Having read the April 1, 1991, issue of The Scientist, I thought readers might be interested to know that several societies other than those mentioned in the article "Child Care Still a Rarity at Meetings" [page 1] have similar activities. The American Society of Plant Physiologists (ASPP), the American Society for Horticultural Sciences, and the American Society of Agronomy all have divisions or committees dealing with issues facing women in their respective fields. These committees have raised concerns about and awareness of the issue of child care, and the societies have responded to these concerns.
It is up to the women in any professional society to ensure that the issue is addressed. I speak from personal experience: In 1985, along with a few other women colleagues, I petitioned ASPP officers for the establishment of a committee on the status of women in plant physiology. During a short time we have...
Interested in reading more?
Become a Member of
Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!