How Female Researchers are Reshaping the STEM Classroom
STEM researchers operate on the frontiers of science. Their research has the potential to change the world. Unfortunately, the playing field isn鈥檛 level for all researchers. The number of women in STEM fields has remained low, even as their numbers have expanded in other, non-science disciplines.
In 2019, women made up 34% of total faculty at 葫芦影业. Of those, 45% indicated that they were of color. While those numbers may seem low, UH is a leader in employing female women of color as faculty members.
鈥淚鈥檝e always felt there was a need for me to serve as an advocate for diversity and inclusion in physics as well as other STEM fields,鈥� said Dr. Donna Stokes, Professor of Physics and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs and Student Success. 鈥淥ften, being the only person of color in the room, it was very challenging, and sometimes uncomfortable, to discuss diversity among our faculty and students.鈥�
鈥淚t is a struggle,鈥� said Dr. Thamar Solorio, an Associate Professor in NSM鈥檚 Department of Computer Science. 鈥淏ut there are many resources available to help as both industry and academia become more and more aware of how to be more inclusive.鈥�
Stokes echoes Solorio鈥檚 sentiments.
鈥淥ver the years, there has been a lot of progress made, but there鈥檚 still work to do to ensure that our faculty and communities have opportunities to make contributions to the scientific world,鈥� said Stokes.
While the world continues to change, both faculty and students must strive not only for academic success but for diversity and inclusion.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e never done learning,鈥� said Solorio. 鈥淲e always have to keep on top of what鈥檚 happening at the frontiers of our field.鈥�
鈥淚 hope I can serve as a role model and mentor for our students, and particularly our female students,鈥� said Stokes. 鈥淚 want them to know that a career in physics or another STEM field is possible.鈥�
鈥淢y advice for female students entering a STEM education or industry is just to go for it,鈥� said Dr. Cathy Poliak, ConocoPhillips Instructional Assistant Professor of Data Science in NSM鈥檚 math department. 鈥淧erseverance pays off.鈥�
Hear from Drs. Stokes, Solorio and Poliak in the video below.