White House Honors Women in STEM

AAUW’s support of women in science goes way back. In 1920, members raised $156,413 to help Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie purchase of one gram of radium for her experiments.

In a month swirling with partisan vitriol and national tragedy, it was refreshing to find a message of hope in my inbox last week — hope for the future of American competiveness in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 

 

President Barack Obama honored 11 professionals and four foundations with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring this month. It was heartening to note that four of the honorees were women and that much of the work done by the organizations seeks to encourage women and girls in science fields. This award recognizes outstanding encouragement and education of the next generation of STEM professionals. Beyond the White House ceremony, each awardee also received $10,000 to carry on their mentorship.

The president honored four distinguished women mentors. Yale biology professor Jo Handelsman co-founded the Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Marigold Linton is the director for American Indian outreach in the Office for Diversity in Science Training at the University of Kansas. Maja J. Matarić, a computer and neuroscience professor at the University of South Carolina, created a robotics curriculum plan aimed at getting K–12 girls interested in science. Michelle Williams, a University of Washington professor, has conducted extensive research on women’s reproductive health and also directs the university’s Multidisciplinary International Research Training Program, mentoring students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to enter public health careers.

The four honored organizations have also done commendable work to encourage women and girls to enter STEM fields at all levels of education. For instance, the Women in Science and Engineering mentoring initiatives at the University of Illinois, Chicago, have created a network of community organizations and businesses that have touched the lives of thousands of girls from grade school through college. The Grinnell Science Project encourages women and minorities to enter science and engineering fields, and one aspect of the program brings 60 to 90 women and minority students who are interested in science to campus early to get a head start on acclimating.

It is an honor to work for an association that brings attention to women’s underrepresentation in STEM fields and strives to advance their opportunities, and it is inspiring to read about the work being done to advance women across the nation.

This post was written by Public Policy Fellow Emily Pfefer.