Women's History Month - March 2021

Berkeley Lab Resources & Events:

In Celebration of the Lab’s 90th Anniversary:

Other Events & Resources:

  • Picture a Scientist Panel Discussion - Wednesday, March 24, 2021 - 12 noon
    The producers of the Picture a Scientist documentary film will host a live virtual event in partnership with ProQuest and Scientific American, featuring Dr. Raychelle Burks, and Dr. Jane Willenbring, and Nobel prize-winning chemist Dr. Jennifer Doudna. This event is free and open to all. Registration Required.

  • Finding Your Path: Women in Climate Action Careers - Wednesday, March 31 - 2 pm
    You are invited to join women in climate action at Sandia National Laboratories, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Energy to learn about ways you can work in clean energy and climate action in government. You’ll also hear from the Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education about their website to find research and non-research opportunities.     Meet the Women in Climate Action Who Give Us Hope

Mission

To address issues that affect the careers of women scientists and engineers, Berkeley Lab created the Women Scientists & Engineers Council (WSEC). The WSEC and Berkeley Lab’s Human Resources Department work in partnership to determine priorities and develop strategies for recruitment, retention, work life balance, and the empowerment of women scientists and engineers. Subcommittees focus on target areas and to address specific challenges. Key activities include:

    • Engaging division leaders in recruitment, retention, and development

    • Improving policies for work-life balance

    • Empowering women scientists through training and meeting people of influence

The WSEC is different from a traditional ERG because it is made up of members who are both Division-appointed as well as volunteers. There are three subcommittees that meet separately to work on WSEC goals: policy, networking, and empowerment. WSEC members meet quarterly in January, April, July, and October.

Celebrating Women

Women @ The Lab

Building on the DOE’s Women @ Energy: STEM Rising project, the WSEC has held four Women@ The Lab events between 2013 - 2020. Read profiles of our honorees on the Women @ The Lab website.

Visible Spectrum

The Visible Spectrum series spotlights talented, dedicated women employees at the Lab.

Berkeley Lab Research Slam 2020

In 2020, all four SLAM award recipients were women.

Activities

  • Monthly networking brown bags and coffee hours

  • Women@ The Lab event for FY20

  • Empowerment workshops

  • Celebrate Women's History Month

Past News & Events

2020 Accomplishments

  • Hosted 8 brown bags showcasing Women@The lab honorees and IDEA topics

  • Hosted 5 networking coffee hours, including an all ERG coffee hour.

  • Organized and led monthly meetings of the Bay Area Networking Group.

  • Started collaboration with HR to study women retention, promotion, and salary data at the lab.

  • Worked with Organizational Learning & Development staff on incorporating microagression awareness trainings.

  • Worked with HR and onboarding team to help clarify pregnancy and disability leave information for new employees.

  • Worked with IDEA office on Covid-19/shelter in place survey and the situations effects on women employees.

  • Launched 2020 Women@The Lab nomination process.

  • Collaborated with Strategic Communications on Visible Spectrum interviews of women at the lab.

  • Participated in National Labs ERG leadership summit at LLNL.

  • Policy - Chairs: Laurie Stephey, Juliane Reinhardt

  • Networking - Chairs: Elizabeth Stuart, , Teresa Calarco

  • Empowerment - Chairs: Rita Kuo, Hang Deng

More information on committee missions, initiatives and accomplishments: WSEC Subcommittees

Chairs

  • Chair: Ina Reichel

  • Vice-Chair: Tammara Campbell

  • Chair Emeritus: Sole Toledano

  • Secretaries: Lauren Lui and Susan Tsutakawa

  • Subcommittee Chairs: Elizabeth Stuart, Laurie Stephey, Juliane Reinhardt, Teresa Calarco, Rita Kuo and Hang Deng

Executive Sponsors

Membership is open to all LBNL employees. We ask that every member join one or more of the subcommittees that carries out the objectives of the WSEC. Subcommittees include: Policy, Networking and Empowerment.

WSEC Member Registration

Contact Information

For more information, please contact the WSEC Executive Committee at wsec-excom@lbl.gov.