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Let’s Talk
About…Women in Science
Did you know…
Women account for only 16 of the 539 Nobel Prizes
that have been awarded in science-related fields?
Is there a logical reason for this disparity?
What are the complexities and societal factors at
work? In 2009,
three women were recognized by the Nobel committee for their
scientific achievements. Are we finally moving toward a
positive shift in the number of women in science?
Meet three female scientists from the St. Louis area
who are forging their own legacies in plant science.
How did they do it,
and how can more women be encouraged to contribute to this
incredibly important field?
Dr. Toni Kutchan,
Oliver M. Langenberg Distinguished Investigator, Danforth
Center
Prior to joining the Danforth Center in
2006, Dr. Kutchan spent 20 years researching biochemistry at
the University of Munich and the Leibniz Institute of Plant
Biochemistry in Germany.
She is currently investigating how plants like
poppies create medicinal compounds at the enzyme and gene
levels. This research could lead to new sources of
medications for use against chronic pain and illnesses such
as cancer. Dr.
Kutchan also serves as an adjunct professor of biology at
Washington University. She received her B.S. in Chemistry at
the Illinois Institute of Technology, and her Ph.D. in
Biochemistry at St. Louis University.
Dr. Natalie DiNicola, Director,
Sustainable Agriculture Development Partnerships, Monsanto
In her 12 years with Monsanto, Dr.
DiNicola has promoted global environmental stewardship while
supporting agricultural growth.
She currently oversees programs to improve food
security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in
developing countries.
Previously she served as a Congressional Science
Fellow for the Federation of Animal Sciences Societies in
Washington DC, working for Congressman Sherwood Boehlert on
agriculture and environmental issues.
She holds a B.A. in Biology and
Environmental Biology from St. Mary’s College and a Ph.D. in
Environmental Toxicology from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison.
Dr. Barbara Schaal, Mary-Dell
Chilton Distinguished Professor Biology, Washington
University
Dr. Schaal is an
expert in plant evolutionary biology.
Recently appointed to the President’s Council of
Advisors on Science and Technology, she also serves as the
first female vice president of the National Academy of
Science. Dr.
Schaal received a degree in biology from the University of
Illinois-Chicago and earned her doctorate from Yale
University. She
was on the faculty of the University of Houston and The Ohio
State University before joining Washington University in
1980. She has
served as the president of the Botanical Society of America
and the Society for the Study of Evolution.
Be our guest for an
enlightening discussion on the challenges and opportunities
facing women in science.
The dialogue will be moderated by
Laurie Waters,
weekend anchor and 20 year veteran of KMOV News 4.
Thursday, February 25,
2010
5:00 Reception in the Lower Atrium
(in the main building at the Danforth
Center)
5:30 p.m. – Conversation in the AT&T Auditorium
RSVP by calling 314-587-1070 or
emailing
conversations@danforthcenter.org. You may also
Register Online.
Reservations for Conversations are required but
complimentary; we encourage Center Friends to bring others. To confirm or establish your membership,
please phone the Office of Development at (314)587-1073
The Friends Committee and the Donald Danforth Plant
Science Center are grateful for the ongoing commitment of
The Boeing Company, which is proud to sponsor the 2010
Danforth Center Conversations series as part of its support
for increasing understanding of community and global issues.
Our Promise, Our Mission:
Improve the Human Condition Through Plant Science
FEED THE HUNGRY AND IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH ~ PRESERVE AND
RENEW OUR ENVIRONMENT ~
ENHANCE OUR REGION AS A WORLD CENTER FOR PLANT SCIENCE
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