Chair: Brittany Barker (blb5061@psu.edu)

The Symposium for Women in the Sciences (SWIS) is an annual convention sponsored by AWIS in the fall semester. During this convention professional women in the sciences speak about their experiences and those attending participate in various workshops to learn valuable skills and/or information about programs or resources at Penn State for science majors. A committee is needed to compose brochures and handouts, as well as help the event run smoothly.

This year SWIS will take place on December 5th at the Days Inn on South Pugh Street. Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Jean Brenchley, a Professor of Microbiology, discussing her life and work. SWIS will feature Dr. Erin Grossi, Director of Sales Administration for Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC (a biotechnology company) as well as an interactive session held by Students Engaging Students (SES). A lunch buffet will be provided.

Historically, SWIS has featured many important and interesting women in science. In the past, AWIS invited Dr. Patrice Desvige-Nickens, leader of the Cardiovascular Medicine Scientific Research Group at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), a division of NIH. A picture of her, her husband, and one of their daughters can be seen at the right (image from science.education.nih.gov). AWIS was also honored to host Kathryn Sullivan, the first American woman in space (image at right obtained from nasa.gov), as the SWIS keynote speaker.

Please check back for the SWIS Brochure on the home page, which will be available on the website, as well as at the meetings and in 319 Boucke.