Outlining on Birthday

Today I am putting the finishing touches on my outline. I tried to organize my foundation questions in a order that would make sense when I begin to write my paper. While doing my outline I realized that there were some questions that were very related. I think that how I have oulined it now is good but in the paper I need to distinguish the difference between the two.

Where I am at?

Today I am working on my outline and I am going to start to go through one of the books that I received at the library. I have not looked through this book yet but I think it will have a good amount of information in it.

New Resources

I havent blogged in over a week. But everything is still the same not much progress has been made since my last post. I found some useful books at the library that related to my topic. My notes and webliography are rapidly growing. I have also started my outline.

Interesting Fact

I was reading through a Pitt Chronicle and found an interesting fact. The difference in pay between men and women in Pittsburgh EXCEEDS the US average wage disparity. PGH ranks 71st out of 100 metropolian areas for gender integration.

Where I'm At.

This week I have basically been adding notes to my foundation questions. The more notes I add it seems the more my webliography continues to grow. I have a good amount of notes. There are more notes for some foundation questions than others however. On monday I am going to conduct a person-person interview with Ms. Wilds. I have came up with questions to ask her abouot her experience and the way that science is being taught in the classroom. I am still waiting on a e-mail to try and confirm when I will be able to meet the lady from the organization to finalize plans for a week of August. I am hoping everything goes as plan.

Action Plan and Interview

I have set up a week in August (10-15) when I will be working with the Math and science organization. This is part of my action plan. I am hoping to observe, help out, and take pictures or possibly a video of some of the things the organization is doing to get the girls involved in science. I am also in the process of preparing for my second interview with Ms. Wilds. I think the more interviews the better understanding I will have because of the different areas and perspectives. Today I will be working on my foundation questions and taking notes.

DID YOU KNOW????

-The first women to graduate from medical school was Elizabeth Blackwell in 1849

-7.5 million employed women scientists verses 10.4 million employed men scientists in the US
Women represent 23% of science and engineering jobs(private sectors and government)

African American/Hispanic women are 20% each of the workforce but only 6% work with science/engineering

http://braincake.org/files/GMSP_StatsData.pdf

· Gender equity creates cultural problems and without the diversity businesses/science will not excel
o Women hold about half of the workforce in the US and only make up 1/5 of the nations science workers
o Being a minority and being a women doubles the barriers in the science field and high education
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11741&page=13

· As scientist women are faced with choosing between their career and their social life (marriage, children). They have less of a chance to have a full life because of the work schedule
o The biology and natural interest between the sexes influences the work that they adapt to.
http://www.popecenter.org/commentaries/article.html?id=2135

· The way that girls are raised (dolls, make believe) influences the way that they perceive what a scientist should be which is masculine or traits of a male
http://www.andreagrant.org/work/paper.html


-In 2003 there were 22,791 male with doctorate degrees and 17,947 compared to 1983 where 23,858 men earned doctorate and 7,858 females. Women in Science Statistics

Foundation Questions/ Contacts

I have been working on answering my foundation quesions. Each source has links to other sources which brings more information and answers to my foundation questions. This also means more sources on my webliography. Besides answering my foundation questions I have also been e-mailing the organization for part of my action plan. We have been trying to work out days where I can come in and observe and help out with the organization. I just realized that there is alot of differend directions that I can go with my action plan because of the summer and the activities that will be going on with my job and other organizations.

Success

Yesterday, I sent out my interview questions to a resarch chemist at a labortory and recieved a reply back within hours. She was a very good source for my project. She gave me alot of advice on how to go about entering the science field. I was surprised and happy that she answered every single questions fully and amazed at her passion for her career. I was also able to learn about one of the barriers that women face in the science field which is the choice between career and family. She made me aware that even though there are a lack of women in the science field it may not always be because of the myths or stereotypes but because of the challenges, sacrifices, hardwork, and dedication that some do not have or are not willing to go after. If they dont have it no matter what the gender then they should not be pushed to go into the field.

Action plan/ interview

I have finished my proposal. For my action plan I am hoping to get in contact with a Math and Science organization and become a volunteer, I will also shadow someone in the field that I want go in and keep a journal, I will also put my college applications together. The three parts of my action plan will show how females are trying to get represented in science. I have also sent out my first e-mail interview to a female research chemist and will be awaiting her reply.

Getting involved!

Starting out this project I already had organizations and people in mind that I wanted to work with or talk to. However everything doesnt always go as planned or at the speed that you want it to so I have started to take a different route. I have set up a meeting with Ms.Peck today and I am going to try and talk to other organizations and directors of these organizations to see how I can become involved. I think that I have many ways to go about doing a action plan for my project its just planning everything out may take more time.

Pre-Write

Today I am just looking through my sites and foundation questions. I am taking a few notes for my foundation questions. I have jotted down a few little notes on my pre-write sheet, and started to write the first two paragraphs of my proposal.

Finished

I have finished my webliography and have turned it in. I have done the Did You Know's which even WOWED me. I am know going to move on to the next step and will keep you updated.

Update

I think that I have a good start with my graduation project. While looking through the sites and finding did you knows I noticed that there is alot behind this topic than what I thought which is interesting. I have also been recently contacted by one of the organizations that I have been researching. I have sent them my resume to see if I can do volunteer work for their organization. I am not sure when or if I will start volunteering for them but I will make sure to post it!

Friday

On friday I went to talk with my pediatrician to see if it would be possible to shadow her and ask her questions concerning my project. She said that she would be happy to answer any questions that I may ask and we set up a day that I would be able to shadow and ask her questions.

Moving Forward Step 2....

This friday I will be meeting with a female pediatricain to discuss my essential question and to gain experience about the work field. Ihave also managed to come in contact with the Girls and Science partnership at the Carnegie Science Center. There is a lady there who has accepted to help me with my project and she has given me a really good site to look at. I think I have a fine start right now and I am moving right along. I am continuing to review my ten sites and finish up my key terms.

Moving Forward....

I have come up with my essential question of why is there a underrepresenation of females in the science field and how can they be more represented. This is somewhat two questions combined into one but they are questions that will help and lead me to a project and benefit me. I am trying to set up meetings with organizations whose focus is to get girls involved in science and I have already set up a schedule with my own doctor who is a female and has added to the represenation of females in science.

Topic Sites

The myth and unanswered question about my topics....
1.) Back to school: Five Myths about Girls and Science, http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=109939
2.) Tracking the Reasons Many girls avoid science and math,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080905153807.htm
3.) Barriers to women in Acadmic Science and Engineering,
http://people.mills.edu/spertus/Gender/EKNU.html

First Assignment

From some current students who have completed their graduation project I have heard that it is alot of work. One of the tips that they gave me was to not precastinate and to not wait until the last minute to try and work hard and finish everything. I was also told that it is best to choose a topic that is interesting to you so that you won't be bored and will actually want to research and learn more about it.
One of the concerns that I have about the graduation project is organizing and using my time well.
Interest that I think I might like to structure my project around is maybe something that has to do with the career I want to go into which is pediatrics.