Rosalind Franklin Society board meeting to focus on women in science

New Rochelle, NY, November 7, 2008 – The Board of Directors of the Rosalind Franklin Society (RFS) will be meeting next week at the New York Academy of Medicine. The newly founded RFS serves as an honorific society working to advance the careers and recognition of women in the life sciences and to ensure that they are well considered for more prestigious awards and tenure-track positions. Although the goal is to promote women in these sciences, the membership is not gender specific. A complete list of eminent Board Members, which includes three Nobel Laureates, can be found at www.rosalindfranklinsociety.org.

"The collective brain power of this most illustrious Board ensures that the Society will be successful in confronting the issues that disadvantage women in the sciences and help identify and implement innovative policies and commitments that ensure that the careers for women in the sciences are both productive and rewarding," said Jo Handelsman, PhD, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and President of the Rosalind Franklin Society.

The upcoming Board Meeting on November 12th in New York will feature presentations by Nancy Andrews, MD, PhD (Dean, Duke University Medical School), Nancy Hopkins, PhD (Professor, MIT), Joseph Gall, PhD (Carnegie Institute of Washington), Joan Steitz, PhD (Sterling Professor, Yale University), Maria Freire, PhD (President, Lasker Foundation), with a lunch keynote by Rebecca W. Rimel (President & CEO, Pew Charitable Trusts). This prestigious agenda will be preceded by a Board Dinner at the Harvard Club on November 11th featuring Donna Shalala, PhD (President, University of Miami) as the keynote presentation. Participants will be members of the RFS board, its advisory board, current funders, and invited guests.

"Women continue to be under-represented in science and technology," says Mary Ann Liebert, Founder of the Society and President and CEO of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. "The issues that prevent or hold back opportunities for women who choose careers in the life sciences must be addressed more proactively in order for them to most fully contribute to scientific advances and education."

Because the meeting is limited to ensure frank discourse and interaction, selected members of the press who cover the field of science, will be invited to attend. Those who are interested should call 914 740-2100. ext. 2153

Rosalind Franklin Society
140 Huguenot St. 3rd Floor,
New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215
Phone: (914) 740-2100 Fax: (914) 740-2101
www.rosalindfranklinsociety.org