Event Highlights:

The New Jersey Council on Gender Parity’s second Annual Women in the Science and Technology Workforce Summit, which took place on Friday, May 3oth at the Conference Center at Mercer was a big success with over 150 registrants representing education, industry and government.  Morning panel session included thought provoking topics--including a proposal to completely revamp the science curriculum in our high schools to better prepare students for STEM careers, and to attract and retain more girls.  The keynote speaker was author Linely Erin Hall, who shared highlights from her research on women scientists and offered suggestions for addressing their retention and advancement.  Interactive discussions in the afternoon outlining real solutions to the issues of recruitment and retention of women in the STEM fields. 

Bio-1 Executive Director Mary Ellen Clark led a well-attended afternoon breakout session on connecting education with careers which validated the Bio-1 strategies and provided new contacts to make these connections.

Recommendations culled from the breakout sessions were shared in the closing session, and will be used to drive the agenda of the NJ Council on Gender Parity over the next year.

Co-sponsors of the event included: New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission, WIRED Bio-1, Rutgers University Office for the Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics, DeVry University, Farleigh Dickinson University,  New Jersey Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, Princeton University, Nontraditional Career Resource Center, New Jersey Statewide Systemic Initiative, and Rutgers University  Center for Women and Work.

Mary Ellen Clark leading a session at the Summit

The summit kicked off Thursday, May 29th with an afternoon tea sponsored by Bio-1 at the Institute for Women’s Leadership at Rutgers University. Linley Erin Hall held a lively discussion with a group of approximately 30, including students, parents, women scientists and educators.  

The talks focused on excerpts from her book, “Who’s Afraid of Marie Curie?:  The Challenges Facing Women in Science and Technology”, which covers continued findings on subtle and not-so-subtle biases that take place for girls and women pursuing scientific endeavors.  

Linley Erin Hall talking with participants

Click here to see an interview with Linley Erin Hall in U.S. 1 News.