Guidelines for Participants at the HSS Mentorship Program

Please note that the deadline for requesting participation is September 7, 2009.

The HSS Mentorship Program brings together emerging and experienced scholars at the annual History of Science Society meetings. The program is open to all meeting participants: seasoned scholars volunteer their time and attention to help newer scholars to feel at home and enjoy the meeting and to acquaint themselves with HSS members and the organization. The program is sponsored by the HSS Graduate and Early Career Caucus and the Women’s Caucus.

How to Volunteer as a Mentor for the Program?

Send an e-mail stating your interest to the Mentorship Program Officer at HSSmentorship@gmail.com by 7 September 2009. Include your name, contact information, and a description of your areas of scholarly expertise. Please indicate if you are willing to help more than one emerging scholar at the conference in case of non-attendance of another mentor and your preference, if any, concerning the academic level of your mentee.

The information you provide the Program Officer will be used to match you with a partner and will not be released for any other purposes.

Responsibilities of Mentor:

1. Negotiate and plan the mentorship experience with your mentee in advance of the meeting through e-mail communication. Suggest various ways in which you can help, based on your experience and expertise: you are expected to help your partner derive the maximum benefit of a limited time-frame, including discussing the conference beforehand, navigating the conference itself, and professional networking (i.e. introducing your mentee to people with congruent research interests).

2. Arrange a meeting with your partner as early in the conference as possible. The Newcomers Reception on Thursday evening is a particularly well-suited venue in which to meet your partner, as well as other young scholars and your peers.

3. Inform your partner and the mentorship program officer if you need to cancel your attendance at the meeting or the mentorship program as soon as possible.

4. You will be sent an e-mail survey concerning your mentorship program experience. Please answer the survey by December 15th.

How to Request a Mentor?

Send an introductory letter to the Mentorship Program Officer to HSSmentorship@gmail.com by 7 September 2009. Include both personal and professional information relevant to your mentorship experience:

NAME

CONTACT INFORMATION (e-mail address etc.)

DEPARTMENT/UNIVERSITY/COUNTRY

STAGE OF STUDIES/CAREER

TOPIC OF DISSERTATION/CURRENT SPECIAL AREA OF INTERESTS (please describe field as well as more specific topic)

HOPES FOR MENTORSHIP EXPERIENCE (describe what kind of support would best benefit you)

The information you provide is used to pair you with a seasoned scholar and will be sent to your mentor. You are expected to contact you mentor by the beginning of November 2009.

Responsibilities of Emerging Scholar:

1. Be proactive. Get in touch with your mentor as soon as possible. Communicate clearly. Your mentor is there to help you. Tell your mentor what kind of support would benefit you or what you most need help with or advice about. Mentors who cannot help you directly with a particular aspect of your intellectual or professional development can probably introduce you to someone who can.

2. In e-mail communication, negotiate a meeting with your mentor at HSS as early in the conference as possible. The Newcomers Reception on Thursday evening is a particularly well-suited venue in which to meet your mentor as well as your peers and future colleagues.

3. Inform your mentor and the Mentorship Program Officer as soon as possible if you are dropping out of the program or the meeting.

4. You will be sent an e-mail survey concerning your mentorship program experience. Please answer the survey by December 15th.