MULTIPLE ROLES, MULTIPLE BURDENS: THE EXPERIENCES OF FEMALE SCIENTISTS WITH CHILDREN

This study investigated the critical incidents in the professional and personal lives of gifted female scientists in Finnish society. Finland represents a European country where gender equity has been widely acknowledged. The data include 11 life stories of female Finnish scientists from diverse fields of science. All participants have been able to actualize their academic talents and build their careers successfully. This qualitative, multiple-case study utilizes the critical incident method in the data analysis process. The results show that all these women have made important life choices that have promoted their talent and career development. These choices include important decisions concerning work, family, and beliefs and values. The majority of the women have also made some compromises related to their scientific interests and careers, as well as personal compromises. The results of the analyses demonstrate some common themes in critical incidents among female scientists. However, no picture of a uniform academic woman was found. All of the gifted female scientists were different in their multiple roles and identities. Our study also reveals some issues related to country and society that need to be acknowledged in tracing how women actualize their talent.

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Microchemistry of ZnO Varistors

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100133102 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 1694-1695

Author(s):

K. K. Soni ◽

J. Hwang ◽

V. P. Dravid ◽

T. O. Mason ◽

R. Levi-Setti

Keyword(s):

Grain Boundaries ◽

Multiple Roles ◽

Grain Boundary Engineering ◽

Ion Microprobe ◽

Dopant Distribution ◽

Important Ingredient ◽

Zno Varistor ◽

Zno Varistors ◽

Zno Powder ◽

The University

ZnO varistors are made by mixing semiconducting ZnO powder with powders of other metal oxides e.g. Bi2O3, Sb2O3, CoO, MnO2, NiO, Cr2O3, SiO2 etc., followed by conventional pressing and sintering. The non-linear I-V characteristics of ZnO varistors result from the unique properties that the grain boundaries acquire as a result of dopant distribution. Each dopant plays important and sometimes multiple roles in improving the properties. However, the chemical nature of interfaces in this material is formidable mainly because often trace amounts of dopants are involved. A knowledge of the interface microchemistry is an essential component in the ‘grain boundary engineering’ of materials. The most important ingredient in this varistor is Bi2O3 which envelopes the ZnO grains and imparts high resistance to the grain boundaries. The solubility of Bi in ZnO is very small but has not been experimentally determined as a function of temperature.In this study, the dopant distribution in a commercial ZnO varistor was characterized by a scanning ion microprobe (SIM) developed at The University of Chicago (UC) which offers adequate sensitivity and spatial resolution.

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