Comments for Curt Rice http://curt-rice.com Thoughts on university leadership Tue, 15 May 2012 15:42:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on About by Sex Points Equalize Gender Disparities in Norway - Forbes http://curt-rice.com/about/#comment-1155 Sex Points Equalize Gender Disparities in Norway - Forbes Tue, 15 May 2012 15:42:42 +0000 http://curtrice.wordpress.com/?page_id=2#comment-1155 [...] I spoke with Curt Rice, the Vice President for Research & Development at the University of Tromsø in [...] [...] I spoke with Curt Rice, the Vice President for Research & Development at the University of Tromsø in [...]

]]> Comment on New study: If you need quality, you need affirmative action by A sex point or two for male nurses http://curt-rice.com/2012/04/02/new-study-if-you-need-quality-you-need-affirmative-action/#comment-1146 A sex point or two for male nurses Mon, 14 May 2012 14:17:09 +0000 http://curt-rice.com/?p=2882#comment-1146 [...] What do you think? Related post: New study: If you need quality, you need affirmative action [...] [...] What do you think? Related post: New study: If you need quality, you need affirmative action [...]

]]> Comment on Why women in science don’t want to work at universities by Dan http://curt-rice.com/2012/03/19/why-women-in-science-dont-want-to-work-at-universities/#comment-1119 Dan Fri, 11 May 2012 10:05:24 +0000 http://curt-rice.com/?p=2785#comment-1119 Hey Marie I don't care how near the 'top' your institution is, it isn't worthwhile staying with it - if you're a good graduate student and you know this, then move to another institution, it sounds like the place is a male-stream bully nest. Do your ground research before you move on, though. Unfortunately, because you're in the US this is probably going to be the case at many institutions, but I am sure there are some that foster a better culture than what you're describing. I am a (male) graduate research coordinator for my school at an Australian university, and I can tell you that what's happening to you would not be tolerated for one day at our university (though of course the gender issue is still there in a very much under-grounded format). One of my colleagues has been on maternity/parental leave for two years now (because of complications with her twins), whilst another has just taken another year (half of it paid) off to have her second child. Their positions are secure, and they can get on with what's important in their lives in knowing that they have a job and can resume their careers when they get back. Most academics on my team are women, and equally with their male colleagues have been encouraged to complete further studies by the university and to build their research and scholarship of teaching profiles - they are given paid leave to do this! So women can develop their academic careers regardless of their family or parental status, it is possible! - it sounds like you're in the wrong place, and I would encourage you to think of moving rather than throwing away your dreams just because the backward institution and the retards that you're with are treating you in this way! Besides, why should another institution miss out on your talents if these nineteenth century troglodytes want to throw them away because of your gender? Don't abandon your dreams, you'll probably regret it one day. Hey Marie
I don’t care how near the ‘top’ your institution is, it isn’t worthwhile staying with it – if you’re a good graduate student and you know this, then move to another institution, it sounds like the place is a male-stream bully nest. Do your ground research before you move on, though. Unfortunately, because you’re in the US this is probably going to be the case at many institutions, but I am sure there are some that foster a better culture than what you’re describing. I am a (male) graduate research coordinator for my school at an Australian university, and I can tell you that what’s happening to you would not be tolerated for one day at our university (though of course the gender issue is still there in a very much under-grounded format). One of my colleagues has been on maternity/parental leave for two years now (because of complications with her twins), whilst another has just taken another year (half of it paid) off to have her second child. Their positions are secure, and they can get on with what’s important in their lives in knowing that they have a job and can resume their careers when they get back. Most academics on my team are women, and equally with their male colleagues have been encouraged to complete further studies by the university and to build their research and scholarship of teaching profiles – they are given paid leave to do this! So women can develop their academic careers regardless of their family or parental status, it is possible! – it sounds like you’re in the wrong place, and I would encourage you to think of moving rather than throwing away your dreams just because the backward institution and the retards that you’re with are treating you in this way! Besides, why should another institution miss out on your talents if these nineteenth century troglodytes want to throw them away because of your gender? Don’t abandon your dreams, you’ll probably regret it one day.

]]> Comment on Why women in science don’t want to work at universities by Marie http://curt-rice.com/2012/03/19/why-women-in-science-dont-want-to-work-at-universities/#comment-1113 Marie Fri, 11 May 2012 04:21:14 +0000 http://curt-rice.com/?p=2785#comment-1113 This is not my real name. I am actually afraid to use my real name or identify my institution. Suffice it to say I am a first year graduate student in a physical sciences department in the United States. It is the top in our country for this program. I'm an NSF Graduate Fellow and graduated summa cum laude from an Ivy League undergraduate institution. Today my first peer reviewed paper was accepted for publication in a major journal. By these measures I might have a chance at working in academia. For years it was my dream, until I got to grad school. It became very clear very quickly that wanting a family is taboo, unless you are a man. Four male graduate students are married; 2 have children. Two female graduate students are married; none have children. There are about equal numbers of men and women at the graduate level. Among the faculty, two of twenty-five are women. One of those has a child and she never discusses her family. Life is competitive and the boys are extraordinarily clique-ish. I realized sometime last quarter that the men were studying without me after meeting up to lift weights together. At a party recently a male professor noted that women who had children couldn't possibly be good researchers. I don't have all that many data points and most of my evidence is anecdotal. But I have a very strong gut feeling that wanting a family is not okay around here. My vagina is a career liability. I don't even know if I want my PhD any more. Maybe I'll just get my master's and try my luck elsewhere. I think I made the wrong career choice, and I hope it isn't too late. I'm afraid to talk about my husband. I'm afraid to coo at babies on campus. When grad school is hard, I start to think that no matter how hard I work, ultimately I'll still be screwed when I have a kid. And if the choice is family OR a career in science, I choose a family. I want to believe both are possible and I have known women who did it. But there are so many structural barriers. I'm still young enough to try another career. I wish this wasn't the choice. This is not my real name. I am actually afraid to use my real name or identify my institution. Suffice it to say I am a first year graduate student in a physical sciences department in the United States. It is the top in our country for this program. I’m an NSF Graduate Fellow and graduated summa cum laude from an Ivy League undergraduate institution. Today my first peer reviewed paper was accepted for publication in a major journal. By these measures I might have a chance at working in academia. For years it was my dream, until I got to grad school. It became very clear very quickly that wanting a family is taboo, unless you are a man. Four male graduate students are married; 2 have children. Two female graduate students are married; none have children. There are about equal numbers of men and women at the graduate level. Among the faculty, two of twenty-five are women. One of those has a child and she never discusses her family. Life is competitive and the boys are extraordinarily clique-ish. I realized sometime last quarter that the men were studying without me after meeting up to lift weights together. At a party recently a male professor noted that women who had children couldn’t possibly be good researchers.

I don’t have all that many data points and most of my evidence is anecdotal. But I have a very strong gut feeling that wanting a family is not okay around here. My vagina is a career liability. I don’t even know if I want my PhD any more. Maybe I’ll just get my master’s and try my luck elsewhere. I think I made the wrong career choice, and I hope it isn’t too late. I’m afraid to talk about my husband. I’m afraid to coo at babies on campus. When grad school is hard, I start to think that no matter how hard I work, ultimately I’ll still be screwed when I have a kid. And if the choice is family OR a career in science, I choose a family. I want to believe both are possible and I have known women who did it. But there are so many structural barriers. I’m still young enough to try another career. I wish this wasn’t the choice.

]]> Comment on Opacity in scientific publication: Do journals discriminate? by Scientific Publishing, improved by whale hunting http://curt-rice.com/2011/11/11/opacity-in-scientific-publication/#comment-1107 Scientific Publishing, improved by whale hunting Thu, 10 May 2012 07:27:00 +0000 http://curtrice.wordpress.com/?p=1139#comment-1107 [...] Opacity in scientific publication: Do journals discriminate? [...] [...] Opacity in scientific publication: Do journals discriminate? [...]

]]> Comment on How journals manipulate the importance of research and one way to fix it by Scientific Publishing, improved by whale hunting http://curt-rice.com/2012/04/06/how-journals-manipulate-the-importance-of-research-and-one-way-to-fix-it/#comment-1106 Scientific Publishing, improved by whale hunting Thu, 10 May 2012 07:26:15 +0000 http://curt-rice.com/?p=2960#comment-1106 [...] The ethical dilemma Although it may be widely held that whaling is unethical, it is apparently less widely held that research on whale DNA from a preexisting register is unethical. Indeed, PLoS ONE wasn’t held up by this issue and as a new, open access journal, the editors of PLoS ONE have to be particularly careful about their reputation, even if their impact factor (4.4) is higher than that of Biology Letters (3.7). (Impact factors can be manipulated, as discussed in How journals manipulate the importance of research and one way to fix it.) [...] [...] The ethical dilemma Although it may be widely held that whaling is unethical, it is apparently less widely held that research on whale DNA from a preexisting register is unethical. Indeed, PLoS ONE wasn’t held up by this issue and as a new, open access journal, the editors of PLoS ONE have to be particularly careful about their reputation, even if their impact factor (4.4) is higher than that of Biology Letters (3.7). (Impact factors can be manipulated, as discussed in How journals manipulate the importance of research and one way to fix it.) [...]

]]> Comment on Arsenic gives aspiration: Twitter and Open Access Publishing by Scientific Publishing, improved by whale hunting http://curt-rice.com/2011/06/01/arsenic-gives-aspiration/#comment-1105 Scientific Publishing, improved by whale hunting Thu, 10 May 2012 07:23:23 +0000 http://curtrice.wordpress.com/?p=361#comment-1105 [...] journals and social media. Remember the #arseniclife debate last year? (I wrote about that in Arsenic gives aspiration: Twitter and open access publishing.) In that case, an article was put on a website prior to journal publication. It was heavily [...] [...] journals and social media. Remember the #arseniclife debate last year? (I wrote about that in Arsenic gives aspiration: Twitter and open access publishing.) In that case, an article was put on a website prior to journal publication. It was heavily [...]

]]> Comment on Why women in science don’t want to work at universities by » Post Topic » Why women in science don’t want to work at universities http://curt-rice.com/2012/03/19/why-women-in-science-dont-want-to-work-at-universities/#comment-1102 » Post Topic » Why women in science don’t want to work at universities Wed, 09 May 2012 20:43:22 +0000 http://curt-rice.com/?p=2785#comment-1102 [...] Curt Rice  discusses why young women scientists leave academia in far greater numbers than men for three reasons. During their time as PhD candidates, large numbers of women conclude that (i) the characteristics of academic careers are unappealing, (ii) the impediments they will encounter are disproportionate, and (iii) the sacrifices they will have to make are great. Read more… [...] [...] Curt Rice  discusses why young women scientists leave academia in far greater numbers than men for three reasons. During their time as PhD candidates, large numbers of women conclude that (i) the characteristics of academic careers are unappealing, (ii) the impediments they will encounter are disproportionate, and (iii) the sacrifices they will have to make are great. Read more… [...]

]]> Comment on New approaches to quality control in publishing by Scientific Publishing, improved by whale hunting http://curt-rice.com/2011/12/06/new-approaches-to-quality-control-in-publishing/#comment-1098 Scientific Publishing, improved by whale hunting Tue, 08 May 2012 20:22:32 +0000 http://curtrice.wordpress.com/?p=1528#comment-1098 [...] New possiblities with internet based publishing However, open access publishing is often net based, which can facilitate new approaches to reviewing. I discuss some of these in greater detail in New approaches to quality control in publishing. [...] [...] New possiblities with internet based publishing However, open access publishing is often net based, which can facilitate new approaches to reviewing. I discuss some of these in greater detail in New approaches to quality control in publishing. [...]

]]> Comment on Webinar invitation: How to get more women professors by Why Women Leave Academia « University of Venus http://curt-rice.com/2012/04/19/webinar-invitation-how-to-get-more-women-professors/#comment-1096 Why Women Leave Academia « University of Venus Mon, 07 May 2012 20:09:55 +0000 http://curt-rice.com/?p=3072#comment-1096 [...] Vice President for Research at the University of Tromsø in Norway. He is hosting the webinar How to get more women professors on May 2nd. 69.649205 18.955324 Share this:StumbleUponDiggRedditLike [...] [...] Vice President for Research at the University of Tromsø in Norway. He is hosting the webinar How to get more women professors on May 2nd. 69.649205 18.955324 Share this:StumbleUponDiggRedditLike [...]

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