Women Scientists and Engineers Council (WSEC) at Berkeley Lab advocates for career development and work-life balance for women. Anyone (including men) who advocates for women in the sciences can become a member. Ongoing throughout the year, WSEC holds events and contributes to lab-wide efforts.
Each division sends an official representative. EGD’s WSEC representative is Romy Chakraborty. CESD’s WSEC representative is Jiamin Wan. Reach out to them if you have concerns. They’re here to listen.
Every year, WSEC coordinates a search for excellent women at Berkeley Lab. This year, Lara Kueppers and Margaret Torn of CESD received Women @ The Lab awards. What inspires their passion for science?
Lara: “This was my first trip to the top of the rainforest canopy – I could have stayed up there for hours enjoying the sounds and view.” Photo by C. Koven.
“My work is motivated on the one hand, by a deep desire to limit the harm modern society does to our planet, and on the other hand, by a fascination with how the natural world works. By working on climate change and ecosystem dynamics I am able to feed both my curiosity about the world and, hopefully, to influence the choices we make as a society.” – Lara Kueppers
“The role of terrestrial ecosystems in the Earth system is complex and fascinating, as well as critically important for maintaining climate and producing food. Scientific research is needed not only to better understand terrestrial ecosystems but also to be better stewards of our planet. Plus, I love doing field work!” – Margaret Torn
Margaret: “A selfie on a wet, cold day in Barrow Alaska, while I was setting up the barrow micro-warming experiment, where we are heating the tundra by 4 degrees C above ambient to look at the effect of warming on CO2 and CH4 emissions. 2015. The older photo–2001–shows me in a hay field in Oklahoma with intern, Nicole Stanley, who was working that summer on our ARM Carbon project.” Marc Fischer photo.
Watch this video of this year’s Women @ The Lab awards!