Workshop on Women in Science and

Engineering

Latifa ElouadrhiriJefferson Lab

November 16, 2009

Jefferson Lab - a DOE Science National Laboratory

• Jefferson Lab is a forefront facility with unique scientific and technical capabilities

– One of 17 DOE National Laboratories– One of ten Office of Science National Laboratories– Serves an international user community of 1200– Experimental program to elucidate the quark structure of matter,

delivers world leading experiments in nuclear science

• World leader and national resource in superconducting radiofrequency accelerating technology

− Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) R&D yielded the newsingle-crystal niobium cavity for use in future accelerators

− Operates a high power Free Electron Laser

• More than 1/3 of US Ph.Ds awarded in nuclear physics; 248 Ph.Ds, granted, 192 more in progress

12 GeV Upgrade – Immediate Future

2007 NSAC Long Range Plan

Recommendation 1

“We recommend the completion of the 12 GeV Upgrade at Jefferson Lab. The Upgrade will enable new insights into the structure of the nucleon, the transition between the hadronic and quark/gluon descriptions of nuclei, and the nature of confinement.”

12 GeV Upgrade Project Start of Construction: October 2008

Jefferson Lab Vision• World Leading Nuclear Science Program based on 12 GeV Continuous

Electron Beam Accelerator- Three dimensional imaging of the nucleon- The nature of quark confinement- Understanding of nuclear and nucleon structure- Precision measurements to test the standard model

• Outstanding Jefferson Lab Theory Center

• World Leadership in Superconducting Radiofrequency Acceleration- Research and development advancing the technology- Support for accelerator construction across the Office of Science

• Exciting Future Beyond 12 GeV Upgrade- Electron Ion Collider- Photon science program based on SC Free Electron Laser, next

generation light source techniques

• Excellent education program supporting local school science teaching

Jefferson Lab Science Education Program

- Becoming Enthusiastic about Math and Science (BEAMS) program reaches at-risk middle school students yielding measurable results in standardized test scores

- Academies Creating Teacher Scientists (ACTS) program improves teachers’ knowledge and classroom skills

(see Hari Areti presentation)

• JLab’s Science Education programs reach 10,000 students and 1,000 teachers per year

Jefferson LaboratoryScience, Technology and Education Programs

Center Stage

Jefferson LaboratoryScience, Technology and Education Programs

Center Stage

“Large-scale“ Science Programs

• Collaborative "large-scale" science needs:

– broad participation, each collaboration needs scientists with different skills, outlook, insights...

– the best minds involved!  If half the population does not participate, we all suffer.

• It is the responsibility of an institution like Jefferson Lab to be part of the solution.

Committee on Women in Physics and Engineering at JLab

• Members: Hari Areti (chair)

Dennis Skopik

Latifa Elouadrhiri

Gail Dodge

• Goal: to increase participation of women in physics and engineering in general and at Jefferson Lab in particular

– Encourage more girls and women to enter these fields by using JLab resources to provide research experience & mentoring

– Support women already in the field at Jefferson Lab

(see Hari Areti presentation)

Some lessons

• Diversity matters

• Environment matters—organizations with greater transparency and collaborative flexibility have greater equity

• Awareness matters

This Workshop

• Educate ourselves about best practices at other institutions (universities, federal agencies, government labs,…)

• Seek advice from experts about actions that can be taken at Jefferson Lab and at universities to make a difference

• Long term goal:  Increase the number of women in science and engineering at Jefferson Lab!

• Encourage action at the lab and at user institutions

Workshop Goals

Change is within reach …

… but it requires action

(Meg Urry)

Workshop GoalsJefferson Lab staff/ users

– What can Jefferson Lab do to improve the environment for staff level women in science and engineering?

– What steps does Jefferson Lab need to take to recruit, hire, and retain more staff women in science and engineering?

– Should we request a CSWP site visit?– What can be done to improve the experience for users?

Postdocs – How can we improve the experience of women postdocs at JLab?– How can we improve their chances of obtaining a faculty position? 

Graduate Students– How can we improve the experience of women graduate students at JLab?– How can we improve their chances of successfully finishing the Ph.D. and continuing on to a

postdoctoral position?

Undergraduates

– How can we improve the experience of summer and year-round undergraduate students?– How can encourage them to pursue graduate school?– How can we recruit more women into these programs?

 K-12

– Is our outreach effort appropriate for the size of the lab?– Does this program increase the number of women in the pipeline?

Develop a short, medium and long term action plan