What do women (at Fermilab) really want?

A small fraction of the women who work on Intensity Frontier projects at Fermilab.

International Women's Day was first proposed 100 years ago by Clara Zetkin, during the Second International Conference of Working Women. She proposed that every country hold a celebration for women to press for their demands, which included better working conditions and the right to vote. So in honor of Clara, I've been thinking about the demands of women who work at Fermilab.

To paraphrase an age-old question, what do women at Fermilab really want? My gut response is that we want the same thing as men: a vibrant, diverse program that expands the bounds of our understanding of the universe. We want to do that research in a place where our skills are utilized and appreciated, a place where our ideas are respected and even put into practice.

How did we get to a place where women's demands are so similar to those of men? Women do not make up even a quarter of the employees and visitors working at this laboratory. But we're at this point because there is a supportive group of women (and men) working here. Some of those people, who have been part of this informal support network for decades, are the same people who volunteered to serve as mentors in the laboratory's new, formal mentoring program.

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-- Debbie Harris

In Memoriam: Steve Gordon

Steve Gordon

Steve Gordon, a native-Batavia resident and a 30-year Fermilab employee, died on Feb. 27. He was 58.

Gordon spent 30 years working as a cryogenic technician, most recently on the CDF experiment.

"Steve was very knowledgeable. He was a good leak checker and he was very meticulous," said Bruce Lambin, a retired Fermilab employee and Gordon's supervisor in the late '80s and early '90s. "The laboratory lost a good man."

Gordon worked on the cryogenic systems for the fixed-target run beam lines for meson central cryogenics, the proton lines at PS4 and PS1 and the New Muon Lab. He spent a short time as an operator in the Main Control Room and then returned to the Particle Physics Division's Mechanical Department as an operator in CDF, where he worked on the cryogenic system and other process systems.  

"Steve was one of our most skilled technicians," said Richard Schmitt, Gordon's colleague and former supervisor. "He didn't rush work, and he made sure it was done right."

Bill Noe, Gordon's supervisor, said that the cryogenic technician's analytical troubleshooting skills made him a valued member of the CDF team.  Gordon began working on CDF in the 1980s, using the skills he learned helping to construct the superconducting Chicago Cyclotron Magnet to assemble, maintain and operate the CDF 1.5 Tesla solenoid magnet.

"Steve had great knowledge about operating the CDF detector and was always willing to share what he knew with others. He was someone you could always count on," said Rob Roser, CDF co-spokesperson. "His skill, ingenuity and positive outlook made him a pleasure to work with. He will be sorely missed by his CDF colleagues and by the laboratory community."

Read his obituary

Gender, race and science education talk at Fermilab Tuesday

Although the number of women pursuing scientific careers is growing, women are still largely underrepresented in most scientific and technical fields. In recognition of Women's History Month, Fermilab's Diversity Office will sponsor a talk about the continued shortage of women in science from 1-2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9, in Ramsey Auditorium.

The talk is free and open to the public.

In her presentation, titled "Gender, Race and Science Education," Sandra Hanson, professor of sociology at the Catholic Universities of America, will focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and the many factors that continue to create barriers for girls in these areas.

Hanson will also talk about her recent research and the factors that both discourage and encourage young African American women in STEM education. She will discuss suggestions for policies and programs that would encourage the participation of all young people, regardless of gender or race, in STEM education.

Hanson's research and publications focus primarily on the role of gender in science education and occupation systems for women in general, and minority women in particular. Her most recent book, Swimming Against the Tide: African American Girls in Science Education examines the complex interaction between race and gender in science education and the cultivation and retention of scientific talent.

The hour-long presentation will conclude with a Question & Answer session and book signing.

Anyone interested in attending must R.S.V.P.