Women's History Month

Inspired by Women's History Month and Ada Lovelace Day, I'd like to say thank you.

I'd like to thank all of the women in science who have struggling and sacrificed and succeeded, both in carving out careers for themselves where women weren't welcome even a few decades ago and in making it easier for women like me to follow in their footsteps. But even more importantly, I'd like to thank those women that, having achieved something, did not simply shrug their shoulders and say, "I did it, you can too it, too." Instead, these women play an active role in changing the climate of science education and the scientific community so that women won't always have to work harder (often with less pay) to be treated equally. They say, "I did it, but that doesn't mean things are perfect. Here is what has to change and here is how we can start to change it."

Because of my attempt at anonymity I can't thank anyone specific, but I think they know who they are.

Take 2

Well, that beginning was somewhat of a dud, but I'm going to try again. This should REALLY be my last year of grad school (pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease), and I'd like to have an outlet for my thoughts, frustrations, and possible (pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease) successes. I've removed the "feminism" part from my sub-headline because, well, I'm lazy and I don't think I can do it justice at this point. If you want feminism with a good dose of smart-assitude, go over to Bitch, Ph.D. and spend three days reading the archives like I did. For now my focus will be on navigating a career path in astronomy (not sure whether it will be within or without academia, which is part of the excitement! Woo hoo! Uncertainty!).

Hello World!

I've been reading (read: wasting time with) blogs for a while now, and although I've found many interesting in one way or another, none of them have spoken directly to me. Lately I've been focusing on academic and feminist blogs, which isn't surprising considering I'm in grad school in the physical sciences, and I have boobs. There, I said it. Actually, I've been a budding feminist since undergrad (thanks, Professor West!), and I maintain the "budding" part because I'm not sure I've realized my potential in that respect.

I've decided to be open about my field because it's different from other physical sciences in some interesting ways. First of all, it is rarely it's own department, usually part of physics or grouped with space sciences. Secondly, although physics tends to have the lowest percentage of women (at all levels) than the rest of the physical sciences, astronomy tends to have much more women. Finally, astronomy (usually) doesn't involve lab or field work - observing is really it's own animal.

And a final important aspect of this blog is that I'm in what will hopefully be one of my last years in grad school (okay, probably third-to-last, but who's counting?), and I want to start figuring out what career path I want to pursue. In general it will be somewhere in a continuum between entirely teaching and entirely doing research, but there are a lot of levels within that continuum as well.

Well, here goes nothing.