Welcome to our April/May 2010 Newsletter. As we are approaching the summer holidays our newsletter will be sent out every two months between now and the end of September.


News from the network

Best New Student Group Award for Interconnect at Strathclyde
Congratulations to everyone involved in the Interconnect group at Strathclyde on their recent award. The group has grown in the last year thanks to the efforts of many people including Eilidh, Jude, Cara and Rachel. The group received their award at the University of Strathclyde Students Association's annual awards ceremony and is tribute to the hard work of all those involved. If you'd like to get involved with the group in the coming year please contact interconnect@theunion.strath.ac.uk

Thank you
We're nearly at the end of this academic year and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has got involved in Interconnect this year. People have come along to events, joined the mailing list or facebook group, put up posters, set up groups, staffed fresher's fair stalls and established the student consultative group. With out all your effort and contribution, Interconnect would not have been such a success. We're just starting to plan out events which will start again in September - we hope to see you there next year.




Events in May & June

Girl Geeks Dinner Aberdeen
11th May, 2010 - Palm Court Hotel, Aberdeen, 18.30 for 19.00; £10 (ticket price includes a light dinner and drink on arrival
Girl Geeks have again arranged great speakers for the evening:
Keynote International Speaker - Justine Cassell: "The gift of language... Artificial Intelligence & the children of tomorrow"
National Speaker- Eileen Brown CEO Amastra, ex Microsoft UK Evangelist Team "From Ships to Chips"
To book a place at these popular events: https://www.epay.ed.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&catid=23&modid=2&prodid=279&deptid=24

Get SET and Go!
Glasgow - 13 May 2010
Third in a series of career development workshops for women working in science, engineering and technology. Run by the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in SET.
http://www.ukrc4setwomen.org/html/news-and-events/events/?event_id=1435

Take your seat on the board
Glasgow - 20 May 2010
Have you considered becoming a board member on a public body? Find out the benefits and how to get started. Free event for women in SET.
http://www.ukrc4setwomen.org/html/news-and-events/events/?event_id=1549

Science Communication Conference - British Science Association - Kings Place
Central London - 24th May 2010
This two day conference organised by the British Science Association addresses the key issues facing science communicators in the UK and each year brings together people who are involved in public engagement. It is a fantastic opportunity to network and share ideas and best practice. The theme for the 2010 Conference is ‘Audiences for engagement'. Registration for this event is now open to book please visit the British Science Association website via the link below http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/ScienceinSociety/ScienceCommunicationConference/ScienceCommunicationConference.htm

Get SET and Go!
Glasgow - 10th June 2010
Organised by the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (SRC) .This free event is fourth in a series of career development workshops for women at any stage in their careers. For more information please contact Catherine Gauld at c.gauld@napier.ac.uk

Take your seat on the board
Edinburgh - 29 June 2010
Have you considered becoming a board member on a public body? Find out the benefits and how to get started. Free event for women in SET. For more information please contact Catherine Gauld at c.gauld@napier.ac.uk



News from Elsewhere

Can you help "Close the Gap" to inspire the female scientists of tomorrow?

Close the Gap are running an exciting campaign this year targeted at young people aged 11-14. The ‘Be what you want' campaign aims to highlight one of the key causes of the gender pay gap, occupational segregation, with a view to encouraging young people into non-stereotypical careers. In particular, it is hoped the campaign will encourage girls to consider choosing science subjects at school.

As part of the campaign we are looking for women who are studying or working in male dominated occupations e.g. science, engineering or trades (joinery etc.) who can provide a short case study for our campaign website. We are looking to hear about what inspired you to study SET subjects and a bit more about what your chosen career involves. It is hoped the collection of case studies will provide much needed role models for young women in Scotland and perhaps inspire the next Mary Fairfax Somerville!

If you would like to find out more or provide a short case study please contact Suzanne Motherwell, Development Officer, Close the Gap (e) smotherwell@stuc.org.uk or (t) 0141 337 8139. www.closethegap.org.uk

Fawcett Society's "What About Women?" Campaign : Final Pre-election update:

http://fawcett-society.msg2u.net/cgi-bin/v.pl?p=1%2E56%2E19%2E30%2E4%2E2010%40a%3A64%2Ec%3A38%2Ee%3A133%2Er%3A13579%2El%3A0%2Eac%3AVI%2Es%3A1605

UKRC travel bursaries now open

Since 2004 almost 100 women have benefited by a travel bursary from the UKRC, travelling to destinations all over the world to attend workshops, conferences and seminars. Visit their website to apply for a bursary: http://www.ukrc4setwomen.org/html/services-fo-women/bursaries/ukrc-travel-bursaries

Girls in physics

Why are there fewer women than men in physics?
http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/users/sheehy/Blog/Entries/2010/4/13_Girls_in_physics.html


Please feel free to forward our newsletter onto friends and colleagues. A PDF version is available on request.

Kind regards

Allison


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