Interview with former NSF director Colwell to explore her book on sexism in sciences

Rita Colwell

The Women's Global Health Institute (WGHI) at Purdue on April 8 will host a virtual interview with Rita Colwell, a pioneering microbiologist and the first female director of the National Science Foundation, on her recent book “A Lab of One’s Own: One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science.”

Colwell will be interviewed by Rosie Clawson, professor of political science and WGHI Internal Steering Committee member at Purdue. The book describes Colwell’s experience from her early days at Purdue pursuing her master's degree through her selection as NSF director (1998-2004), encountering sexism in the science field. This memoir provides Colwell’s insights into how she overcame obstacles and how resistance to sexism has grown in the new generation of male and female scientists.

Colwell is a distinguished university professor at the University of Maryland at College Park and a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. She received her BS and MS from Purdue and her PhD from University of Washington. She also serves on the WGHI External Advisory Council.

The virtual event will take place at 6:30 pm EDT April 8. It is free and open to the public.

Online registration is required at www.purdue.edu/dp/wghi. The link to access the virtual event will be sent to people registered about two days before the event.

The event is co-sponsored by Division of Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Provost; College of Health and Human Sciences; Purdue Policy Research Institute, Discovery Park; ADVANCE-Purdue and the Center for Faculty Success; Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease; Women in Engineering Program, College of Engineering; Women in Science Program, College of Science; and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program.

About WGHI
The Women’s Global Health Institute, a partner of the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, serves as a nexus of interdisciplinary research to create partnerships, promote research and develop training opportunities to improve the health and quality of life for women through the prevention and early detection of disease.