REGISTRATION:

The Becoming a More Effective Research Mentor and Structuring Your Scientific Paper workshops are limited to 25 participants each, so register now. They are $50 for pre-registration and $60 on-site. If you would like the fee to be waived, send a short justification of need to kellecruz@gmail.com (preference will be given to early-career scientists).

The Career Workshops are $45 each.

The Personal Finance in Turbulent Times workshop is free, but please register for it when you register for the meeting.

If you haven’t registered for the meeting yet, you can do so at aas.org and register for workshops upon registration. If you have already registered for the meeting, you can fill out the Workshop Registration Form and fax it to 202-234-7850. Regular registration ends November 17th, late registration ends December 20th.

Hope to see you in January!

Descriptions in chronological order

Science Tools for Data-Intensive Astronomy: The Virtual Observatory in the Classroom

Workshop
Sunday, January 8, 2012, 12:00 – 2:00 PM
Organizer: Robert Hanisch

This workshop is aimed at high school and community college educators. The Virtual Observatory is well-positioned to teach STEM-based subjects using real astronomical data from more than 30 world-class telescopes.

Becoming a More Effective Research Mentor for Your Trainees: Undergraduates to Post-docs

Workshop
Sunday, Jan 8, 2012 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Facilitator: Eric Hooper, Organizer: Kelle Cruz
Pre-registration and payment required.

Whether formal or informal, mentoring relationships are an important part of every scientist’s career. The University of Wisconsin-Madison has developed, field-tested, and publicly released research mentor training materials for several STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines, including astronomy and physics. The topics of the training seminar cover expectations, communication, independence, diversity, understanding, and ethics. This half day AAS workshop will introduce participants to the mentor training program, plus show them how to obtain and use the free materials for self study or for use in seminars at their institutions. Participants will then delve into three of the seminar’s main topics through case studies. The AAS workshop, like the mentoring seminar itself, will have a strong emphasis on group discussions and will provide time for personal reflection and short writing activities. The goal is for participants to leave with improved mentoring skills and a good sense of how the mentor training seminar operates. The workshop will include a break after the overview and the first case study discussion, at which point anyone who has time for only an introduction to the seminar can leave at a natural and convenient break point.

Structuring Your Scientific Paper

Workshop
Sunday, Jan 8, 2012, 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Presenter: Jean-Luc Doumont, Organizer: Kelle Cruz
Pre-registration and payment required

Papers are one of the few deliverables of the work of researchers. Well-designed, they efficiently allow each reader to learn only what he or she needs to. Poorly designed, by contrast, they confuse readers, fail to prompt decisions, or remain unread. This workshop shows how to structure scientific papers, theses, and technical reports effectively at all levels to get the readers’ attention, facilitate navigation, and, in this way, get the message across optimally.

Science Tools for Data-Intensive Astronomy: The Virtual Observatory Tools for Research

Workshop
Sunday, Jan 8, 2012, 2:00 – 5:30 PM
Organizer: Robert Hanisch

Virtual Observatory tools and services will be demonstrated in the context of a range of science use cases and tutorials. These use cases and tutorials, based on recent results from the literature and on-going missions, will include constructing and modeling spectral energy distributions, cross-matching objects from diverse catalogs, exploration of time series data, and image analysis tools.

Careers 101: Career Planning Workshop for Graduate Students and Postdocs

Workshop
Monday, Jan 9 2012, 8:00 – 10:00 AM
Facilitator: Alaina Levine
Pre-registration and payment required.

This workshop will focus on the current and expanding crisis in the job and career market for astronomers. Specifically targeted towards graduate students and Postdocs, this workshop will identify and investigate the shortage of traditional astronomy jobs, and how early-career scientists can best prepare for this challenge. Our focus will be on career planning for traditional astronomy positions. We will demonstrate how to orchestrate a personal career plan and develop a Plan B and Plan C for contingencies. We will discuss what early-career astronomers should do now to enhance their CVs and research reputations, and what they should look for in and how they can leverage a Postdoc appointment to that can set themselves up for success in the field. Representatives from some of the major Postdoc Fellowship Programs will contribute tot he session. Q and A with workshop participants will be highly encouraged.

Some of the topics that will be covered is this workshop are discussed in “Recovering from Postdoc Mistakes” (Science Magazine, March 3, 2011).

This workshop is offered in conjunction with Careers 201: Career Leadership Workshop. Participants will benefit from attending both, but can also take each independently.

Careers 201: Career Leadership Workshop: Finding Opportunities and Honing Professional Skills

Workshop
Tuesday, Jan 9, 2012, 10:00 AM -1:30 PM
Facilitator: Alaina Levine
Pre-registration and payment required.

In this fast-paced, energetic workshop, participants will learn about various professional development skills that will help them advance in their scientific career. We will discuss traditional and non-traditional career opportunities for astronomers and job search processes and strategies, and attendees will hear from an astronomer who forged an exciting career in industry and the lessons and tactics that have made her successful. We will address professional skills such as networking, negotiation, and leadership principles for emerging and established astronomers, among other topics of importance. Q and A with workshop participants will be highly encouraged.

This workshop is offered in conjunction with Careers 101: Career Planning Workshop. Participants will benefit from attending both, but can also take each independently.

Making the Most of Your Oral Presentations

Special Session
Monday, Jan 9, 2012, 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Presenter: Jean-Luc Doumont, Organizer: Kelle Cruz

Strong oral presentation skills are a key to success for engineers, scientists, and other professionals, yet many speakers are at a loss to tackle the task. Systematic as they otherwise can be in their work, they go at it intuitively, sometimes haphazardly, with much good will but seldom good results. This lecture proposes a systematic way to prepare and deliver presentations and covers structure, slides, and stage fright among other topics.

Career Panel: Career Paths

Special Session
Monday, Jan 9, 2012, 2:00 – 3:30 PM
Organizer: Kelle Cruz and the AAS Employment Committee

The purpose of this panel discussion is to inform recent and upcoming graduates of careers other than the traditional professor/academic track that is typically (and incorrectly) assumed to be the natural outcome of an advanced degree in physics or astronomy. Our panelists (listed below) include representatives from public outreach, community college and education, public policy, and industry. The session will include brief introductions by each of the panelists about their careers, the skills which have enabled them to be successful, and suggestions for how to follow a similar career path. The discussion will be driven by questions from the audience. Time will be reserved at the end for small group discussions with the panelists.

Panelists:
Dave Finley, Public Information Officer for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory;
Rica Sirbaugh French, Mira Costa College and NASA Center for Astronomy Education;
Pat Slane, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics;
Nick Suntzeff, Texas A&M and the State Department; and
Thomas Barnes, U. Texas Austin; and
Gautam Vasisht, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology.

Increasing Diversity in Your Department

Special Session
Monday, Jan 9, 2012, 2:00 – 3:30 PM
Organizer: Hannah Jang-Condell

Diversity is becoming increasingly important as a component of a successful department. As examples, the rankings of graduate programs by the National Academies highlight diversity as a criterion and diversity is an important component of the broader impact statements required by NSF proposals. This special session will present hiring policies and practices that have been proven to be effective in increasing both the diversity and the excellence of science departments around the country. We will recommend steps that departments can take to recruit and retain women, LGBT people, and minorities; discuss what factors contribute to a friendly departmental climate; and demonstrate how to create a diverse department while enhancing academic quality. We invite members of the AAS community to attend this session to both share their own ideas and learn new ones.

Professional Ethics in Astronomy: An Ongoing Dialogue

Special Session
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012, 10:00 AM -11:30 AM
Organizer: Kevin Marvel

The AAS recently endorsed a professional ethics statement, which along with the ethics guide for authors established by our journals, forms the framework for professional ethical behavior in the astronomical sciences. Sigma Xi is using its 125th anniversary to devote the entire year of 2011 to ethics in the sciences, including education through the American Scientist magazine, activities across the country at professional meetings and regular articles in the American Scientist Magazine. I read the engaging column by Dr. Ahearne in the Jan/Feb issue entitled “Honesty” and felt that the time had come to again organize a panel session on professional ethics in astronomy at an AAS meeting. The last such panel session I organized was at the Minneapolis meeting in 2005, which, although scheduled in a small room, was a standing-room only event, with more than 150 people in attendance. Of particular importance to the people attending that session was the participation of the ApJ Editor-in-Chief, Robert Kennicutt and representatives from the funding agencies. Sigma Xi will produce a revised pamphlet on ethics during 2011 for general use and distribution. The AAS provides new members with a copy of the National Academy of Sciences book “On Being a Scientist” (since 2006), which will be re-written this year with an eye toward changes in technologies used for communication, among other items. This is viewed favorably by our new members, especially Junior members and we plan to continue to distribute this low-cost volume in the future. The NAS has recently revised the edition, led in part by Rich Bissel, who serves as the Executive Director of NAS’ office for Policy and Global Affairs.

Personal Finance in Turbulent Times

Workshop
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Facilitator: Ric Edelman, Organizer: Kevin Marvel

The economy is improving, but serious issues remain. If you’re not sure you’re on track to meet your financial goals, here’s your opportunity to get started. Join Ric Edelman, the nation’s #1 independent financial advisor (as ranked by Barron’s), for this fun, informative event. In his unique, breezy style, Ric will teach you: the 9 reasons you need to plan, the 5 obstacles you’ll face, the 5 steps that will put you on the road to financial success, and, the 4 rules you should follow for managing your investments

Working in Science Policy

Special Session
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Organizer: Bethany Johns

The goal of the panel is to encourage intelligent and enthusiastic astronomers into the field of public policy. The panel will focus on how to transition from a career in astronomy to a career in science
policy and how to make communicating with policy makers a part of your career.

Transitioning into the world of public policy from astronomy is a unique experience for each individual. There is no certain path one must take from your current career to Capitol Hill. Each panelist will tell their story on how they made the transition from astronomer to public policy and why they were motivated to pursue this type of career. The panelist range in experience, career stage, and method of transition to illustrate the different ways to success. More scientists are entering a career in public policy, however the role of the public scientist communicating with policy makers is still very important.

Panelist include:
Dr. Bethany Johns, the AAS Johns Bahcall Public Policy Fellow (confirmed)
Dr. Nicholas Suntzeff, Jefferson Senior Science Fellow & Humanitarian Affairs Officer (confirmed)
Dr. Carol Christian, Deputy of the Community Missions Office, Division of STScI (confirmed)
Celinda Marsh, Space Science Program Examiner at the Office of Management and Budget
Dr. Marcos Huerta, Special Assistant, Office of the Director, Office of Science at the Department of Energy

The Astrophysics Postdoc Job Market

Special Session
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012, 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Organizer: Fred Rasio and the AAS Employment Committee

The AAS Employment Committee will host a panel discussion on current issues related to the postdoc job market. Part of the discussion will likely focus on the recent proliferation of postdoc-type positions, including fellowships, without any corresponding growth in potentially permanent academic positions, and on the associated dramatic increase in the duration of the postdoc career stage for many astronomers. The goals of the session are: (1) to provide information to the community based on the personal experiences of successful young astronomers who have recently transitioned to tenure-track or other potentially permanent academic positions, or have gone on to non-traditional career tracks; (2) to provide the perspective from an employer’s point of view (e.g., those running postdoctoral fellowship programs); and (3) to promote discussion about possible changes to employment, recruitment and hiring practices impacting postdocs, and how these changes could be implemented. We encourage both junior and senior AAS members to attend and share their experiences and opinions.

Careers in Media for Scientists

Special Session
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012, 2:00 – 3:30 PM
Organizer: Stephen Maran

A panel of experienced science journalists will discuss careers in the media that accommodate persons trained in Astronomy or other sciences up to the Ph.D.

Panelist include:David Aguilar, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Deborah Byrd, EarthSky: A Clear Voice for Science
Richard T. Fienberg, American Astronomical Society
James Glanz, The New York Times
Laura Helmuth, Smithsonian Magazine

Many thanks to Heather Duckworth for help in preparing this post.

like me.  They also run a larger email-list for postdocs across our institution.  There’s a hunger for more such initiatives; I don’t know how it will shake out yet.

Kelle:  At Caltech, the postdocs are the primary force behind astro-ph discussion. The moderator is supposed to bring an article to get things going; that duty rotates amongst ~5 different postdocs.  While this isn’t a “postdoc-only” activity, it gives the postdocs a sense of belonging and contributing to the dept. community.  Also, Caltech has an active and vibrant campus-wide postdoc association that organizes Social and Career activities in addition to advocacy.  Not every campus is going to be able to sustain such an organization, but I would consider this one to be a model to consider following…just checking out their activities archive could be inspirational.

Jane:  Caltech also has a great “Women Mentoring Women” program, in which postdocs mentor graduate students.  Kelle and I both served as mentors. The events for this program were good opportunities for postdocs to network.

Kelle again:  When I was a postdoc at AMNH, I organized “adventure lunch.” Once a month, a group (not just postdocs), would go to a new place for lunch that was at least a block or two outside of our normal radius. People nominated places they’d been “meaning to try”, and participation would change depending on the destination — for example, a burger joint would pull in different people than the new vegetarian restaurant — so it didn’t become clique-y.  This extra ~hour for lunch didn’t cut too much into the day, was good for folks with family obligations in the evenings (as opposed to “happy hours”), and contributed to increased social interaction amongst people who didn’t otherwise chat with each other on a day-to-day basis.

Eli:  At ESO Garching, the post-docs get together frequently through formal and informal channels. Everyday, the post-docs meet for science coffee where astronomy topics are discussed with the ESO students, fellows, and staff members. There are multiple meetings each week (e.g. journal club, star formation meeting, lunch talks) that are arranged by the ESO fellows. The ESO students and fellows all work in the same area of the building, and the social boundary between them is blurred. Lunch events around ESO Garching is sparse due to lack of restaurants, so the students and fellows tend to meet together for dinners in Munich.

What about other institutions?

Until any of this becomes commonplace, it is up to prospective graduate students to enter a science PhD with their eyes open to the opportunities — or lack of them — at the end. Not all mushrooms grow best in the dark.

In a very strong Op-Ed, humanities professor Mark Taylor says, Reform the PhD System or close it down:

The system of PhD education in the United States and many other countries is broken and unsustainable, and needs to be reconceived. In many fields, it creates only a cruel fantasy of future employment that promotes the self-interest of faculty members at the expense of students. The reality is that there are very few jobs for people who might have spent up to 12 years on their degrees.

Another article dives into the data:

In 1973, 55% of US doctorates in the biological sciences secured tenure-track positions within six years of completing their PhDs, and only 2% were in a postdoc or other untenured academic position. By 2006, only 15% were in tenured positions six years after graduating, with 18% untenured (see ‘What shall we do about all the PhDs?‘). Figures suggest that more doctorates are taking jobs that do not require a PhD. “It’s a waste of resources,” says Stephan. “We’re spending a lot of money training these students and then they go out and get jobs that they’re not well matched for.”.

If this all sounds familiar to you, it’s because the idea that we are producing too many PhDs in science is not new, and has been garnering recent attention. The Economist published The Disposable Academic last December. Beryl Benderly wrote The Real Science Gap and has many other articles on the topic. The situation is even more dire in the humanities. The problem is even creeping into law programs, where students take on crippling debt to finance their degrees, with no promise it’ll lead to a job.

In science, the pyramid is upside down with too many students and postdocs and way too few places for them to work when they finish. This is simply because there is money to fund students and postdocs – money uncorrelated to the number of permanent positions that will exist 7 years down the road. Ideally, it would be more difficult to get into graduate school, but with better job opportunities after graduation.

All the articles in the series are worth a read. Perhaps landing the cover of a science journal such as Nature is a turning point in getting the older guard to take this issue seriously. Meanwhile all of us need to tell it straight to undergrads aspiring to science: they need to enter graduate school with their eyes wide open.