Women and Science

 Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, 1981

Being a woman and an astrophysicist is unfortunately still a rare combination, particularly in the Nordic countries. Women have held leading political positions for many years in Norway. Former Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, being the most prominent and influential one, lead the way acting as Minister of Environment in 1974-1979. Later in 1981, she became Norway's first female Prime Minister starting the process that resulted in what today is gender equality in Norwegian political representation.

In spite of this strong female representation within politics and in spite of decades with a steady increase of female students on all levels at the universities, we find very few women in top academic positions; as professors and institute leaders. Statistics from the Research Council of Norway also show that scientific projects/grants still are dominated by male leadership and participation.

Since I worked on recruiting women to science, technology and medicine back in the early 90ties, I'm sad to say not much has changed. The statistics are about the same, the same obviously wrong explanations are offered, all in all pretty much status quo. 

My own very subjective understanding of this landscape has not changed after I worked on recruiting women to underrepresented fields of science. It can be summarized in a very simple conclusion:  Life is not fair. It is a conclusion that makes it easier to act and maneuver in the battlefield; a battlefield where we all fight for the best possible position for ourselves. As long as you know what you are up against, it is easier to develop an effective strategy. 

There are disadvantages and advantages being a woman in the research community. For instance, as a woman you are highly visible and you will get a lof of attention. However, that visibility also means that all your mistakes, small or big, will be noticed.

Prof. E. Hustad and Prof. A. Bechina Arntzen. Photo B L Bye

Being a woman in science was the topic of a workshop led by Prof. Eli Hustad at the University of Agder in May 2012. Prof. Hustad wanted to establish a network that could help women succeed in the world of science. Her more specific goal was to initiate concrete projects and collaboration, literally right on the money.


And money was what I talked about as one of the invited keynote speakers. Having access to resources is key to success within academia as in business in general. My knowledge about the research system and particularly the different funding instruments were the main reasons for me being there. The title of my presentation was "Challenges and Opportunities for women in science: the role of social network. How to make good research applications: experiences from The Research Council of Norway and project applications".  You can find my presentation here and although it is mostly pictoral, there are some useful information to be found too.

Prof. Aurilla Aurelie Bechina Arntzen is an expert on automation, artifical intelligence and general information system management. Based on her extensive experience from leading and participating in EU-projects, she gave the audience good advice on how to succeed with research applications. After she had told us some sad statistical stories about women in science....

At the University of Agder they try to encourage women to enter the world of science - as politicians ask them to do. Mrs Ragnhild Lager, advisor on gender issues at the university, informed us about their strategy plan to increase the number of female academics.  I am not sure if I was surprised or not when she said that the plan has a specific number with respect to % of female academic employees, but not a specific time when they should reach this number. It is a fail with respect to generally being a good strategy plan, that is for sure. Deadlines are given in good plans. Just saying.

Then two ph.d students told us about their work; Soffi Westin is a ph.d student coming from a global enterprise combing her phd work on improving quality in engineering projects through Information Management, while maintaing parts of her work in and for the company Aker Solutions, and Karen Stendal brought us into a virtual world being used by people with reduced functionality in the real world. All pretty interesting presented in an entertaining fashion.


University of Agder was the youngest university in Norway until 2011. (University of Nordland was born 1. january 2011). The University of Agder received funds from Gender Balance in Research to organize the workhop.

It is always a pleasure visiting the deep south of Norway and I am happy to say I will return this month. 

Kristiansand Fortress. Photo B L Bye

Climate & Classical

Here is finally a short introduction of the Climate & Classical performance. Most of the footage of nature is recorded on the countryside in Norway where I grew up and still live.

Enjoy! And do let me know if you would be interested in working with us setting up the performance.

Flying Carpet

Flying Carpet



Imagine a plastic version of this fish and you have the plastic flying carpet!



I knew it was just a matter of time before material scientists of our time rediscovered ancient Arabic knowledge. Carpets CAN fly! Duh! ;-)

Nanotubes

Nanotubes



This looks like knitting - I think I will start on a sweater or something this fall...do some nano-knitting. :-)

Atronomical Gold

Astronomical Gold



Neutron stars to blame?

The Moon & The Telephone

The Moon & The Telephone



Learn about a less known part of our science history - and be prepared for some sweet surprises.

Materials That Marvel

Materials That Marvel



Nanotechnology is absolutely fascinating.


Complex patterns in liquid crystals.
Above is an images that shows how the tiles in a liquid crystal can be of many different shapes and colors, forming periodic patterns of high complexity. On nano scales!

Pregnancy & Paleontology

Pregnancy & Paleontology



I just had to write that heading. Sort of an oxymoron; producing life when your so, so dead?! ;-)

Evolution From A Brid Perspective

Evolution From A Bird Perspective

Shaping Your Brain

Shaping Your Brain



Exercise, exercise - that is what will make a difference. Dave is discussing what the internet (exerciise) does to children's brains...:-)

Is it dangerously addictive? And what is addiction, really?

Brain is a muscle just like any other muscle and obviously we need to use it to grow 'strong'. Addiction in the meaning training your brain for hours shouldn't cause any worries with respect to children playing on the computer. On the contrary, it is good news.

Addiction is just another word for being able to concentrate or focus for a long time. :-)

I would turn around the 'color' of this article and say that according to the latest science we see proof that training your brain actually works. :-)

Then again, contradicting myself, the fact that we can conclude opposing claims from the same experiment underline one of my frequently used arguments concerning neuroscience -and that is that just because we see physical changes in the brain, it doesn't enable us, by scientific methods, to conclude what that means in terms of behavior or emotional results.

Nøkken - The Neck

The Neck - The Water Spirit



So you do not believe in the Neck, do you? Well...if you believe in science I guess you should reconsider you convictions - those laser eyes are real, I'm telling you. :-)

Do not take my word for it, read about the Living Lasers here or here or even here. The Neck is just ONE application...

Look out for Noekken!

Volcanic Eruptions: Ash Warnings and Aviation

Volcanic Eruptions - Ash Warnings and Aviation



Last week Iceland experienced yet another volcanic eruption when Grímsvötn beneath their biggest glacier Vatnajökull, started to spew out volcanic ash into the atmosphere. Several flights have been canceled but it is by far not so disruptive as last years Eyjafjallajökull who closed down the entire European airspace.

If you wonder how we use science in decision making and ash warning systems - I warn you it is compicated - you can read this article. I made a special graphics to facilitate the reading. But again, lots of stuff and complicated links here. Aviation in general require all this, so we should be all happy about it.

Trolls and Science

Trolls and Science



Communicating science can be a challenging task...;-)

Sapphire - From a Scientific Perspective

Sapphire - From A Scientific Perspective!



Credit: ESRF

What an excellent way to combine your interests in jewelry, physics and large installations!

X-ray your bling! :-)

Space Is Music In My Ears

Space Is Music In My Ears



At least space will provide music in my ears if this project is implemented. I have paid for it to happen because I think the project itself is sooooo cool, and I like the idea that this is a regular citizen project.

You can pledge your support also, just like I did. With small and big money, it is you choice.

A detailed description of the budget - and the whole project can by fund via Fundraising for Science.

Update: The project is funded!

Sitting Duck

Sitting Duck?



No.

Evidently not. This is a floating duck. Ready to reproduce according to this article...if the colors are bright enough, that is. :-)

It is spring, folks!

Japan Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami - Measurements with Ny-Ålesund Super Conducting Gravimeter

Japan Tsunami Knock-out of Polar Instruments



Credit NOAA

Above you see the ocean wide tsunami wave propagation. It was not that kind of wave that knocked out the geodetic instrument situated close to the North Pole though. It was the gravitational consequences of all that mass movement, both the continental plates and the immense water body.

See the graphs from Ny-Ålesund here.

Algerian Abstract

Algerian Abstract



Credit: Nasa

This is actually a satellite image of Algeria consisting of multiple shots by Landsat 7. The reason why I post yet another of my own posts is that I have reasons to believe I inspired NASA to look at this image from a similar perspective, namely the arts perspective. This is their latest presentation of their own image - now with a caption and title referring to arts. :-) I'm just saying....;-)

Pain Relief in Pictures

Pain Relief In Pictures



No, I'm not referring to the sometimes fact that pretty pictures can make you forget pain. With the help of the extra, extra, super hard X-ray machine in Grenoble, we can actually (we reads the scientists who are experts on this) see how pain is handled by drugs. Pretty awesome, if you ask me. And I am just getting off my drugs after my visit to the dentist today. :-)

It's Gravitational!

It's Gravitational!



Look out for the waves! ;-)