September 19, 2005

Chancellor Featured In Calendar Of Local Scientists
Goal Is To Encourage More Young Women To Consider Careers In Science

By Kim McDonald

UCSD Chancellor Marye Anne Fox is the scientist of the month for October in a 2005 calendar that highlights the accomplishments of local women scientists and entrepreneurs.

“The goal of the calendar is to inspire girls by presenting women scientists and the various career paths they have chosen,” said Cathleen Davies, president of BioTech Primer, Inc., a Carlsbad company that provides basic science and biotechnology education for non-science professionals and produced the calendar as a non-profit endeavor. “The pictures of the women featured each month and the information about their lives show these scientists as real people. We want girls to know that if they want to be scientists, there are opportunities.”

The Chancellor was chosen for the calendar, according to Davies, because she is a chemist who heads one of the nation’s most prominent research universities, which was selected last month by Newsweek and the 2006 Kaplan/Newsweek College Guide as the “hottest” institution in the country for students to study science. (http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/science/mchottest.asp) “She has a very powerful and visible position,” Davies added.

Chancellor Fox, a prominent advocate nationally of the importance of eliminating barriers to the participation of women and minorities in science, included in the calendar some words of advice for girls contemplating a career in science:

“Follow your interests, excel in your studies and recognize that, like me, you can seek any of the many rewarding careers in science. Being a scientist is quite simply one of the best occupations on earth. Set your sights high and never waiver in pursuit of your goals.”

She added that what she likes best about being a scientist is that: “There is nothing quite as thrilling as the act of discovery and the ability to see and understand the intricacies of life that can only be seen under a microscope. I will never forget the first time I stepped into a laboratory—it felt like the place to make a difference in the world.”

The calendars were distributed to 4,000 middle and high school girls in San Diego and may be purchased from the BioTech Primer, Inc website: http://www.biotechprimerinc.com

Chancellor Fox distributed calendars to students during her visit in July to the Elementary Institute of Science and an additional 500 girls were given calendars at last April’s Expanding Your Horizons conference at UCSD, which featured science workshops for local 6th to 10th grade girls and their parents. The next Expanding Your Horizons conference will be held at UCSD on May 6, 2006.

Media Contact: Kim McDonald (858) 534-7572