Inspired by its 2023 exhibition Pursuit and Persistence: 300 Years of Women in Science, the American Philosophical Society will host an international conference reflecting on the past, present, and future opportunities for women in science.
The conference will be held in-person at the Society in Philadelphia on October 6, 2023. The conference is free and open to all, but registration is required to attend.
All sessions will be livestreamed.
Those planning to attend the conference are also invited to attend the final performance of "Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight," which will be hosted at the Society on October 3-5. Performances will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m. and are free to attend. Registration and more details about these performances may be found here.
Image courtesy of NASA. Photographer: Dominic Hart
"Women in Science: Opportunities" will be held in-person on October 6, 2023. The event will be held in Benjamin Franklin Hall (427 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106). All sessions will also be live-streamed.
Please register using the link to the left.
Please direct any questions to Adrianna Link at [email protected] or Thomas Johns at [email protected].
"Women in Science: Opportunities" Program
October 6, 2023
**All times are listed in ET**
Note: Times are subject to change.
8:30-9:00AM: Registration and Breakfast
9:00-9:15AM: Welcome
9:15-10:45AM: Panel 1: Local Opportunities: Engaging Women in STEM in Philadelphia
“Exploring 40+ Years of Women in STEM Through the Women in Natural Sciences Program”
Jaqueline Genovesi (Executive Director for STEAM Equity, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University)
“The Future is Female: Preparing today's undergraduate women to be tomorrow's STEM leaders”
Catalina Arango Pinedo and Shani Nuckols (McNulty Program for Leadership in Science and Mathematics, Saint Joseph’s University)
“Impacts of National and Local Chapters of 500 Women Scientists”
Tanya Dapkey (Macroinvertebrate Section Lead, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia), Saranya Anantapantula (Remote High School), JoEllen McBride (Associate Director, Graduate Student Center, University of Pennsylvania)
“Embracing a Creative Arts Identity as a Female Scientist: One Woman’s Journey”
Laura Guertin (Distinguished Professor of Earth Sciences, Penn State Brandywine)
Moderator: Jayatri Das (Chief Bioscientist, The Franklin Institute)
10:45-11:00AM: Break
11:00-12:00PM: Panel 2: Opportunities for Engagement, Teaching, and Learning
“CybHER: Empowering K-12 Students for STEM Careers through Engagement and Pipeline Creation”
Ashley Podhradsky (Associate Dean, Beacon College of Computer and Cyber Sciences; Co-Founder, CybHER)
“Engaging Marginalized Genders in STEM Learning: A Feminist Framework”
Rebecca Ljungren (Education Programs Manager, National Women’s History Museum) and Shannon Baldioli (Education Specialist, National Air & Space Museum)
“STEM-rich Museums’ Potential for Preparing Girls for Careers in STEM”
Lynda Kennedy (Vice President of Education & Evaluation, Intrepid Museum)
Moderator: Alexis Pedrick (Director of Digital Engagement, Science History Institute)
12:00-1:00PM: Lunch
1:00-2:30PM: Panel 3: Representing Women in Science: Opportunities for Collections & Curation
“Structuring Visibility: Using Digitization and Linked Data Systems to Amplify the Stories of Women in Science”
Diana Marsh (Assistant Professor of Information Science, University of Maryland), and Celia Emmelhainz (Supervisory Anthropologist, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution), with Molly Kamph (Archivist, National Archives and Records Administration)
“Women of Science in the Archives: The World Center for Women’s Archives at Connecticut College”
Jenifer Ishee (Linda Lear Librarian for Special Collections and Archives, Connecticut College)
“Documenting and Amplifying the Stories of Women Scientists: A Lecture Series as Archival Documentation”
Bethany Anderson (Natural and Applied Sciences Archivist and Assistant Professor, University Archives, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) and Kristen Allen Wilson (Illinois Distributed Museum Coordinator, University Archives, University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign)
“How are Women in STEM represented in Museums? (Very Poorly)”
Allison Marsh (Co-Director of the Ann Johnson Institute for Science, Technology & Society and Associate Professor of History, University of South Carolina)
Moderator: Margaret Graham (Director, Legacy Center: Archives & Special Collections, College of Medicine, Drexel University)
2:30-3:00PM: Break
3:00-4:30PM: Panel 4: Lessons Learned: Opportunities for the Future
“Women in Physics: Bound by the Ropes of Motherhood Expectations and the Gendered Labor Market”
Meytal Eran Jona (Head of Diversity and Inclusion Office, Weizmann Institute of Science) and Yossi Nir (Professor of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science)
“Motherhood and Science: Strategies for Gender Equity in Academia”
Heather Doty (Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware), Shawna Vican (Assistant Professor of Sociology & Criminal Justice, University of Delaware), Robin Andreasen (Professor of Linguistics & Cognitive Science, University of Delaware)
“Do senior female scientists fall in the chasm between early career and lifetime achievement awards?”
Tamar Goulet (Professor, Department of Biology, University of Mississippi)
“Helping “Girls Who Code” Persist: The Emergence, Acceleration, and Limitations of the Movement to Draw Young Women into STEM, 1965-Today"
Amy Bix (Professor of History, Iowa State University)
Moderator: Michelle Francl (Frank B. Mallory Professor of Chemistry, Bryn Mawr College)
4:30-5:00PM: Wrap Up
5:00-6:00PM: Closing Reception & Exhibition Tours
Old City Hotels:
There are several hotels within walking distance as well as many within a short ride by public transit, taxi, or Uber. Addresses and contact information are below. The hotels listed here represent accommodations in Old City, Philadelphia. There are many additional options in other areas of the city including Center City and Rittenhouse Square. Philadelphia is also served by Airbnb and other accommodation sharing sites.
Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel (Marriott)
401 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Reservations: 215-925-0000
Hotel Monaco (Kimpton)
433 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Reservations: 855-295-BELL
Hotel: 215-925-2111
Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District
400 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-923-8660
Philadelphia Marriott Old City Hotel
1 Dock Street (Between 2nd and Walnut Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-238-6000
Best Western The Independence Park Hotel
235 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-922-4443
APS Addresses: The conference will take place in the APS’s Franklin Hall, located at 427 Chestnut Street. The Library is located at 105 South Fifth Street, and the APS Museum is housed across the street from the Library, in Philosophical Hall at 104 South Fifth Street.
Planes: The Philadelphia International Airport is 12 miles from the American Philosophical Society and is served by most major domestic and many international airlines. Philadelphia is a regional hub for American Airlines.
Ground Transportation from Airport: The airport is connected to Philadelphia through a network of public transit, rental cars, taxis, and private car services. In addition, rideshare services can be booked for transport to and from the airport. More information on specific modes of transport can be found on the airport’s website.
Trains: Philadelphia has an Amtrak station and is on the busy Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C. Both Northeast Regional and Acela trains stop at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. In addition, the Keystone, an east-west Amtrak route, stops several times a day in Philadelphia.
Automobiles: The American Philosophical Society is easily reached by I-95, 676, and the 76/Schuylkill Expressway.
Parking: There are several parking garages within a convenient distance from the APS. The Bourse Garage is the closest facility, at 4th and Ranstead Streets. Additionally, there are garages at the Independence Visitor Center and the National Constitution Center.
Buses: Many bus companies in the Northeast serve the Philadelphia area including Bolt Bus, Mega Bus, and Greyhound. Bolt Bus and Mega Bus arrive at 30th Street Station, which is a short ride away from the APS. The Greyhound station is between 12th and 13th Streets, just behind the Jefferson Station SEPTA stop.
Public Transportation in Philadelphia: The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is the major public transportation provider in the Philadelphia region. SEPTA runs Regional Rail lines through the city to the outlying suburbs and the airport. The Market-Frankford Line stops every couple of streets in Center City and runs out to West Philadelphia, by the University of Pennsylvania. SEPTA also runs trolley lines and buses throughout the city. Schedules, maps, fares, and additional information about the public transit system in Philadelphia can be found on their website.