Celebrating women in industry is always a dilemma for me. On one hand, we shouldn’t focus on gender when we are trying so hard to be equals. On the other hand, there still are so few women in high-ranking positions that covering them can encourage others and help truly even the field.
And regardless how far we’ve come, we still have very different challenges at work. Covering those issues, in my opinion, is a service to all readers. As the roles continue to change in the workplace, they will continue to change at home, as well.
A few years ago a guest columnist, Catherine T. “Katie” Hunt, director of innovation sourcing and sustainable technologies for the Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., wrote of the challenges women face in the chemical industry. These web-exclusive columns are thoughtful and offer insight on networking, mentoring and juggling work-life balance.
For some reason (probably my inner dilemma), it has taken me this long to realize we should house these columns and other articles championing women in the chemical industry in their own section on our site.
You can find Hunt’s columns as well as other content related to women under the Perspectives tab on our menu bar. Scroll down to see “Women in the Chemical Industry."
Currently, this section is a little sparse. Please feel free to send me an email alerting me to issues, ideas and women who would be great to cover.
Another new section under the Perspectives tab is “Automation Strategies.” This web-exclusive monthly column is written by various authors at the ARC Advisory Group, Dedham, Mass., a firm that evaluates technology, analyzes trends and conducts market research.
The first few columns explain the Internet of Things (IoT) and the difference in approaches between IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M). The very short answer: Traditional M2M solutions typically rely on point-to-point communications using embedded hardware modules and either cellular or wireline networks. In contrast, IoT solutions use IP-based networks to interface device data to a cloud or middleware platform. You can read more via the column “Understand The Difference Between IoT and M2M.”
Rounding out the new additions to our site as of mid-May are a few new videos I taped while at the 2014 International Powder & Bulk Solids show in Rosemont, Ill., May 6–8.
I try to learn as much as I can from these shows. I attend sessions and roam the show floor seeking participants for my impromptu videos. Because I’m never really sure how well these short videos are received, I was pleased to meet at my hotel a reader who took the time to shake my hand and introduce himself as a fan of my show videos. I was wearing my press badge; he said he recognized my name as the voice behind the camera. My co-worker joked that she thought he was going to ask for an autograph. I know I’m not that cool, but I do enjoy making these quick-hit segments.
Fortunately, at the Powder Show, a couple of people took up my invitation to participate in a video.
John Winski, director of sales for Coperion K-Tron, Sewell, N.J., demonstrated the firm’s digital weighing technology with vibration filter and Bert Bertolo, regional sales manager at Spiroflow Systems, based in Monroe, N.C., explained the company’s cable flow conveying system.
The name of the publishing game is content and we always are looking for ways to add more to our website. If you have ideas, please send them my way.
Traci Purdum is Chemical Processing's senior digital editor and wrangler of new content. You can e-mail her at [email protected].