2011 Women, Science, and Technology Distinguished Lecturer

Prof. Geraldine Richmond, Richard M. and Patricia H. Noyes Professor of Chemistry, University of Oregon.

Potholes and Speed Bumps on the Road to Diversity in Science and Engineeringâ€"and COACh’s Efforts to Smooth the Road

Many factors contribute to the difficulty that academic institutions face in achieving gender and racial diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) departments. This presentation will address the recent efforts of COACh (Committee on the Advancement of Women Chemists), identifying these difficulties, the strategies used by departments to support diversity, and the work of COACh to assist them.

Biography

Geraldine Richmond is the Richard M. and Patrica H. Noyes Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oregon. She has distinguished herself in research using nonlinear optical spectroscopy and computational methods applied to understanding the chemistry at complex surfaces, interfacing with important problems in energy production, environmental remediation, atmospheric chemistry, and biomolecular surfaces. Over 160 publications have resulted from this research. Richmond has played an important role in setting the national scientific agenda through her service on numerous scientific boards and advisory panels. She has testified on science issues before committees in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Oregon House of Representatives. She is founder and chair of COACh (Committee on the Advancement of Women Chemists), an organization assisting in the advancement of women faculty in the sciences. Over 3000 science faculty, students, postdocs, and administrators have benefited from professional training and networking opportunities developed by COACh.

For more information and RSVP for reception, contact Mary Fox.