The Herald-Sun from Durham, North Carolina • 23

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10 1993 THE HERALD-SUN DURHAM NC PAGE C3 LOCAL Opportunities for women in science to expand Experience may be problem grees were awarded 6800 to women During the 1980s representation of women in university science and engineering departments also grew according to National Science Foundation figures In 1979 women constituted about 11 percent of science and engineering departments: by 1989 women constituted 18 percent Representation now is particularly strong in fields such as life sciences computer science and psychology It is growing but at a slower pace in traditionally male fields such as research is likely to experience a renaissance in the mid-1990s Clutter said She predicted that in 1994 spending on defense-related research would decline accompanied by the closing of US Army bases and probably some federal laboratories But in 1995 she said allotments are likely to increase for in nondefense areas such as life and environmental sciences Clutter expressed optimism that so many women scientists have been trained in fields likely to blossom over the next decade In 1970 for example US universities awarded about 18000 doctoral degrees to scientists and engineers About 1600 went to women In 1991 about 24700 such de By MYRA KNIGHT Research Triangle Park bureau Opportunities for women in science will expand during the Clinton administration and women should position themselves to take advantage of the trend says a National Science Foundation official "I think there is a will to put women in high-level said Mary Clutter an assistant director of the foundation But there is a problem: finding women who have die needed experience been brought along the way the guys Clutter said Women scientists often must work harder than their male colleagues to draw attention to their achievements said Clutter a biologist and former researcher at Yale University She suggested that women make special efforts to discuss their research at conferences and to volunteer as program officers or review panelists for the National Science Foundation Joining professional groups of women scientists also can provide moral support and increase political clout Clutter said "Things will change when there is a critical mass of she said Clutter's comments came as a recent guest of the Triangle chapter of the Association for Women in Science Federally supported scientific Few if any women head research centers and only a head university or government research groups promising women scientists in the past Clutter said Without it women may arrive unattuned to the culture and dynamics of policy-making roles and may be set up to fail die said handful physics and engineering If there is cause for pessimism it stems from the limited opportunities for leadership afforded to women who want to Such experience is crucial to advance to policy-making posi- breaking through the tions die said that has impeded many FIRE DAMAGES FURNITURE INJURES MAN Electronics information technologies booming Triangle Park and Thomas Droege president of Droege Computing Services in Raleigh-Johnston whose Research Triangle Park-based company develops both hardware and soft- ware products sees the association as critical to making the industry the focal point it should He describes electronics as a that literally is closing in on the older textile industry in which he previously worked lines are going to cross in about two years if not with- in the next 18 Johnston predicted To foster the development the association plans to work toward: increasing awareness of member companies promoting North Carolina as a superior location: developing skilled' workers and linking members with the General Assembly other professional groups and one another Kuhn whose organization supports research and development in microelectronics super-computing and high-speed communications views the association as an asset to North Caro- lina NCETTA he said will demonstrate the state's leadership in technologies that are expected to be crucial in the 21st century Droege who develops departmental information systems for medical centers said he hoped the association would serve the needs of both large and smaller companies By MYRA KNIGHT Research Triangle Park bureau There's a new kid on the block in North Carolina business and beginning to flex his muscles Electronics and information technologies an industry that was almost unheard-of 15 years ago has become the state's second largest employer The industry now accounts for some 145000 jobs about 10000 fewer than the more famous textile industry Such statistics have not escaped several Triangle business leaders who within the next week or so plan to establish a professional association to make the most of the growing clout is not a minor deal for North Carolina" said Phil Johnston president of Digital Recorders Inc in RTP and one of the co-founders The North Carolina Electronics and Information Tech-nologies Association (NCETTA) is the work of more than a planning and input from industry executives Its goal is to promote and strengthen the development of businesses that deal with computers computer software and telecommunications Recently the group announced a membership drive Companies that become charter members by June 1 can help to elect a statewide board of directors later this year Other co-founders with Johnston are Matthew Kuhn president of MCNC in Research Tht MnMUfnWMD TNOMAS Jeny Pennington (from left) and Vicky Latta who was Just re- treated at the scene for smoke inhalation after he tried to put united with her cat after a fire at her house Tuesday af- out the fire at 802 Cleveland St Beck said the fire damaged a temoon talk to a Durham County Ambulance Corp rescue work- chair a sofa and a window casing in one room of the rooming er Durham Fire Battalion Chief JM Beck said Pennington was house GUNS FROM Cl LEGISLATIVE AGENDA V- An Increase of fries charged by the Durham County De- partment for serving dvN papers torn $5 to $10 This would help cover costs associated with serving more than 100000 papers each An increase of foes for recording deeds from $2 to $220 Ad-' ditlonal revenue from the Increase would assist payment of the coun- jys planned Geographic Information System Implementation of a local business enterprise program In Durham County that would Include an unspecified bid preference for local businesses Permission for Durham County to place Impact fees on deveiop- era The money would be used to build and operate some county capital improvements -i Permission for county officials to establish a disadvantaged busi-ness enterprise program and give commissionere the authority to require compliance with disadvantaged business enterprise plans as a specification of county contracts Support of an ordinance prohibiting acts of discrimination In employment and public accommodations in the city and county of Durham Simplification of the process by which the city and county would publish notices to close roads and streets occupied by Durham County It would not however apply to ranges or training facilities and would not ban gun safety courses or demonstrations on county property The proposed legislation would not apply to firearms used by military or law enforcement officers or to firearms used to defend people or property Under the proposed handgun permit legislation county officials hope to increase handgun permit fees from $5 to $10 and ban their issuance to people under 21 The amendment would bring the county in line with federal regulations that prohibit the sale or delivery of handguns to people under 21 A study by The Herald-Sun last July showed the number of handgun permits issued in Durham County increased 76 percent between 1987 and 1991 But figures obtained from the Durham County Sheriffs Department show the county issued 2366 permits in 1992 a 278 percent decrease from the 3281 permits issued to 1991 The county has issued 643 handgun permits so far this year 294 in January and 349 in February ban the use of center-fire (higher-powered) rifles unless the hunter was at least eight feet above the ground Hunters would also need a written permission to hunt or carry loaded firearms on the landowner's property The permission must be dated and would be good for one year from the date Hunters would be required to produce the permission to law enforcement officers Other provisions would ban hunters from using dogs to hunt deer in Durham County except on land owned by the hunter or where hunters have written permission to hunt The areas would also have to be designated by file NC Wildlife Resources Commission for such uses The bill would also make illegal the possession of loaded firearms while outside a vehicle or on a road or highway right-of-way This clause would not apply to the owner of land adjoining a right-of-way or a person with permission of the owner The firearm legislation would ban possession of firearms in buildings owned leased or MEETINGS FROM Cl that elected officials could discuss in private At issue was whether bill would allow public bodies to discuss matters that must be kept secret under the public-records law For example could a town council talk about how to deal with a chief of detectives with a drinking problem? Hugh Stevens a lobbyist fin the NG Press Association said the council could Several committee members including Rep Joe Hackney of Chapel Hill said it could not are just wrong about this" Hackney told Stevens The two sides seemea to agree that some personnel items such as evaluations of city and county managers should be done in public while other matters should be kept private But they could not agree on language that would accomplish that goal They will try again Thursday Two other changes passed relatively easily One would allow public bodies to discuss potential industrial projects in private if requested by tire company The extension of public services such as water and sewer lines would have to be discussed in public however The second change would allow closed meetings to discuss the terms of contracts when ac quiring land or hiring someone Several other amendments are expected Thursday But Michaux made it clear that he will not take up more changes after then "After that we are going to do something one way or the he said "Anybody got a problem with A Senate committee is scheduled to begin work on a similar measure today a i DUKE FROM Cl lowed to retire in May without penalty the union contends That supervisor John Lee said Tuesday he was told he had signed improper time cards but would not say whether he had falsified any cards you Want to know about that you're going to have to call the Lee said even told me any good reason why they terminated them" Another supervisor left for an unrelated reason That accounts for all five employees in the extermination shop Last week the three men filed a grievance sayinjA the university had vi The business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers local 465 which the men belong to said they had erred and deserved to be reprimanded But he said they should have been warned or suspended not fired almost like they said we want to get you' Loftis said "They did wrong but they don't deserve to be happens every day out Loftis said me it just looks like they were setting them up to be a man has been there 18 years you don't go hire a public investigator film him and case saying he did not want to prejudge the grievance process But he did say the offense was serious of a time card is considered as fraudulent Kahr said almost always cause for response is very straightforward and very Kahr also said that the university often contracted work for specific projects that there's no to eliminate permanent jobs He would not say whether the university would hire anyone to fill their places if the men lose their grievances 7 olated its own procedures and those in the union contract been trying to shut our shop down for six or seven said Denson reason why we left early was a lack of work By us not haying file work there was lax Several years ago the university unsuccessfully sought to eliminate the shop Duke Hospital was removed from the exterminators' responsibilities and the university hired Terminex to do it instead Toby Kahr Duke's associate vice president for human resources declined to comment directly onjthe I.