Hi there WITS,
We lots of news for you this month, including our new mentoring scheme fundraiser, Twitter Spaces events, Finding Ada Conference speaker news, Gin & Topic podcast, welcome back to Red Hat, WORK180 careers fair, John Maddox Prize, Radioactive Fallout comic, Delia Derbyshire Day summer events, and History Day panel, plus our list of awesome links for your enjoyment. So let’s dive in!
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Mentoring for women in science |
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We want to provide access to the Finding Ada Network to 50 working class or first generation (ie first in their family to go to university) women at any stage of their career in science in the UK. In order to do this, we need to raise £2,500 to cover our costs, so we have started a new fundraiser on GoFundMe. If you can put a fiver towards this project, please do!
When we hit £1,000 we will open up applications, and we’ll onboard people in groups on a regular basis. If we raise more than our target, then we’ll increase the number of places available. And if this project works, then we’ll open up further to women in other parts of STEM.
Participants will get one year’s free access to our online mentoring platform, our exclusive careers and skills content, webinars, and a broad community of other women in STEM.
So please help us make this happen. Women need this kind of support more now than ever, and your donation will give someone a potentially life changing mentoring experience.
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10 June, 24 June, 8 July
Join us on Twitter Spaces
FindingAda founder Suw Charman-Anderson is going to host a series of audio conversations with women in STEM on Twitter Spaces over the next few weeks, so put these dates in your diary:
Thurs 10 June, 15:00 BST: Shraddha Surana on mentoring
Shraddha (above) is the global data community lead at Thoughtworks, and focuses on using machine learning for scientific discoveries in various domains like astrophysics, life sciences & drug discovery.
To listen to Shraddha and Suw talk about mentoring, open this link in your browser or the official Twitter app at 3pm on 10th June.
Thurs 24 June, 19:00 BST: Sue Nelson on women in space
Sue Nelson is an award-winning radio producer, science journalist and former BBC TV science and environment correspondent. She’ll be talking about NASA’s bid to put the first woman on the Moon, European astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti going back into space, and the ESA’s call for astronauts.
Thurs 8 July, 19:00 BST: Dr Helen Scales on her new book, The Brilliant Abyss
Dr Helen Scales is a marine biologist, writer and broadcaster. Her new book, The Brilliant Abyss “brings to life the majesty and mystery of an alien realm that nonetheless sustains us, while urgently making clear the price we could pay if it is further disrupted”.
Find out more about our guests on our blog.
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20-22 July
Finding Ada Conf sneaky peek
Are you ready for the Finding Ada Conference 2021? This year, we’re holding the event over three days, with sessions timed for a global audience:
- 20 July: New Zealand, Australia, Asia Pacific
- 21 July: India, Middle East, Africa, Europe, Eastern Coast of The Americas
- 22 July: Europe, Africa, The Americas
We will have a mix of pre-recorded talks with live Q&As, interviews, and live panel discussions, and we have confirmed some amazing speakers, including:
- Michelle Dickinson, founder of Nanogirl Labs
- Dr Kat Arney, science communicator and podcaster
- Dr Sai Pathmanathan (above), demo designer and author
- Dr Helen Scales, marine biologist and author
- Gilliant Hunt, Talent Director at SUSE
- Jannie Fernandez, Technolochicas
We are also going to be running three paid workshops for people in the UK and EU:
- Media Coaching with Francesca Kasteliz
- Improv for Sci-Comms with Belina Raffy
- Social Media with Laura Oliver
Tickets for the free conference and the paid workshops will become available within the next few weeks, so please look out for special announcement emails!
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2 July |
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Gin & Topic: Suw on gender equality |
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FindingAda.com founder Suw Charman-Anderson will be featured on the 2 July episode of the Gin & Topic podcast, a podcast that “seeks to understand something about anything… with help from experts, and rather a lot of gin!”
Suw will be talking to step-mother/step-daughter team Sarah and Áine Cruise about how we improve gender equality in the workplace, whilst enjoying a G&T with Suw’s favourite, Prairie Gin from the Midwest of America.
Make sure you don’t miss out – subscribe to Gin & Topic in your favourite podcast app or listen on their website on Friday 2 July at podcasts.ginandtopic.com.
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Welcome back to Red Hat
A very warm welcome back to Red Hat, who are joining us again this year as Headline sponsor. Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions and services, helping customers develop cloud-native applications, integrate existing and new IT, and automate, secure, and manage complex environments. You can follow @RedHat on Twitter.
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15-17 June
WORK180 careers fair
Our sponsor WORK180 are holding a free virtual careers event from 15-17 June, aimed at women in tech. Featuring employers endorsed by WORK180, the event includes workshops, networking and the opportunity to connect with a variety of organisations who value diversity and inclusion. Organisations attending include J.P. Morgan, ClearScore, Lloyds Banking Group, LV=GI, amongst others. You can register free for as many events as you like on their site.
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14 June
John Maddox Prize nominations close soon
The John Maddox Prize “recognises the work of individuals who promote science and evidence, advancing the public discussion around difficult topics despite challenges or hostility”. Nominations are open globally to scientists at any stage of their career and winners receive £3,000 in prize money. The deadline is Monday 14 June so get your nominations in now!
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Radioactive Fallout – A Science Superhero Comic Book |
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ALD sponsor Digital Science's Katy Alexander, who is also founder of The Remarkablz, is running a Kickstarter project for her latest science superhero comic book about real-life Japanese biochemist Katsuko Saruhashi! Radioactive Fallout will feature adventures about the young Katsuko as she gains her superhero powers. There are 21 days left to back the project, so do pledge and support a diverse educational comic book.
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7 July onwards
Delia Derbyshire Day summer activities
Delia Derbyshire Day, held online 23 November 2021, is running a number of activities during the summer, starting from Wednesday 7 July. The first virtual masterclass will include ALD alumna Caro C discussing Delia Derbyshire and the creative work she made to celebrate her. You can book tickets now on Eventbrite, and do keep an eye out for their other masterclasses and events.
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30 June
History Day at DCDC21
If you’re interested in the history of science, then sign up for the History Day’s 2pm panel discussion on connecting researchers with collections. Ginny Mills (The Royal Society Library), Dr Aaron Hanlon (Colby College, Maine) and Pamela MacKenzie (Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin) will discuss the Lisa Jardine Grant Scheme, which offers the opportunity for early career scholars to exploit history of science collections at the Royal Society Library in support of their research in the field of intellectual history.
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Here are all our latest articles and links for your reading pleasure:
Ada Lovelace featured: Ada is apparently the subject of a musical performance by the Greek National Opera! Ask Ada was written by Yannis Kyriakides and will be recorded on 10-12 June. She will also be one of the sculptures installed in St Mary’s Church, along with Mary Wollstonecraft, Amy Johnson, Mary Seacole, Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin, Helen Sharman and Hilda Lyon.
Minority scientists: Vogue India interviews Vani Kola on her success as a venture capitalist, and why more women are needed in tech leadership. PBS has some resources about Asian American and Pacific Islander women scientists. Katherine Johnson’s daughters talk to Today about their mother, her achievements and legacy. And read more about Dieuwertje J. Caste’s research on Black and Latino STEM grads as role models for younger students, in The Conversation.
News: Find out more about Alyssa Carson, who has been using TikTok for science communication, teaching people about space, via Mashable. Astronaut Sally Ride will be one of the designs put forward by the American Women Quarters Program, to put more women on US coins. Paula Mabee is interviewed by Jeryl Brunner of Forbes to talk about how she is determined to get more women into STEM.
Books: Anna Reser and Leila McNeill, authors of Forces of Nature: The Women Who Changed Science, write for Smithsonian about looking for women contributors to science outside of the most well known names. The Guardian interviews theoretical physicist Chiara Marletto about her new book The Science of Can and Can’t: A Physicist’s Journey Through the Land of Counterfactuals.
Events: The Edinburgh Science Festival will have a women in STEM art trail, available to view from 26 June to 11 July 2021. Soapbox Science Bristol will also be happening (virtually!) on 22 June 12-3pm - so register now.
Don't forget to join us on Twitter for our Spaces conversations, and help us to fund our mentoring scheme!
Best regards,
Suw & the FindingAda team
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Dr Anna Jones from the British Antarctic Survey explains the relationship between Antarctic Ice and atmospheric science at Ada Lovelace Day Live 2016.
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With thanks to our 2021 sponsors:
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