary Lou Soffa, the Owens R. Cheatham professor of computer sciences at the University of Virginia. She will join several presenters from the UA who will cover topics on career, education and lifestyle issues for women in STEM fields and careers.

The event will feature several working sessions and two poster sessions. Door prizes for attendance and poster sessions include two Apple iPad Minis.

For more information about the call for posters or free registration for the conference, go to http://graduate.ua.edu/events/wise.html.

WISE arose from UA’s Graduate School Tide Together initiative, which seeks to support women in STEM through mentorship and networking in hopes of narrowing the gender gap in STEM studies and careers. WISE has become a stand-alone initiative with the support of multiple departments on campus. Through WISE and Tide Together, women studying science and math- related fields are placed with both a graduate student and faculty mentor to help them develop skills in professionalism and in their field of study. In a further effort to support its participants, WISE has created “Pathways for Success” as an opportunity for students to meet with fellow scholars and professionals while learning to navigate science- and math-related fields and graduate programs.

WISE is actively seeking involvement in new events to promote women and STEM fields. To learn more about WISE or about how students, faculty and professionals in STEM can contribute to “Pathways to Success,” contact Becky Odom-Bartel at rlodombartel@ua.edu or Dr. Andy Goodliffe at amg@ua.edu.