What can be done to increase diversity in STEM fields?
I think people’s view of science, technology, engineering, and math are often shaped at a young age. This is true both with respect to whether people view those fields as exciting and fun as well as their view of their own capabilities in those fields. Exposing kids at a young age to different STEM fields and careers can be incredibly impactful in encouraging them to pursue a career in a STEM field. I think we can increase diversity in STEM by educating diverse populations of children about the opportunities and advantages of STEM careers. We should acknowledge and praise both aptitude and perseverance in STEM fields, and encourage children to pursue STEM.
Describe your experiences as a woman in a STEM career.
My love for STEM and desire to become a patent attorney started at a “Bring your Daughter to Work Day” at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). I was amazed to hear about famous women in STEM as well as women in my own hometown who were doing incredible things. I met a patent attorney in an elevator at one of those events and charted a course to get me to where I am today. After graduating from undergrad with a degree in chemical engineering, I returned to PNNL to work as a scientist before going to law school to become a patent attorney.
What else would you like our readers to know about being a woman in a STEM career in 2024?
People often think of STEM jobs as mundane or boring. This just isn’t true. Jobs in STEM are as diverse and varied as the people who perform them. A degree in a STEM field does not necessarily end with a job in a lab. STEM degrees can lead to jobs in business, law, government, education, health care, consulting, sales, etc. The sky really is the limit. I love my job and feel incredibly lucky that I get to do what I do for a living.
