Abstract

During the 20th century women made great gains in entering the professional workforce, particularly in business, law and medicine. However, science and technology disciplines remain dominated by men, and across all fields women are underrepresented in leadership positions. Why do traditional gender roles seem to play such an important role in career selection and advancement? What do biology and social science research reveal about the intersection between sex and science? How can institutions best utilize the intellectual talents of the female workforce? This talk will address some of these issues.

About the speaker

Prof Joan Bennett received her PhD in Botany from the University of Chicago in 1967. She was on the faculty of Tulane University from 1970 to 2006. She joined Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 2006 and is currently Professor II of Plant Biology and Pathology.

Prof Bennett’s current research interests include fungal metabolism, genetics and genomics, mold and mycotoxins, biology of women, bioethics and history of microbiology. Her laboratory studies the genetics and physiology of filamentous fungi. In addition to mycotoxins and secondary metabolites, the focus is on the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by fungi. The lab has also tested individual fungal VOCs in model systems, with the intent of providing a physiological basis for the hypothesis that volatile mold metabolites might be involved in “sick building syndrome”.

Prof Bennett is a Member of the US National Academy of Sciences in 2005 and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Society for Microbiology.

Free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come first-served basis.

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