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| 3-13-00 Contacts: Mary Ann Evans, Program for Women in Science and Engineering, (515) 294-5883 Skip Derra, News Service, (515) 294-4917 PLAY TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE AMES, Iowa -- A one-person play on the life and accomplishments of Barbara McClintock, the Nobel Laureate who discovered "jumping genes" in corn, will be held March 29 in Ames and April 3, in Des Moines. The proceeds of the play will go to Iowa State University's Program for Women in Science and Engineering. Jane Cox, an ISU associate professor, wrote and will perform the play, "The Longing to Understand." It is about McClintock, a maize geneticist who discovered mobile genetic elements called transposons, or "jumping genes." In 1983, at the age of 81, McClintock was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for this work. "We want to raise the public's awareness of Barbara McClintock's spectacular scientific achievements," said Mary Ann Evans, director of PWSE. "We think her story will inspire many girls and women who have the potential to make similar important scientific contributions." The premiere performance of "The Longing to Understand" will be at 7:30 p.m. on March 29 in the Fisher Theatre in Ames. Tickets for this showing, which includes a post-play reception with Iowa State President Martin Jischke and Patty Jischke, are $35 for one person and $50 for two. The premiere Des Moines performance will be at 7:30 p.m. on April 3 at the Hoyt Sherman Place. Tickets for this showing, which also includes a post-play reception with the Jischkes, are $50 for one person and $75 for two. Iowa State's Program for Women in Science and Engineering recruits and helps retain Iowa women and girls in majors and careers in science and engineering. Since the inception of the program 14 years ago, Iowa State's female enrollment in the sciences has grown significantly. For more information and to order tickets for the "The Longing to Understand," call Deb Nugent, Program for Women in Science and Engineering, (515) 294-0966. - 30 - |
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