Role Models in Science

Do you remember how much fun it was

to learn new things in school?

Growing up as a young girl in a large public school system, school was at many times overwhelming, especially in high school. But early on, I loved learning new subjects in school, in particular: history/geography, English, art, math, and science.

OK. I really liked all of the subjects we learned in elementary and middle school.

So much so, that I received several trophies at science fairs and for having the highest grade in my science class. Winning that award felt like a massive accomplishment at the time. Working on projects and papers of scientific concepts have steadfastly remained with me all this time.

There was this one time where we were learning about different forms to create electricity, including hydroelectricity - I was very much surprised how much energy an 8 inch water-wheel with paper cups and a wooden rod glued together created when

connected to a multi-meter to measure the voltage output. Of course it worked

perfectly the night before it was due, and got jostled on the car ride to school - so it did not work quite as well as it should have...such is the fickle nature of trying to glue a tiny turbine to a wooden rod.

But things change

When I reached high school though, things took a different turn for me. Science and math became harder (as it is supposed to as you diver deeper into the subjects) and, being in a large public school, the teachers did not encourage us to push harder to really learn the material in the same capacity my teachers prior to that had done. I lost my way.

In looking back, I wonder if there was something missing that might have help keep my driving up to stick with math and science through school...

Role models

A large black hole fills my memory where I had hoped to find an image or a name of a female scientist - someone to look up to who had similar struggles to my own, who might have even had similar hair issues like me, or was short like me, or had to deal with stupid boys in school like me. I cannot remember anyone mentioning the name of a female scientist to look up during those four grueling years called high school. Images of awkward braces and ill-fitting band uniforms are there like with most high schoolers - but no memories of encouragement about female scientists.

Was it because I wasn't paying attention and merely got distracted with other things?

OR

Was it because there wasn't the emphasis of sharing these courageous women with younger women like there is now?

If it is the former, well...I'm paying attention now and want to share that with as many others as I can. Starting with a shirt that I found through Instagram - thank you Facebook's algorithm for this awesome find - that has a list of 20 women who have made deep impacts in their specific fields whether that be chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, or even space exploration.

Their names are...

Marie Curie	Dorothy Hodgkin
Rachel Carson	Mary Anning
Grace Hopper	Cecilia Payne
Rosalind Franklin	Emmy Noether
Maria Goeppert Mayer	Jennifer Doudna
Jane Goodall	Annie Jump Cannon
​Ada Lovelace	Lise Meitner
Barbara McClintock	Shirley Ann Jackson
Jocelyn Bell Burnell	Hedy Lamarr
Donna Strickland	Mae C. Jemison

New Blog Series

My next set of blog posts will be a study of each woman - but not just about their roles in science but about their lives in our world. Life impresses upon science as much as science impresses upon life. We and the expression of the universe through its cosmic mysteries around us are interwoven in the fabric of life. Whether or not we understand it fully, it affects us just as we have an effect on the world.

So as we go, I hope you enjoy the next big of posts in the coming weeks about some amazing women and their roles in science. If there is someone else, whom you think I should write about, please mention it in a comment below.