What can be done to increase diversity in STEAM fields?
Focusing on diverse communities early on in the education process is important, not only to get younger students interested in STEAM fields, but to show them that there are many career options that they may not have been aware of, especially if nobody in their family or community has that type of career. Continuing these efforts throughout early education and into high school would help expose and familiarize diverse students with STEAM fields and hopefully lead them to pursue such career options.
What can be done to move women forward in STEAM?
I believe that it starts with the individual. Women need to believe in themselves and pursue opportunities that can provide growth and build confidence and experience. So often, women let their self-doubt prevent them from moving forward. Other ways to move women forward include supporting women in the workplace, whether it is a formal program or group that lets women meet and share their experiences, or less formal methods such as providing women mentors. I’ve been fortunate to have the benefit of both of these opportunities and it has made a huge difference in my career.
Describe your experiences as a woman in a STEAM career.
I have been lucky to have had several women mentors and supervisors throughout my career as a patent lawyer. I consider myself very fortunate to have worked at law firms that support women and actively work to advance women. I was also fortunate to have worked for an advisor in grad school while getting my Ph.D in organic chemistry that was supportive not just of women but of diverse students as well. I know that this is not often the case and so I continue to do my part to offer support and opportunities for women that I supervise and mentor or those that are interested in a career in STEAM.
