Onyinye I. Iweala, M.D., Ph.D.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Why is it important for women to be in science fields?
“Historically, women and girls in science (as well as outside of science in so many other fields) have been less visible, and their voices and ideas have not always been heard or taken seriously. The more we celebrate women and girls in science, the more all of us can accept that women and girls have a place in science as well. We belong and we should be encouraged to explore and make mistakes. This is what may lead to the next big discoveries that can benefit us all.”

Julie Jameson, Ph.D.

California State University San Marcos

Why are you proud to be a woman working in science?
“I am so proud to be a woman working in STEM! It is wonderful to show brilliant young women that they too can become scientists and leaders in STEM. Women bring a fresh perspective, different life experiences and novel ideas to the scientific field. My goal is to provide students who exhibit eagerness, curiosity, and creativity with the mentorship they need to enter scientific careers and the support they need to be successful once they get there.”

Katherine C. MacNamara, Ph.D.

Albany Medical Center

Why is it important to encourage girls to pursue science as a career?
“Science needs creative minds and diversity is critical for innovation. It is important to me to encourage girls to pursue science as a career, and to share that it is a realistic and achievable goal.”

Erica Stone, Ph.D.

GigaGen, Inc.

Why is it important for women to be in science fields? 
“It’s crucial for women, and especially women from a variety of backgrounds, to work in scientific fields because science is strongest when it is pursued from many diverse perspectives. The most important breakthroughs happen when a challenge is approached from different viewpoints.”

Juliet Morrison, Ph.D.

University of California

Why are you proud to be a woman working in science?
“I’m proud to be a scientist because it is a challenging and intellectually fulfilling career. I’m always learning and growing! However, acceptance and recognition of women as scientists is a relatively recent phenomenon. In the past, women were relegated to “assisting” men, and most women in science were not recognized for their efforts and brilliance. I am here today because of the hard work and advocacy of Black and female scientists before me. There is still more work to do because gatekeeping continues to be a problem.”

Why is it important for women to be in science fields? 
“Quite frankly, male-dominated science has not served women well. Women make up more than 50 percent of the population, yet our medical issues are routinely ignored. Many painful gynecological procedures are done without anesthetic and this stems from the fact that female pain is routinely dismissed. Even clinical trials exclude women, and that means that drugs have come to market that work well in men but have adverse effects in women. Luckily, we know that diverse teams lead to better outcomes. Women bring new perspectives to the table and can drive the study of important issues that were ignored in the past. Outside of that, women do great science just like men. We need all hands on deck as we rise to the challenges of climate change, emerging infectious diseases, and all that the future holds.”

Why is it important to encourage girls to pursue science as a career? 
“Girls are often discouraged from pursuing science as a career. It’s not often blatant, but the effect is the same. From the moment we enter this world, society tells us that only certain kinds of people can be intelligent and credible. That is why we have to counteract these negative messages with big doses of positivity, and we have to start doing it early. We need to engage young girls and encourage them to pursue their interests. I would not be here today without the encouragement of my loved ones, teachers, and mentors.”