DMS professor has mentored WISP interns every year since 1990
Each May since 1992, Dartmouth has celebrated achievements in undergraduate
scientific research at the Karen E.
Wetterhahn Science Symposium. While the event is open to participation from
all Dartmouth students, a large number of the presenters are those who have
just completed their first-year research internship with the College's
award-winning Women in Science
Project (WISP).
Mary Pavone, Director of Dartmouth's Women in Science Project (WISP) presents
Bill North, Professor of Physiology at DMS, with an award recognizing his 15
years of service to the program. (photo by John Douglas/Flying Squirrel
Graphics)
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WISP was founded in 1990 to inspire, nurture and retain women in the
sciences. It achieves this goal in part by providing interested Dartmouth women
with an introductory scientific research experience prior to their declaration
of a major.
Over 60 students participate in these internships annually. Consequently,
faculty support is essential to the program's success. Since its founding,
approximately 275 Dartmouth faculty members have sponsored WISP internships.
But only one, Bill North, Professor of Physiology at Dartmouth Medical School, has been
involved each of the program's 15 years.
North was recognized by WISP at this year's Wetterhahn Symposium for his
lasting commitment to the program. "It's like an award for
endurance," said North with a smile. He added that he has always been
pleased to be involved with the WISP program. "I arrived at Dartmouth the
year after coeducation. Especially at that time, science was mainly a male
profession," he recalled. "Those were sad days, I think."
As a researcher, North says he has always enjoyed the opportunity to
encourage women's interest in the sciences. "Women often see things and
approach problems in different ways than men," says North. "These
approaches are invaluable and have added much to our scientific
knowledge."
This appraisal of the abilities of female scientists is a big part of the
barrier that WISP's co-founders hoped to break through. The program was the
brainchild of Karen Wetterhahn, a Dartmouth chemistry professor who died in
1997, and Carol B. Muller, former Associate Dean of Engineering. Muller has
since turned her experiences with WISP into a nationwide e-mentoring program
called MentorNet, which annually pairs over 4,000 women interested in the
sciences with mentors from over 800 companies, government agencies and
professional societies.
WISP Director Mary Pavone agrees that students who participate in
Dartmouth's practical, paid internships usually finish the program with
increased confidence in their scientific ability. "They feel like they
have had a positive introduction to the scientific community, as well as a
significant hands-on research experience," she said. "[The
internship] is the cornerstone of our program."
North has now sponsored 18 WISP interns. A native Australian, he appears
laid back at first observation, but becomes quite animated when he is
discussing his work. His eyes sparkle when he talks about how he views research
as a mystery story. "In research, we uncover more questions as we solve
others," he said. "I never know where a day will take me. It's quite
thrilling, really."
"Women often see things and approach problems in different ways than
men. These approaches are invaluable and have added much to our scientific
knowledge."
- Bill North
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This same infectious spirit North has toward his research is something that
is undoubtedly shared with his students. "I've always enjoyed seeing young
people get excited about something," he said. "There is something
wonderful about giving students an opportunity to experience something
first-hand and learn to apply it."
North also sees his mentoring as a way to learn more about his effectiveness
as a teacher. "Mentoring is funny. I spend so much time with these
students and yet they will remember one occasion or one sentence that I said to
them that made a difference. It's like walking on the moon. It may be a small
footstep, but it's your footstep," he said.
As a part of his recognition at the Wetterhahn Symposium, North's former
interns were contacted and asked to provide written reminiscences of their time
as WISP interns in his lab. Their responses uniformly identify North as a very
"scientific" man who was nonetheless approachable and open with his
laboratory, research and personal time. Wrote one: "Dr. North's patient
teachings and persistent voice of encouragement gave me great confidence during
my freshman year WISP internship."
Reading the letters, it is clear that the vast majority of North's interns
have gone on to careers in the sciences, including pediatrics, psychiatry,
biotechnology and public health. "It's funny when I run into a former
intern who is not going into science," said North, who added that students
are sometimes apologetic when they tell him they are pursuing a different
interest. "I'm just very proud of them for being successful," he
said. "If they leave my lab with an appreciation for science, I'm
happy."
by JOEL AALBERTS
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