People of all genders and majors are welcome! To RSVP to our events, please contact Anika Dane (adane@wesleyan.edu).
Weekly Gatherings
Every Wednesday, 4:30pm in Exley 137, WesWIS is experimenting with a weekly open student-only gathering to build community and provide mutual support, with discussions loosely organized around different themes (adjusting to college, self-care during midterms, managing stress) but largely open-ended. More info is forthcoming, but please join in next Wednesday, if you can! We plan to pilot this weekly gathering through the spring semester.
Upcoming Events:
- Next Tuesday, May 6, students from WesWIS an WesWAVES are sharing a presentation on the experiences of underrepresented students in STEM. Join us noon-1pm in Exley 058, pizza and drinks will be provided.
- Lab Tours
The Spring schedule will be available soon.
- Faculty Lunches
The Spring schedule will be available soon.
- Related Events
- Recent Events
A wonderful event to bring New England SACNISTAS (and not SACNISTAS) together! Consider attending and bringing a poster or even try to give a talk! (Facebook Link)
2025 SACNAS New England Community Gathering, Saturday, April 12, 2025, New Haven, CT
Register by March 5: https://bit.ly/SACNASGatheringNE25
Presented by the Physics Department and the College of Integrative Sciences as part of Earth Month.
Science in Uncertain Times
Thursday, April 10·11:50am – 1:10pm; Exley 058Students can join WesWAVES for a chat with Gabriel in Allbritton 311, 1:30pm.RSVP: adane@wesleyan.edu
Come join us this Tuesday, April 1st, from 12-1 PM in Allbritton 304 for a panel on nonlinear career paths! Our panelists have taken unexpected routes in their careers—switching fields, facing setbacks, and figuring things out along the way. If you’ve ever felt unsure about what’s next, this is a great chance to hear real stories and get advice.
There’ll be time for Q&A, so bring your questions! And yes, there will be snacks.
We’d love to see you there, so bring a friend and join the conversation!
On Tuesday, February 18, 12:00pm, in Exley 137 we are hosting a "meet the faculty" gathering with female faculty from across the NSM division! Drop in to chat with faculty about getting involved with research (it's almost time to submit those CIS summer research applications!), career path advice, and whatever else is on your mind. Very informal, and we'll have snacks available!
Code_Wes is having their last event of the semester, Technical Interview and Software Engineering Internship Talk, at 12 pm on Friday, December 6 at Tishler Hall. Pizza and drink will be provided!
Tuesday, November 19. 12:00-1:00pm, Woodhead LoungeBrown-bag lunch with new junior faculty women in the sciences (bring your own lunch)You may have noticed that there are a lot of new junior faculty women in the sciences at Wesleyan this year, most of whom are starting up new labs, and all of whom are super-cool folks with lots of accumulated wisdom about what it's like to be a woman in science. So we've arranged an opportunity for you to come and talk to them about whatever you like — their research, their career trajectory, the advice they have for aspiring young scientists, and how to join their labs. We hope you can join us!November 22, 12:00pm-1:00pm, Exley 137
WesWIS presents a Grad School Panel
This panel will feature Miko Nakamura and Sara Beth Bouchard and will offer valuable insight into all things graduate school. Miko and Sara Beth will join us to answer your questions and share their stories!
Code_Wes is having their last event of the semester, Technical Interview and Software Engineering Internship Talk, at 12 pm on Friday, December 6 at Tishler Hall. Pizza and drink will be provided!
Hackathon on November 16-17 at Exley Science Center! This event is designed to empower women in tech and offers two exclusive prize tracks for female participants. We’re especially committed to creating an inclusive space for women to participate.
Why Attend?
- No coding skills or experience required – all you need is curiosity and enthusiasm!
- Two exclusive special prize tracks designed to honor women in tech.
- Collaborate with supportive mentors and like-minded individuals.
New Registration Deadline: November 3rd
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AKRo-4xfymMSnDOccwMDC61PIWVjawXmhPnuVIHa0Vg/
Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned coder, this hackathon is for you. Please spread the word among other tech enthusiasts.
We can’t wait to see what you’ll create!
Mentoring Program
We invite you to consider signing up for the WesWIS Fall 2024 Mentoring Program. It is a great way to get involved and connect.
There are no requirements for the program only openness to get to know someone new and flexibility to hopefully meet a few times this semester! If this opportunity for advice, support, and connection speaks to you we highly encourage you to sign up!
Mentoring Form: https://forms.gle/S4ipwHYtA7ZwnNAh6
Stargazing and Hot Chocolate
Thursday, October 3, 2024, 9:00-10:00pm, Van Vleck Observatory
Join us at Van Vleck Observatory to use the telescopes, enjoy hot chocolate, and chat with other women in science! The event is open to all majors and genders, so bring your friends! We will be there rain or shine! If the weather doesn't cooperate, we will be setting up the planetarium inside. We hope to see you there!
Steering Committee
Steering Committee Applications are OPEN!
Steering Committee members aid in planning events, organizing resources, and fostering community among gender minorities in STEM on campus! Positions are held until graduation, so we’re looking for enthusiastic STEM applicants dedicated to tackling the issues facing women and gender minorities in science.Applications are due 9/27, and interviews will be conducted after application considerations. Please email us with any questions at weswis@wesleyan.edu.We look forward to reading your application!Women in Science Kickoff Meeting!
Friday, September 20, 2024, 12:00pm, Exley Science Center 121 — lunch provided!
Come eat some pizza, meet the Steering Committee, find out about WesWIS activities and events, give your input about how WesWIS can help you this year, and meet other awesome science majors. We hope you'll be able to join us! People of all genders and majors are welcome at WesWIS events.
In collaboration with Gordon Career Center's WesConnect, the Wesleyan alumni database, attend this in-person career panel of Wes alumni in diverse STEM careers this 6:00PM THURSDAY, April 11th at the Gordon Career Center!Hear panelists describe navigating their professional path after leaving college and meet and mingle in the Gordon Career Center!Panelists include Savanna Goldstein (Clinical Research Assistant at Hartford Hospital), Giselle Reyes (Scientist at Pfizer), Martha Mastrianni (Research Data Scientist at Quadrant Strategies), and Brian Tarbox (Amazon Web Services Solutions Architect).Faculty Failure Panel, Tuesday February 27th from 4:30pm at the Van Vleck Observatory (VVO) library. Featuring Karen Collins, Renee Sher, Meredith Hughes
The Wasch Center for Retired Faculty is pleased to invite you to the first in our Wednesday afternoon lecture series: on Wednesday, February 28 at 4:30, Amrita Sanyal will speak about the work she has done on the under-representation of women in STEM fields. A recent recipient of the Ph.D. from Purdue, Amrita is Visiting Assistant Professor in Wesleyan’s Economics Department. In graduate school she studied the ways in which the 2009 “Race to the Top” program and the adoption of common K-12 programs affected U.S. students’ high-school and post-secondary performance and their eve
ntual career choices. As an economist, she seeks to understand and address the gender gap in STEM fields and the resulting disparities in earning power.All are welcome to attend, and refreshments will be served. The Wasch Center is located at 51 Lawn Avenue.
Annual WesWIS TRIVIA!!! Join us in Woodhead Lounge in Exley on Thursday, February 8 at 4:30 pm to play some science-themed trivia and win some fun prizes (We heard a rumor that there are tote bags!) All genders, majors, and identities are welcome to attend!
Wednesday, Feb 7, 4:15pm, Exley 413: Lab tour with Prof. Raquel Bryant, who uses fossils to investigate ancient intervals of global warming
We are hosting a lab tour with Professor Feng, where students can learn more about her research and what it's like to work in a lab.Wednesday, November 29th from 4 pm at Shanklin 304. All identities and majors are welcome at all WesWIS events!
Artificial Intelligence or Consciousness Seminar
Join us as we gather 16 distinguished scholars from varied fields to discuss artificial intelligence and how this tool is encouraging people to consider more carefully what it means to be human.
How do academics and notables from seemingly disparate areas of expertise grapple with and interrogate multiple readings and understandings of this topic, which permeates all facets of our lives and impacts the future of humanity and designed intelligence? In four salon-like sessions of four participants each, these scholars will come together in conversation (no lecterns, slides, or notes) to share their ideas, discoveries, experiences, hopes, and concerns about AI and its impact on their respective fields and the broader world—as they would around a living room or at a small dinner party. November 10th - November 11th!
More details: https://www.wesleyan.edu/shasha/seminar2023-2024/schedule.html
Mobilizing Power: Building Community for Environmental Justice Conference
Mobilizing Power: Community Building for Environmental Justice is a gathering for promoting knowledge exchange and building power for collective action on environmental justice. It will be on November 11th from 9:30 am - 4 pm with a reception from 4:30 - 6:30 pm.
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZrOCfptuHFNOZpJf1tQrDWrQH_M2yZwqabMWQw669wEmiGA/viewform
Astronomy Colloquia Speaker Series: Marla Geha from Yale University
Join the Astronomy Department to learn more about Professor Marla Geha’s research on Building Statistical Samples of Low Mass Galaxies in the Local Universe on Wednesday, November 15th, 4:30pm at the VVO Library!
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs) & Summer Research Beyond Wesleyan
Join ACS Wes & WesWIS to hear from senior STEM students about their National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) and other summer research experiences! Thursday, November 9th at 5:30pm in Woodhead (Exley 184)!
Come chat with astronomy professor Professor Sarah Wellons over lunch on October 19th at Noon! Lunch will be provided, Usdan 3rd Floor. Limit of three students, email weswis@wesleyan.edu to RSVP.
Summer Research at Wesleyan Poster Fair
Want to learn about summer research at Wesleyan? Join us in the Woodhead Lounge in Exley on October 26th from 5:30-6:45 pm for the Summer Research at Wesleyan Poster Fair! Come meet students who did summer research across the STEM departments, chat with students about labs, and view research posters. Food provided.
Star GAY-zingThursday, October 12, 2023, 7:00-9:00pm, Van Vleck Observatory
Star GAY-zing is on Thursday, October 12th from 7-9 pm at VVO Observatory! Join us for stargazing and telescopes, cookies, mini talks, and discussion about LGBTQIA+ spaces in science. All genders, identities, ages, and majors are welcome. Event sponsored by WesWIS, the Wesleyan Astronomy Department, City of Middletown Pride, the Resource Center, and the Office of Equity and Inclusion.Meet-&-Greet with the Biophysics Keynote Speakers
The Molecular Biophysics Program will be holding its 24th Annual Retreat on October 11th! The next morning, October 12th from 9:45 - 10:45 am, keynote speakers Dr. Sua Myong and Dr. Kylie Walters will be available for a meet-&-greet! Stay tuned for location.
Stargazing and Hot ChocolateWednesday, September 27, 2023, 9:00pm, Van Vleck ObservatoryJoin us at Van Vleck Observatory to use the telescopes, enjoy hot chocolate, and chat with other women in science! The event is open to all majors and genders, so bring your friends! We will be there rain or shine! If the weather doesn't cooperate, we will be setting up the planetarium inside. We hope to see you there!
Kick-Off MeetingFriday, September 15, 2023, 12:00pm, Exley 121Come learn about Wesleyan Women in Science: our mission, events, activities, mentoring opportunities and more! Pizza lunch will be provided.