you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
you
you [Music]
as sous EDD I am an infrared astronomer
as sous EDD I am an infrared astronomer by occupation so you might think that I
by occupation so you might think that I
by occupation so you might think that I would be talking about flips and
would be talking about flips and
would be talking about flips and astronomy for example something like
astronomy for example something like
astronomy for example something like Galileo who found that the Sun was at
Galileo who found that the Sun was at
Galileo who found that the Sun was at the center of our solar system unlike
the center of our solar system unlike
the center of our solar system unlike but the belief at the time or perhaps
but the belief at the time or perhaps
but the belief at the time or perhaps something like what Vera Rubin
something like what Vera Rubin
something like what Vera Rubin discovered she found that the stars and
discovered she found that the stars and
discovered she found that the stars and the galaxies in our universe were
the galaxies in our universe were
the galaxies in our universe were unfolded in the gravitational grip of
unfolded in the gravitational grip of
unfolded in the gravitational grip of dark matter matter that is not luminous
dark matter matter that is not luminous
dark matter matter that is not luminous like the ordinary matter we know in fact
like the ordinary matter we know in fact
like the ordinary matter we know in fact we now know today that the universe is
we now know today that the universe is
we now know today that the universe is comprised of only five percent of
comprised of only five percent of
comprised of only five percent of ordinary matter the other ninety five
ordinary matter the other ninety five
ordinary matter the other ninety five percent is partially the dark matter
percent is partially the dark matter
percent is partially the dark matter that Vera found but also something even
that Vera found but also something even
that Vera found but also something even more mysterious called dark energy this
more mysterious called dark energy this
more mysterious called dark energy this was a rather substantial change no I’m
was a rather substantial change no I’m
was a rather substantial change no I’m not going to talk about things like that
not going to talk about things like that
not going to talk about things like that even though I just did what I’m going to
even though I just did what I’m going to
even though I just did what I’m going to talk about instead our flips and
talk about instead our flips and
talk about instead our flips and definitions that have defined young
definitions that have defined young
definitions that have defined young women as they pursue careers in science
women as they pursue careers in science
women as they pursue careers in science Vera received her PhD in 1954 that was a
Vera received her PhD in 1954 that was a
Vera received her PhD in 1954 that was a time when most women did not in fact
time when most women did not in fact
time when most women did not in fact have PhDs in astronomy consequently she
have PhDs in astronomy consequently she
have PhDs in astronomy consequently she spent a lot of her time mentoring young
spent a lot of her time mentoring young
spent a lot of her time mentoring young women trying to convince them to move
women trying to convince them to move
women trying to convince them to move forward to work in astronomy or some
forward to work in astronomy or some
forward to work in astronomy or some other scientific career she was fairly
other scientific career she was fairly
other scientific career she was fairly successful except that even today a very
successful except that even today a very
successful except that even today a very small percentage of the faculty at
small percentage of the faculty at
small percentage of the faculty at universities around the u.s. are women
universities around the u.s. are women
universities around the u.s. are women let me give a personal example when I
let me give a personal example when I
let me give a personal example when I first went to the University of
first went to the University of
first went to the University of Rochester in 1971 I was the only women
Rochester in 1971 I was the only women
Rochester in 1971 I was the only women woman out of 30 in the department today
woman out of 30 in the department today
woman out of 30 in the department today % of the faculty or women an improvement
varus as I say spent a lot of time
varus as I say spent a lot of time mentoring young women and in fact there
mentoring young women and in fact there
mentoring young women and in fact there were several things she had to say about
were several things she had to say about
were several things she had to say about it one of them was worldwide half of the
it one of them was worldwide half of the
it one of them was worldwide half of the brains are in women not surprising but
brains are in women not surprising but
brains are in women not surprising but she not to be outdone a chain and
she not to be outdone a chain and
she not to be outdone a chain and ancient Chinese person said women hold
ancient Chinese person said women hold
ancient Chinese person said women hold up half the sky so I also spend time
up half the sky so I also spend time
up half the sky so I also spend time mentoring young women in our department
mentoring young women in our department
mentoring young women in our department not surprisingly and I tell them that
not surprisingly and I tell them that
not surprisingly and I tell them that it’s not unfeminine to be an astronomer
it’s not unfeminine to be an astronomer
it’s not unfeminine to be an astronomer when I after I said things like that I
when I after I said things like that I
when I after I said things like that I started thinking about what is the
started thinking about what is the
started thinking about what is the definition of to be feminine well
definition of to be feminine well
definition of to be feminine well femininity is define as the trait of
femininity is define as the trait of
femininity is define as the trait of behaving in a way that is typical of
behaving in a way that is typical of
behaving in a way that is typical of women there is so much room for
women there is so much room for
women there is so much room for interpretation and that particular
interpretation and that particular
interpretation and that particular definition I mean for example how about
definition I mean for example how about
definition I mean for example how about meet dependent submissive on assertive
meet dependent submissive on assertive
meet dependent submissive on assertive all of those things I don’t however
all of those things I don’t however
all of those things I don’t however believe that that is a reasonable way to
believe that that is a reasonable way to
believe that that is a reasonable way to look at femininity in fact I’ve always
look at femininity in fact I’ve always
look at femininity in fact I’ve always felt that women have to be assertive to
felt that women have to be assertive to
felt that women have to be assertive to get ahead in science otherwise you
get ahead in science otherwise you
get ahead in science otherwise you cannot succeed and so it’s it’s a
cannot succeed and so it’s it’s a
cannot succeed and so it’s it’s a definition that needs flipping
definition that needs flipping
definition that needs flipping definitely needs slipping now another
definitely needs slipping now another
definitely needs slipping now another thing that I started thinking of when we
thing that I started thinking of when we
thing that I started thinking of when we started talking or considering vera and
started talking or considering vera and
started talking or considering vera and her mentoring is what does how his
her mentoring is what does how his
her mentoring is what does how his mentor defined well interestingly enough
mentor defined well interestingly enough
mentor defined well interestingly enough a mentor is defined as a person who is
a mentor is defined as a person who is
a mentor is defined as a person who is experienced and trusted as an advisor
experienced and trusted as an advisor
experienced and trusted as an advisor now that’s fine that would be a
now that’s fine that would be a
now that’s fine that would be a perfectly good definition if you left it
perfectly good definition if you left it
perfectly good definition if you left it there however the example given is he
there however the example given is he
there however the example given is he was her trusted advisor until his death
was her trusted advisor until his death
was her trusted advisor until his death the implication being of course that
the implication being of course that
the implication being of course that mentors could only be male and then
mentors could only be male and then
mentors could only be male and then looking at the verb to mentor to advise
looking at the verb to mentor to advise
looking at the verb to mentor to advise or train someone especially a younger
or train someone especially a younger
or train someone especially a younger colleague well that too is open to
colleague well that too is open to
colleague well that too is open to interpretation and the rest of the time
interpretation and the rest of the time
interpretation and the rest of the time my time here I’ll be talking about how
my time here I’ll be talking about how
my time here I’ll be talking about how younger is not necessary in a mentor
younger is not necessary in a mentor
younger is not necessary in a mentor even though in this picture we have a
even though in this picture we have a
even though in this picture we have a male an older male and some younger
male an older male and some younger
male an older male and some younger folks in the image when I was a high
folks in the image when I was a high
folks in the image when I was a high school student STEM subjects were not
school student STEM subjects were not
school student STEM subjects were not very popular with my peers in fact it
very popular with my peers in fact it
very popular with my peers in fact it turned out that my boyfriend at the time
turned out that my boyfriend at the time
turned out that my boyfriend at the time who was on the football team was advised
who was on the football team was advised
who was on the football team was advised by his colleagues not to date me because
by his colleagues not to date me because
by his colleagues not to date me because they said she’s a brain now now I’m not
they said she’s a brain now now I’m not
they said she’s a brain now now I’m not sure whether they meant that was because
sure whether they meant that was because
sure whether they meant that was because I was studying STEM subjects or whether
I was studying STEM subjects or whether
I was studying STEM subjects or whether it was because I was a girl who was
it was because I was a girl who was
it was because I was a girl who was studying STEM subjects fortunately my
studying STEM subjects fortunately my
studying STEM subjects fortunately my mentor at the time my mother told me to
mentor at the time my mother told me to
mentor at the time my mother told me to ignore them they’re ignorant and that
ignore them they’re ignorant and that
ignore them they’re ignorant and that was fine when I went on to university I
was fine when I went on to university I
was fine when I went on to university I was lucky enough in my third year to
was lucky enough in my third year to
was lucky enough in my third year to work for a wonderful woman Helen Sawyer
work for a wonderful woman Helen Sawyer
work for a wonderful woman Helen Sawyer hog there’s a picture of Helen she was a
hog there’s a picture of Helen she was a
hog there’s a picture of Helen she was a wonderful astronomer a noted educator
wonderful astronomer a noted educator
wonderful astronomer a noted educator and she taught to us by example not by
and she taught to us by example not by
and she taught to us by example not by words nobody used the words self-esteem
words nobody used the words self-esteem
words nobody used the words self-esteem in those days it was just by by
in those days it was just by by
in those days it was just by by observing how things went and so I
observing how things went and so I
observing how things went and so I learned a lot and I learned that you
learned a lot and I learned that you
learned a lot and I learned that you should that you should not worry about
should that you should not worry about
should that you should not worry about such things as whether you can pursue a
such things as whether you can pursue a
such things as whether you can pursue a career in science and get married this
career in science and get married this
career in science and get married this is the sort of thing that was the
is the sort of thing that was the
is the sort of thing that was the concern of my colleagues when I was
concern of my colleagues when I was
concern of my colleagues when I was young it sounds ridiculous today but at
young it sounds ridiculous today but at
young it sounds ridiculous today but at that time that was that was the truth
that time that was that was the truth
that time that was that was the truth however we still we still have women
however we still we still have women
however we still we still have women young women who are concerned about
young women who are concerned about
young women who are concerned about their role in life they think of
their role in life they think of
their role in life they think of astronomy as a male-dominated field
astronomy as a male-dominated field
astronomy as a male-dominated field which it is and they they wondered
which it is and they they wondered
which it is and they they wondered whether they are going to be able to
whether they are going to be able to
whether they are going to be able to succeed my my experience is that we have
succeed my my experience is that we have
succeed my my experience is that we have a lot to learn from a variety of our
a lot to learn from a variety of our
a lot to learn from a variety of our mentors brought both women and the young
mentors brought both women and the young
mentors brought both women and the young and I wanted to tell you about my
and I wanted to tell you about my
and I wanted to tell you about my experience next when I went to the
experience next when I went to the
experience next when I went to the University of Rochester it turns out
University of Rochester it turns out
University of Rochester it turns out that computers started to become a very
that computers started to become a very
that computers started to become a very important part of our life in astronomy
important part of our life in astronomy
important part of our life in astronomy and today of course they dominate it but
and today of course they dominate it but
and today of course they dominate it but at the time in nineteen fifty two or
at the time in nineteen fifty two or
at the time in nineteen fifty two or three women were computers here’s an
three women were computers here’s an
three women were computers here’s an example of the women at JPL you may have
example of the women at JPL you may have
example of the women at JPL you may have seen for example the the current movie a
seen for example the the current movie a
seen for example the the current movie a hidden figures where we have women
hidden figures where we have women
hidden figures where we have women computers Helen that my mentor Helen
computers Helen that my mentor Helen
computers Helen that my mentor Helen Sawyer Hagen the next image was a human
Sawyer Hagen the next image was a human
Sawyer Hagen the next image was a human computer herself in 1929 at the Harvard
computer herself in 1929 at the Harvard
computer herself in 1929 at the Harvard College Observatory but something
College Observatory but something
College Observatory but something started happening early on when we
started happening early on when we
started happening early on when we wanted to run a program we carried a box
wanted to run a program we carried a box
wanted to run a program we carried a box of punch cards over to the mainframe
of punch cards over to the mainframe
of punch cards over to the mainframe computer in order to run our programs
computer in order to run our programs
computer in order to run our programs desktops didn’t exist laptops didn’t
desktops didn’t exist laptops didn’t
desktops didn’t exist laptops didn’t exist ipad certainly didn’t exist even
exist ipad certainly didn’t exist even
exist ipad certainly didn’t exist even handheld computers did not exist but
handheld computers did not exist but
handheld computers did not exist but they started to appear and then the
they started to appear and then the
they started to appear and then the internet appeared wonderful and then the
internet appeared wonderful and then the
internet appeared wonderful and then the first browsers appeared
first browsers appeared
first browsers appeared not anything like our current browsers
not anything like our current browsers
not anything like our current browsers but wonderful nonetheless but the thing
but wonderful nonetheless but the thing
but wonderful nonetheless but the thing that transitioned me the most was that
that transitioned me the most was that
that transitioned me the most was that the young students started arriving on
the young students started arriving on
the young students started arriving on our campuses and they had grown up with
our campuses and they had grown up with
our campuses and they had grown up with computers and they were so much more
computers and they were so much more
computers and they were so much more able than I was to be able to cope with
able than I was to be able to cope with
able than I was to be able to cope with this and so the young students became my
this and so the young students became my
this and so the young students became my mentors I mean to this day I have met
mentors I mean to this day I have met
mentors I mean to this day I have met students who are my mentors in this case
students who are my mentors in this case
students who are my mentors in this case this is a picture of my current mentor
this is a picture of my current mentor
this is a picture of my current mentor Amy Meinzer 34 years my junior she
Amy Meinzer 34 years my junior she
Amy Meinzer 34 years my junior she wasn’t even born when I arrived at the
wasn’t even born when I arrived at the
wasn’t even born when I arrived at the University of Rochester she’s holding in
University of Rochester she’s holding in
University of Rochester she’s holding in her hands two cups on the left-hand side
her hands two cups on the left-hand side
her hands two cups on the left-hand side it’s a visible image you can’t tell us
it’s a visible image you can’t tell us
it’s a visible image you can’t tell us but one is hot and one is cold well it’s
but one is hot and one is cold well it’s
but one is hot and one is cold well it’s coffee one is liquid nitrogen on the
coffee one is liquid nitrogen on the
coffee one is liquid nitrogen on the right we have we have an infrared image
right we have we have an infrared image
right we have we have an infrared image of amy i am an infrared astronomer after
of amy i am an infrared astronomer after
of amy i am an infrared astronomer after all so i have to show you that you can
all so i have to show you that you can
all so i have to show you that you can see much different things in the
see much different things in the
see much different things in the infrared and the liquid nitrogen is
infrared and the liquid nitrogen is
infrared and the liquid nitrogen is black the coffee is white and Amy’s nose
black the coffee is white and Amy’s nose
black the coffee is white and Amy’s nose is cold but amy has a lot to recommend
is cold but amy has a lot to recommend
is cold but amy has a lot to recommend her she is a brilliant young woman she
her she is a brilliant young woman she
her she is a brilliant young woman she is the principal investigator of an
is the principal investigator of an
is the principal investigator of an experiment with which I am associated in
experiment with which I am associated in
experiment with which I am associated in fact our group has developed the cameras
fact our group has developed the cameras
fact our group has developed the cameras for this mission it’s called neo Pam
for this mission it’s called neo Pam
for this mission it’s called neo Pam here’s neo cam this is a artists
here’s neo cam this is a artists
here’s neo cam this is a artists conception of what it will be the red
conception of what it will be the red
conception of what it will be the red dots you see in the picture those are
dots you see in the picture those are
dots you see in the picture those are asteroids finding asteroids be fine
asteroids finding asteroids be fine
asteroids finding asteroids be fine before they find us neo cam the
before they find us neo cam the
before they find us neo cam the experiment that Amy is the principal on
experiment that Amy is the principal on
experiment that Amy is the principal on is looking for these Neos near-earth
is looking for these Neos near-earth
is looking for these Neos near-earth objects that have been diverted from
objects that have been diverted from
objects that have been diverted from their normal orbits between Mars and
their normal orbits between Mars and
their normal orbits between Mars and Jupiter into orbits that cross the earth
Jupiter into orbits that cross the earth
Jupiter into orbits that cross the earth orbit and that
orbit and that
orbit and that the case they might hit us that’s not a
the case they might hit us that’s not a
the case they might hit us that’s not a good thing the dinosaurs for example
good thing the dinosaurs for example
good thing the dinosaurs for example became extinct because of a very large
became extinct because of a very large
became extinct because of a very large near-earth object a long time ago neo
near-earth object a long time ago neo
near-earth object a long time ago neo chem should be able to find most of the
chem should be able to find most of the
chem should be able to find most of the meals that are a hundred and forty
meals that are a hundred and forty
meals that are a hundred and forty meters in size and larger but let me put
meters in size and larger but let me put
meters in size and larger but let me put that into perspective a hundred and
that into perspective a hundred and
that into perspective a hundred and forty meters would demolish New York
forty meters would demolish New York
forty meters would demolish New York City I mean for example and it will see
City I mean for example and it will see
City I mean for example and it will see smaller ones as well but we don’t even
smaller ones as well but we don’t even
smaller ones as well but we don’t even know about 140 meter ones today much
know about 140 meter ones today much
know about 140 meter ones today much less the smaller ones occasionally as in
less the smaller ones occasionally as in
less the smaller ones occasionally as in the next slide you’ll see the
the next slide you’ll see the
the next slide you’ll see the Chelyabinsk meter hurtling through the
Chelyabinsk meter hurtling through the
Chelyabinsk meter hurtling through the sky unexpectedly we didn’t know it was
sky unexpectedly we didn’t know it was
sky unexpectedly we didn’t know it was going to even impact it caused some
going to even impact it caused some
going to even impact it caused some destruction in the sense that it broke
destruction in the sense that it broke
destruction in the sense that it broke windows and a few people were injured
windows and a few people were injured
windows and a few people were injured but nobody died and so that was a good
but nobody died and so that was a good
but nobody died and so that was a good thing we have to be able to find these
thing we have to be able to find these
thing we have to be able to find these things so that NASA can divert them and
things so that NASA can divert them and
things so that NASA can divert them and you have to know where they are in order
you have to know where they are in order
you have to know where they are in order to be able to divert them you have to
to be able to divert them you have to
to be able to divert them you have to have good orbits for them that’s what
have good orbits for them that’s what
have good orbits for them that’s what Neil cam is all about amy has complete
Neil cam is all about amy has complete
Neil cam is all about amy has complete command of all of the details not only
command of all of the details not only
command of all of the details not only the asteroid science but also the launch
the asteroid science but also the launch
the asteroid science but also the launch vehicle the detector arrays that are in
vehicle the detector arrays that are in
vehicle the detector arrays that are in the cameras the optics everything she is
the cameras the optics everything she is
the cameras the optics everything she is a wonderful mentor to me so as you can
a wonderful mentor to me so as you can
a wonderful mentor to me so as you can tell I’m not exactly the youngest
tell I’m not exactly the youngest
tell I’m not exactly the youngest speaker today and the fact is that it
speaker today and the fact is that it
speaker today and the fact is that it might be just because my mint mentors of
might be just because my mint mentors of
might be just because my mint mentors of my youth have been dead for some years
my youth have been dead for some years
my youth have been dead for some years that I may think now that you can learn
that I may think now that you can learn
that I may think now that you can learn from the young but I don’t believe
from the young but I don’t believe
from the young but I don’t believe that’s the case I believe we all have
that’s the case I believe we all have
that’s the case I believe we all have something to learn from the young for
something to learn from the young for
something to learn from the young for example I have five granddaughters
example I have five granddaughters
example I have five granddaughters ranging in age from 19 to 32 they teach
ranging in age from 19 to 32 they teach
ranging in age from 19 to 32 they teach me a lot mainly because their life
me a lot mainly because their life
me a lot mainly because their life experiences have been so different from
experiences have been so different from
experiences have been so different from mine
mine
mine for example they teach me about changed
for example they teach me about changed
for example they teach me about changed concepts of marriage of raising children
concepts of marriage of raising children
concepts of marriage of raising children that gender need not be biological that
that gender need not be biological that
that gender need not be biological that the workforce may be virtual they have
the workforce may be virtual they have
the workforce may be virtual they have many things to teach me as my youngest
many things to teach me as my youngest
many things to teach me as my youngest my oldest granddaughter the 32 year old
my oldest granddaughter the 32 year old
my oldest granddaughter the 32 year old said to me when she read an early
said to me when she read an early
said to me when she read an early version of this talk we all benefit if
version of this talk we all benefit if
version of this talk we all benefit if we’re open to learning from whoever the
we’re open to learning from whoever the
we’re open to learning from whoever the sources and so she was thinking of
sources and so she was thinking of
sources and so she was thinking of whether you’re young or whether you’re
whether you’re young or whether you’re
whether you’re young or whether you’re old that’s entirely correct miranda is
old that’s entirely correct miranda is
old that’s entirely correct miranda is right and so I just want to leave her
right and so I just want to leave her
right and so I just want to leave her generation with the idea that femininity
generation with the idea that femininity
generation with the idea that femininity is not impaired by be pursuing your
is not impaired by be pursuing your
is not impaired by be pursuing your goals being a scientist that’s one thing
goals being a scientist that’s one thing
goals being a scientist that’s one thing the second thing is your mentors need
the second thing is your mentors need
the second thing is your mentors need not be male they need not be old they
not be male they need not be old they
not be male they need not be old they can be young and it’s my responsibility
can be young and it’s my responsibility
can be young and it’s my responsibility as a member of my generation to make
as a member of my generation to make
as a member of my generation to make sure that these outmoded definitions are
sure that these outmoded definitions are
sure that these outmoded definitions are flipped thank you
flipped thank you
flipped thank you [Applause]
”
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