February 20, 2020
Redefining the landscape - Women in STEM an exhibit featuring narratives and large-scale portraits of the women who are shaping STEM in the Physical Sciences Division and the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, will open on Thursday, March 5, 2020, at 3:00 PM with a presentation by University of Chicago Provost and Chemistry Professor Ka Yee Lee.
The opening reception will be in the atrium of the William Eckhardt Research Center from 4:00-6:00 PM. The exhibit aims to shed light on what inspires and challenges women graduate students, postdocs, researchers, and faculty who have pursued a career in STEM.
“Visibility matters,” said exhibit organizer Neli Fanning, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Director in the Physical Sciences Division.
“Redefining the landscape - Women in STEM is about demystifying the perceived notion that only a specific group makes up the STEM field. Women are and have been an integral part of science for centuries. We hope this exhibit highlights that the STEM fields can indeed be accessible to women from all backgrounds. It's a message of tacit motivation and hope.”
The twenty-nine PSD and PME faculty members, students, and staff profiled in the exhibit wrote narratives to accompany their portraits. Many shared what inspired them to become a scientist, as well as the challenges women in STEM experience.
“I wanted to challenge stereotypical perceptions of computer scientists; such stereotypes were part of the reason why I avoided the field when I was younger,” said computer science student Jean Salac. “I was also excited to be part of an initiative that would celebrate the accomplishments of women in STEM and spark conversations about fostering a better environment for women in these fields.”
The women who participated recalled the mentors who reassured them that they belong in the sciences and strengthened their decision to pursue a career in STEM. Geophysical sciences student María D. Hernández Limón said the exhibit is a way to celebrate all the wonderful mentors she has had throughout her journey. “I'm where I am thanks to people who gave me their time, attention, and advice. I wanted other students to see that everyone struggles, but they overcome those struggles with the help of others. I hope my story will give someone courage to keep pursuing their dream just like my mentors have done for me.”
Dean Angela Olinto will moderate a panel of three students and PSD departments will host a colloquium of six guest speakers on March 6, March 9, and March 12. “We are very excited to launch another effort in partnership with PME and to leverage our shared goals to elevate the voices and women in STEM,” she said. “Redefining the Landscape is about affirming that women are leaders in STEM. We want to celebrate the power of mentorship and encourage a culture of inclusion to inspire the next generation of scientists.”
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UChicago Presenters |
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Thurs. March 5, 3-4 PM |
ERC 161 |
Ka Yee Lee, Provost, Professor in Chemistry |
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Thurs. March 5, 4-6 PM |
ERC Atrium |
Opening Reception |
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Mon. March 9, 12-1 PM |
ERC 401 |
Lipi Gupta, Physics Student |
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Tues. March 31,1-2 PM |
ERC 401 |
Student Panel: Jean Paula Salac, Computer Science Student, Andrea Bryant, Physics Student, and Adina Feinstein, Astronomy & Astrophysics Student Moderated by: Angela Olinto, Dean, Physical Sciences Division |
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Colloquium Speakers |
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Fri. March 6, 2 PM |
Hinds 101 |
Barbara Sherwood Lollar, University of Toronto Hosted by the Department of the Geophysical Sciences |
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Fri. March 6, 3:45 PM |
Kent 120 |
Allison Narayan, University of Michigan Hosted by the Department of Chemistry |
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Mon. March 9, 3:45 PM |
Kent 120 |
Chen Yan, Boston University Hosted by the Department of Chemistry |
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Mon. March 9, 4 PM |
Jones 303 |
Fan Li, Duke University Hosted by the Department of Statistics |
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Thurs. March 12, 3:30 PM |
Maria Goeppert-Mayer Lecture Hall, KPTC 106 |
Peko Hosoi, MIT Hosted by the Department of Physics |
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Thurs. March 12, 3:40 PM |
Location TBA |
Maggie Miller, Princeton |