The Field Museum Women in Science
E-Newsletter, The Summer Edition
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Hello and welcome to the illustrious Field Museum Women in Science (FMWIS) newsletter!
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New and Noteworthy
- If you weren't able to join us at Chicago's March for Science, check out this article from the Chicago Tribune. Chicago's March for Science crowd was as large as that in DC making our city one of the largest March for Science events around the world. More importantly, the value of science was celebrated in hundreds of cities across the globe and on every continent.
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Alumni Spotlight
Steph Morgan, 2013 FMWIS Intern Alumni
 Where are you now? Tell us what you've been up to since completing your Field Museum Women in Science internship.
I graduated from Beloit College in 2015 with a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavioral Biology. I published two research articles and was a student teacher for an undergraduate biostatistics course. In 2015, I joined Sears Holdings as a data analyst. I currently work as a manager for our external service provider network and a project manager for process improvement and service quality initiatives.
Where are your plans for the future?
I was recently awarded the Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship and will be attending UW-Madison in August to pursue my MBA in Operations and Technology Management. This was the first MBA program in the U.S. to receive a STEM designation from the Department of Homeland Security due to its strong STEM orientation and focus on quantitative learning approaches. I'm excited to move to Madison and gain skills in leading STEM-related companies.
How did your Field Museum Women in Science Internship impact you?
My Field Museum Women in Science internship experience taught me the importance of communicating scientific research to the general public. I participated in "Talk to a Scientist Friday" and was surprised to learn how many people were unaware of the important research conducted at the Field Museum. It was great to learn how researchers like Corrie Moreau are able to communicate the importance of their research and how it impacts society.
What advice would you give to women interested in pursuing an education or career in STEM fields?
Don't hesitate to take a position of leadership in whatever field you are interested in. Don't let "Impostor Syndrome" stop you from volunteering to take on a project or lead an event – you know more than you give yourself credit for!
What are you most looking forward to in the next year?
I'm excited to travel to Madrid in December to learn more about multinational tech companies!
If you could be any animal in the world, what animal would you be and why?
I would be a mountain goat because I wish I had those mountain climbing skills :-)
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Inspiration
- In 1928, two of the first Komodo dragons to be imported to Europe arrived at the London Zoo. One of them, named Sumbawa, came in with a nasty mouth infection. His first several months at the zoo were a steady stream of antibiotics and gentle care, and by the time he’d recovered enough for display, he had come to be tolerant of handling and human interaction. In particular, he seemed to be genuinely fond of a woman named Joan Beauchamp Procter. Joan was a notable zoologist, internationally recognised as an outstanding herpetologist. She was the primary caretaker of the Komodo dragons and wrote many of the first popular accounts of their behavior in captivity. While recognizing their lethal capacity, she also wrote about how smart they are and how inquisitive they could be. In her account published in The Wonders of Animal Life, she said that "they could no doubt kill one if they wished, or give a terrible bite" but also that they were “as tame as dogs and even seem to show affection.” To demonstrate this, she would take Sumbawa around on a leash and let zoo visitors interact with him.
- Dr. Mildred Dresselhaus was the first woman to be awarded the National Medal of Science, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (bestowed by President Barack Obama), the Kavli Prize in Nanoscience, the Enrico Fermi prize and dozens of honorary doctorates. Dr. Dresselhaus found a measure of popular culture fame at the center of a General Electric TV commercial that boasts of a corporate commitment to hiring more women. In the ad, little girls play with Millie Dresselhaus dolls and dress up in Millie Dresselhaus wigs and sweaters. Parents name their newborn girls Millie, and journalists breathlessly seek the next Dresselhaus sighting. Dr. Dresselhaus appears in the commercial as well.
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What If Millie Dresselhaus, Female Scientist, Was Treated Like A Celebrity GE Advertisement
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Upcoming Events
FMWIS monthly meetings are the first Monday of every month from 12pm - 1pm, now in our Founders Room, near the South Entrance. Everyone is welcome!
- August 7, 2017: Meet the 2017 Field Museum Women In Science interns and see the videos they have created during their summer internships!
- September 4, 2017: Labor Day (no meeting)
- October 2, 2017: No meeting (Chicagoland Mixer evening to be announced soon!).
Be sure to check our website for more upcoming events.
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Resources
Scholarships
- Novus Biologicals Scholarship Program - awarded to students pursuing a degree in a science related field twice a year. A $1500 (or international currency equivalent) scholarship will be awarded to one student for the fall and spring semesters. Deadline for this application is July 17, 2017.
Career Opportunities
Internships
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The Field Museum Women in Science program is grateful to the Women's Board of The Field Museum for serving as the primary funder of the program's internships, fellowships, and additional learning opportunities.
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Danielle Kosanovich & Kacee Kellum
FMWIS Alumni Relations Sub-committee
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