Women in Scientific & Environmental Professions
Originally offered as a graduate seminar (FOR 797) Spring 1999, (Syllabi 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,  2009, and 2010) this 1-credit class is now also open to upper division undergraduate students (FOR 496).  Participants discuss issues faced by professional women, such as mentoring and productivity, and attend presentations of the Women in Scientific and Environmental Professions Speaker Series, generally offered during the scheduled class time, in lieu of that class.  Students also meet with the speakers, often for dinner the evening after their presentations.  Speakers share their experiences in their work environment, and their perspectives of that environment over time.  For this reason, we try to bring speakers from a variety of employer types, such as academic, NGO, state agencies, and industry.  Previous campus wide-seminars have included:   Dr. Donna Perison, International Paper, Jackson, MS "Meeting the Challenge of Change"; Ellen Ketterson, Indiana University, "Phenotypic Engineering: Using Hormones to Explore Adaptation and Constraint"; Dr. Shirley Malcom, AAAS, "Bringing Science to People and People to Science: New Faces --New Places"; and Sandra Brown, Winrock International, Corvallis, OR, "Kyoto, forests and Climate Change."

This course has been listed as an exemplary teaching resource by  Engineering Pathway (links to "high-quality teaching and learning ...for use by K-12 and university educators and students") and Content Matters (a collection of syllabi that "demonstrate how to combine diversity awareness with science and technology topics and content.")

Another innovative aspect of this class is the cross-departmental support it has received since its inception by Robin Hoffman (Associate Professor and BLA Curriculum Director, Department of Landscape Architecture), Ruth Yanai (Professor, Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management) and Therese Donovan (formerly of the Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, currently Assistant Unit Leader, USGS Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Research Associate Professor, University of Vermont).  The current instructors are grateful for their groundwork, and for their notes, libraries, continued support, and their trust in us.

We are always looking for good speakers, and share suggestions with other series coordinators, departments and student organizations.  We also share the speakers themselves, by scheduling time for them meet with other students and faculty during their visits to campus.  Please send speaker suggestions (name, affiliation, field of expertise, why she would be a good speaker, suggested cosponsors) to Heather Engelman, engelman@syr.edu.