Oris Sanjur, current acting director of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, speaking at the "Working Women: The Smithsonian Institution as a Case Study" symposium on December 18, 2019. Photograph by Michael Barnes.
Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative
2020 Symposium Call for Proposals
Deadline: Friday, July 17, 2020
Scientists, science educators, and historians of science who explore women's history: The Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative is pleased to announce the call for scholarly proposals for our 2020 symposium, "American Women of Science: Recovering History, Defining the Future."
Proposals must be submitted by Friday, July 17, 2020.
The American Women of Science: Recovering History, Defining the Future symposium aims to 1) recover lesser-known histories of women in science, 2) share current research and programming breakthroughs, and 3) discuss opportunities to define a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive future. We hope this symposium will inspire and educate scientists and museum professionals, regardless of gender or race, and support women on the ground. Given the Smithsonian's long history and growth across the 20th century—into 19 museums and nine research centers—the Smithsonian's past and present provide a unique opportunity for internal reflection and external comparisons regarding the history of women in science.
Details
This will be a virtual symposium taking place across the span of a few weeks in October and November. Sessions will include a mix of keynotes, panels, and lightning talks. We will be working with a virtual event team who can help presenters with digital logistics and strategy.
We intend for this symposium to be inclusive, highlighting the stories of those who identify as women and those who were designated female but self-identify differently across all races and ethnicities. Additionally, the symposium aims to highlight all "women in science" who work in any STEM field in any capacity.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility, please contact Jennifer Schneider at schneiderjenn@si.edu.
We welcome proposals that offer collaborations across disciplines (e.g., anthropology, history, biology, art).