I have learned to appreciate air conditioning in an entirely new way since returning back to Fairfax this morning. New England basically just sweats its way through these hotest weeks of the year (for them). And, I’m pleased to know that my trip on Monday back up to Woods Hole will involve staying in the relative comfort of the Nautilis Motor Inn–which does have the magic AC–to supplement its superb view of Little Harbor.
Yesterday I had lunch with an old friend of mine, she is a research professor at MBL, about to move to New York City, where her husband has just accepted a full professorship at Columbia. We chatted a bit about the challenges that women face in neuroscience, not only in terms of representation in leadership positions, but also specifically w. regards to the so-called “two body” problem where one spouse takes a high profile job leaving the other one too often in a professionally untenable position.
In any case, I think my friend will probably land on her feet. A Nobel Laureate, whom we all know of, has offered her a very interesting position in his lab, and they have just purchased a beautiful house in Hastings on Hudson. But I’ve seen (even growing up with two neuroscientist parents) the problems that women face in science up close. It’s an issue we all need to take seriously and address–particularly those of us in administration leadership roles.
Jim
Discoverers and Discoveries 