Argonne's Science Careers in Search of Women program honored by DOE

ARGONNE, Ill. (Feb. 3, 2006) — Argonne National Laboratory has been selected to receive a 2005 Department of Energy Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Best Practices Award for its annual Science Careers in Search of Women program.

"These awards are designed to highlight the best of the Department of Energy's federal and contractor equal employment opportunity and diversity initiatives. The winning programs represent innovative and outstanding initiatives which should serve as models for other offices nationwide," said Poli Marmolejos, Director of the Department of Energy Office of Civil Rights and Diversity.

As part of Argonne's annual Science Careers in Search of Women conference, more than 300 sophomore, junior and senior women and 60 teachers/counselors from nearly 60 Chicago area schools come to Argonne to experience science careers first-hand. This program puts students face-to-face with scientists in a variety of fields and provides an opportunity for them to spend a day interacting with positive female role models in science. A major theme is discussing what life is like when pursuing professions in science and technology.

“Many laboratory women have stories of someone suggesting they consider a science career,” said Kirsten Laurin-Kovitz, chair of the 2005 conference, and head of Argonne's Women in Science and Technology program. “They mention a mentor, teacher or a friend of the family who has taken the time to appreciate their interest in science and raise the possibility of a scientific career. We hope to be that person for the girls.”

The program has served nearly 6,000 young women since it began in 1987 with an idea from Argonne researcher Marion Thurnauer that the laboratory needed to reach out specifically to young women to encourage them to consider careers in science and engineering and help address the lack of women in those jobs.

"Incredibly, there is still a real need — and demand — for these conferences," said Thurnauer. " Argonne's long-term and continuing support of the conferences is unique. This has allowed the conferences to evolve. They remain up-to-date on the rapidly changing demands of the world of technology and the rapidly changing'sophistication' of the young women attending."

"In the past 18 years, we've reached almost an entire generation of young women," said Harold Myron, director of Argonne's Division of Educational Programs and also one of the founders of the conference. "A lot of good has come out of the program, and we hope to continue showing young women the opportunities that are available to them in the fields of science and engineering."

Besides reaching out to students, Thurnauer and Myron both pointed out that the conference has also benefited women researchers at Argonne by fostering networking and leading to the formation of the laboratory's Women in Science and Technology program, which supports the Department of Energy's commitment to recruit, retain and promote women to diversify and strengthen the scientific workforce.

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

For more information, please contact Steve McGregor (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov) at Argonne.