Women in STEM #308

March 13, 2015

This week, we're celebrating Women in Science by looking at the victories and challenges of women working in science and tech. Join us for a panel discussion with postdoctoral research associate and science communicator Raychelle "Dr. Rubidium" Burks, Colgate University Professor of Psychology Jessica Cundiff, Ph.D., Physics Professor Dr. Shohini Ghose, Director of the Wilfrid Laurier University Centre for Women in Science, and Catherine Hill, Ph.D, vice president for research at the American Association of University Women. And we'll speak to Brianna Wu, Head of Development at videogame company Giant Spacekat, about feminism, gaming industry culture, and her experience as an outspoken critic of #GamerGate.

Guests:

  • Raychelle Burks
  • Catherine Hill
  • Shohini Ghose
  • Jessica Cundiff
  • Brianna Wu

Guest Bios

Raychelle Burks

Raychelle is an analytical chemist, working as a visiting Assistant Professor in the midwest. She's also an active science communicator and an over-active twitter user. To relax from a day of mad scientist duties, Raychelle enjoys sci-fi/horror movies, knitting, and consuming books of all genres.

Catherine Hill

Catherine Hill is the vice president for research at the American Association of University Women and an author of AAUW reports including "Women in Community Colleges: Access to Success"; "Graduating to a Pay Gap: The Earnings of Women and Men One Year after College Graduation"; and "Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics". Before coming to AAUW, Hill was a study director at the Institute for Women's Policy Research and an assistant professor in planning and public policy at the University of Virginia. She has a bachelor and master's degree from Cornell University and a PhD in policy development from Rutgers University.

Shohini Ghose

Dr. Shohini Ghose is an Associate Professor of Physics and Computer Science and Director of the Centre for Women in Science at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. She is a theoretical physicist who examines how the laws of quantum physics might be harnessed to transform computation and communication, and to develop novel protocols such as teleportation. Her research and teaching has earned her numerous awards including a Women of Waterloo Education award, and a prestigious TED Fellowship. Shohini is passionate about addressing gender issues in science and recently founded the Laurier Centre for Women in Science, with the mission of building a strong community for women in science through research, communication and action. She is an affiliate of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo.

Jessica Cundiff

Jessica Cundiff is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology at Colgate University. She holds a PhD in Social Psychology and Women's Studies from The Pennsylvania State University. Her research examines the underlying social-psychological processes that contribute to social inequality. In particular, her work focuses on the manifestation and consequences of subtle forms of bias which is often unintentional and seemingly harmless, and as a result, are difficult to detect. Her research aims to uncover these subtle forms of bias, understand their consequences, and develop solutions to address subtle bias and promote diversity and inclusion.

Brianna Wu

Brianna Wu is the head of development at Giant Spacekat, a company specializing in cinematic experiences using the Unreal engine. She’s also a frequent speaker on women-in-tech issues. In the past, she’s worked as a journalist and a politico. When she’s not developing software, she enjoys racing motorcycles and running marathons. You can find her blog at Space Channel 6.