Women in STEM: Overcoming Sexism and Achieving Greatness

👩‍🔬Marie Curie was the first person in history to win two separate Nobel Prizes in two different sciences, pioneering radiation research and discovering two new elements.

🌌Caroline Herschel, the first woman to be paid for her contributions to science, discovered several comets and received a Gold Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society.

☢️Lise Meitner, a nuclear physicist, collaborated on the discovery of nuclear fission, but her male colleague was awarded the Nobel Prize.

🔭Hypatia of Alexandria, a Greek mathematician and astronomer, was the head of a school in Alexandria but her work has not survived to the modern day.

⭐️Jocelyn Bell Burnell's discovery of radio pulsars was hailed as the greatest astronomical discovery of the 20th century, but she was excluded from the Nobel Prize.

Are women still facing sexism in STEM?

—Yes, sexism is still a major issue in STEM. Women are often perceived as less capable, which affects their career opportunities and recognition for their work.

What are some recent examples of sexism in STEM?

—A study found that code written by women had a higher approval rating than code written by men, but only if their gender was unidentifiable. Resumes with female names are also less likely to be successful in STEM job applications.

Who is responsible for fighting against sexism in STEM?

—It is the responsibility of every person who cares about science to fight against sexism in STEM. Creating an inclusive and supportive environment is crucial to ensuring equal opportunities for everyone.

Have there been improvements for women in STEM?

—Yes, more women are entering science and technology fields. However, discrimination and bias still exist, and it is important to continue working towards a more inclusive and equitable STEM community.

How can we support women in STEM?

—Supporting women in STEM includes promoting their work, advocating for equal opportunities, challenging gender biases, and providing mentorship and resources to help them succeed in their fields.

00:00Marie Curie, a prominent scientist, was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes in two different sciences.

02:17Lise Meitner made significant contributions to nuclear physics and radioactivity research.

02:47Hypatia of Alexandria was a Greek mathematician and astronomer who headed a school in Alexandria.

03:53Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovered radio pulsars, but was excluded from receiving the Nobel Prize.

04:18Rosalind Franklin's work was instrumental in the discovery of the structure of DNA, but she was not recognized for her contributions.