Several of the women we interviewed heard of our work on this article through Systers, a network of 1,100 female computer scientists, which one woman called ``immeasurably helpful.'' (For more information, see the accompanying sidebar on Anita Borg, Systers' originator.)
Many people recommended various forms of seminars, lectures, and lunch meetings for women only; subjects included how to write a curriculum vitae, how to give a research talk, how to write a cover letter, the pros and cons of teaching at four-year colleges, and what it's like to be a new faculty member. One said, ``The women's group kept my morale high during the arduous trek through graduate school.'' And another: ``These group meetings gave me an idea of who I could talk to about various issues and problems. They provide a reality check: Is it just me, or is some other issue involved?''
``Go to conferences for the feeling of community, even though women are always outnumbered.''
``This [university] atmosphere is very supportive for everyone. There are so many streams of AI work that no two people here work on the same thing, so we can afford to help each other.''
``Travel with another woman and get rooms next to each other. Plan ahead when you know you'll be arriving at your destination at odd hours.''
``Take other women's ideas as seriously as men's ideas.''
``Share information about how to get articles written, reviewed and published; how to find a good job; networking; how to train your advisor.''
A leading researcher attributes part of her success to collaborating with very good people. She and her colleague were able to build the costs of travel to work together into their funding request. If money is tight, she suggests new means of communication, such as videoconferencing.