super massive black holes I blew the minds of my high school classmates
minds of my high school classmates
minds of my high school classmates during a speech my sophomore year I
during a speech my sophomore year I
during a speech my sophomore year I began with at this moment we are all
began with at this moment we are all
began with at this moment we are all fighting against the Earth’s gravity
fighting against the Earth’s gravity
fighting against the Earth’s gravity while speeding around our Sun at 67,000
while speeding around our Sun at 67,000
while speeding around our Sun at 67,000 miles per hour but a black hole its
miles per hour but a black hole its
miles per hour but a black hole its gravity is so strong nothing can escape
gravity is so strong nothing can escape
gravity is so strong nothing can escape its pull not even light moving at 670
its pull not even light moving at 670
its pull not even light moving at 670 million miles per hour my name is Brenda
million miles per hour my name is Brenda
million miles per hour my name is Brenda I’m a 33 year old female I’m an athlete
I’m a 33 year old female I’m an athlete
I’m a 33 year old female I’m an athlete I run marathons and play soccer my
I run marathons and play soccer my
I run marathons and play soccer my favorite color is purple I wear makeup
favorite color is purple I wear makeup
favorite color is purple I wear makeup enjoy pedicures I race motorcycles I
enjoy pedicures I race motorcycles I
enjoy pedicures I race motorcycles I also have a passion for math and science
also have a passion for math and science
also have a passion for math and science as a college physics teacher my students
as a college physics teacher my students
as a college physics teacher my students are often surprised to see me the first
are often surprised to see me the first
are often surprised to see me the first day of class I am NOT who they expected
day of class I am NOT who they expected
day of class I am NOT who they expected because I am not the stereotypical image
because I am not the stereotypical image
because I am not the stereotypical image of a physicist and I love that I don’t
of a physicist and I love that I don’t
of a physicist and I love that I don’t look like Albert Einstein and I
look like Albert Einstein and I
look like Albert Einstein and I certainly don’t act like Sheldon from
certainly don’t act like Sheldon from
certainly don’t act like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory and I can’t help but
the Big Bang Theory and I can’t help but
the Big Bang Theory and I can’t help but notice that my physics with calculus
notice that my physics with calculus
notice that my physics with calculus students are predominantly male
students are predominantly male
students are predominantly male sometimes I have no females in my
sometimes I have no females in my
sometimes I have no females in my courses at all these are the students
courses at all these are the students
courses at all these are the students that plan to pursue a degree in science
that plan to pursue a degree in science
that plan to pursue a degree in science technology engineering and math while
technology engineering and math while
technology engineering and math while the percentage of women in STEM has
the percentage of women in STEM has
the percentage of women in STEM has increased today women still hold less
increased today women still hold less
increased today women still hold less than 25% of all stem jobs why is that
than 25% of all stem jobs why is that
than 25% of all stem jobs why is that the gender gap comes in adolescence when
the gender gap comes in adolescence when
the gender gap comes in adolescence when young women begin to avoid STEM fields
young women begin to avoid STEM fields
young women begin to avoid STEM fields that so many believe are only for men
that so many believe are only for men
that so many believe are only for men but collaboration
but collaboration
but collaboration is the foundation of stem research
is the foundation of stem research
is the foundation of stem research diverse teams will incite innovation
diverse teams will incite innovation
diverse teams will incite innovation most of us have heard the popular notion
most of us have heard the popular notion
most of us have heard the popular notion that men are from Mars and women are
that men are from Mars and women are
that men are from Mars and women are from Venus women do offer a different
from Venus women do offer a different
from Venus women do offer a different perspective and we approach the
perspective and we approach the
perspective and we approach the solutions to problems differently than
solutions to problems differently than
solutions to problems differently than men having more women in stem will lead
men having more women in stem will lead
men having more women in stem will lead to new ideas and new inventions that can
to new ideas and new inventions that can
to new ideas and new inventions that can improve all of our lives so what can we
improve all of our lives so what can we
improve all of our lives so what can we do right now to recruit and retain the
do right now to recruit and retain the
do right now to recruit and retain the untapped talent of women for stem
untapped talent of women for stem
untapped talent of women for stem professions
professions
professions the answer is early stem exposure career
the answer is early stem exposure career
the answer is early stem exposure career awareness and female mentors I was
awareness and female mentors I was
awareness and female mentors I was encouraged by my parents and identified
encouraged by my parents and identified
encouraged by my parents and identified by my teachers as having an interest in
by my teachers as having an interest in
by my teachers as having an interest in stem from a young age I grew up playing
stem from a young age I grew up playing
stem from a young age I grew up playing with my older brothers Legos building
with my older brothers Legos building
with my older brothers Legos building blocks and construction toys it was his
blocks and construction toys it was his
blocks and construction toys it was his book on black holes that first sparked
book on black holes that first sparked
book on black holes that first sparked my fascination as a family we would
my fascination as a family we would
my fascination as a family we would often visit the Chicago Museum of
often visit the Chicago Museum of
often visit the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry and the planetarium
Science and Industry and the planetarium
Science and Industry and the planetarium engage her early and often with stem
engage her early and often with stem
engage her early and often with stem concepts outside of the classroom girls
concepts outside of the classroom girls
concepts outside of the classroom girls are natural-born scientists just like
are natural-born scientists just like
are natural-born scientists just like little boys they look at the world
little boys they look at the world
little boys they look at the world around them with inquisitive eyes
around them with inquisitive eyes
around them with inquisitive eyes experiment push boundaries and learn by
experiment push boundaries and learn by
experiment push boundaries and learn by doing I have always been curious about
doing I have always been curious about
doing I have always been curious about how things work I can remember when the
how things work I can remember when the
how things work I can remember when the lightbulb first went on and I understood
lightbulb first went on and I understood
lightbulb first went on and I understood how a car engine operates or building my
how a car engine operates or building my
how a car engine operates or building my first electric motor I was amazed the
first electric motor I was amazed the
first electric motor I was amazed the first time that I generated electricity
first time that I generated electricity
first time that I generated electricity using only the motion of a magnet
using only the motion of a magnet
using only the motion of a magnet science it’s like magic but real
science it’s like magic but real
science it’s like magic but real girls are interested in stem it is our
girls are interested in stem it is our
girls are interested in stem it is our responsibility to give them a positive
responsibility to give them a positive
responsibility to give them a positive early experience physics should be fun
early experience physics should be fun
early experience physics should be fun don’t laugh and that wasn’t a joke but
don’t laugh and that wasn’t a joke but
don’t laugh and that wasn’t a joke but in after-school stem Club that allows
in after-school stem Club that allows
in after-school stem Club that allows young girls to just explore have fun and
young girls to just explore have fun and
young girls to just explore have fun and that’s LED and championed by a female
that’s LED and championed by a female
that’s LED and championed by a female teacher can make a huge difference when
teacher can make a huge difference when
teacher can make a huge difference when I speak to the females in my courses
I speak to the females in my courses
I speak to the females in my courses about what led them to choose their
about what led them to choose their
about what led them to choose their major it is almost always a passionate
major it is almost always a passionate
major it is almost always a passionate teacher who had a profound impact on
teacher who had a profound impact on
teacher who had a profound impact on them teachers influence and teachers
them teachers influence and teachers
them teachers influence and teachers make a difference but let us all be
make a difference but let us all be
make a difference but let us all be aware of the messages that we are
aware of the messages that we are
aware of the messages that we are sending our young girls before the movie
sending our young girls before the movie
sending our young girls before the movie hidden figures how many of us had heard
hidden figures how many of us had heard
hidden figures how many of us had heard the name Catherine Johnson / even aware
the name Catherine Johnson / even aware
the name Catherine Johnson / even aware of the female african-american
of the female african-american
of the female african-american mathematicians who served a vital role
mathematicians who served a vital role
mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the
in NASA during the early years of the
in NASA during the early years of the u.s. space program did you know that in
u.s. space program did you know that in
u.s. space program did you know that in 1969 the first ever computer science Man
1969 the first ever computer science Man
1969 the first ever computer science Man of the Year award was actually given to
of the Year award was actually given to
of the Year award was actually given to a female by the name of Grace Hopper
a female by the name of Grace Hopper
a female by the name of Grace Hopper she was a true pioneer in computer
she was a true pioneer in computer
she was a true pioneer in computer programming during World War two or
programming during World War two or
programming during World War two or since it began in 1936
since it began in 1936
since it began in 1936 did you see the headlines when Miriam
did you see the headlines when Miriam
did you see the headlines when Miriam Mert Suhani made history in 2014 as
Mert Suhani made history in 2014 as
Mert Suhani made history in 2014 as being the first female to receive the
being the first female to receive the
being the first female to receive the Fields Medal known as the Nobel Prize of
Fields Medal known as the Nobel Prize of
Fields Medal known as the Nobel Prize of mathematics we need to stop ignoring and
mathematics we need to stop ignoring and
mathematics we need to stop ignoring and start celebrating the many achievements
start celebrating the many achievements
start celebrating the many achievements of women in STEM these stories inspire
of women in STEM these stories inspire
of women in STEM these stories inspire over the years I have learned that girls
over the years I have learned that girls
over the years I have learned that girls are passionate about social
are passionate about social
are passionate about social environmental and health related issues
environmental and health related issues
environmental and health related issues but without career awareness will most
but without career awareness will most
but without career awareness will most likely not know how these interests can
likely not know how these interests can
likely not know how these interests can translate to a job in stem stem career
translate to a job in stem stem career
translate to a job in stem stem career days can inform girls about the variety
days can inform girls about the variety
days can inform girls about the variety of occupations available
of occupations available
of occupations available having a strong knowledge base in STEM
having a strong knowledge base in STEM
having a strong knowledge base in STEM subjects will give girls the opportunity
subjects will give girls the opportunity
subjects will give girls the opportunity to access any career path day later
to access any career path day later
to access any career path day later choose math was the foundation that I
choose math was the foundation that I
choose math was the foundation that I needed to excel in physics and when I
needed to excel in physics and when I
needed to excel in physics and when I later became captivated by one of the
later became captivated by one of the
later became captivated by one of the most complex electric circuit systems in
most complex electric circuit systems in
most complex electric circuit systems in our entire universe the human body
our entire universe the human body
our entire universe the human body it was my graduate studies and Applied
it was my graduate studies and Applied
it was my graduate studies and Applied Physics that allowed me to develop an
Physics that allowed me to develop an
Physics that allowed me to develop an updated mathematical model for measuring
updated mathematical model for measuring
updated mathematical model for measuring the magnetic field of a damaged nerve in
the magnetic field of a damaged nerve in
the magnetic field of a damaged nerve in a patient using a less invasive
a patient using a less invasive
a patient using a less invasive technique but throughout all my years in
technique but throughout all my years in
technique but throughout all my years in school I never had a female stem mentor
school I never had a female stem mentor
school I never had a female stem mentor someone I could turn to when I was
someone I could turn to when I was
someone I could turn to when I was feeling intimidated alone or lacking
feeling intimidated alone or lacking
feeling intimidated alone or lacking confidence it was during these times
confidence it was during these times
confidence it was during these times that I wanted and needed to hear from
that I wanted and needed to hear from
that I wanted and needed to hear from another woman in stem about what
another woman in stem about what
another woman in stem about what motivated her how she overcame
motivated her how she overcame
motivated her how she overcame challenges and how she got to where she
challenges and how she got to where she
challenges and how she got to where she is today I can truly understand why so
is today I can truly understand why so
is today I can truly understand why so many capable females fall out of the
many capable females fall out of the
many capable females fall out of the stem education pipeline and it breaks my
stem education pipeline and it breaks my
stem education pipeline and it breaks my heart to think how easily my passion for
heart to think how easily my passion for
heart to think how easily my passion for science and my desire to share it with
science and my desire to share it with
science and my desire to share it with all of you could have been forever lost
all of you could have been forever lost
all of you could have been forever lost a new study from the University of
a new study from the University of
a new study from the University of Massachusetts found that 100 percent of
Massachusetts found that 100 percent of
Massachusetts found that 100 percent of female engineering students remained in
female engineering students remained in
female engineering students remained in the program after the first year if they
the program after the first year if they
the program after the first year if they had a female mentor 89 percent continued
had a female mentor 89 percent continued
had a female mentor 89 percent continued with no mentor and only 82 percent
with no mentor and only 82 percent
with no mentor and only 82 percent continued with a male stem mentor there
continued with a male stem mentor there
continued with a male stem mentor there is power in having role models who prove
is power in having role models who prove
is power in having role models who prove that female success is possible in a
that female success is possible in a
that female success is possible in a male-dominated field the representation
male-dominated field the representation
male-dominated field the representation of women in STEM is a national workforce
of women in STEM is a national workforce
of women in STEM is a national workforce issue
issue
issue but one that we can begin to address at
but one that we can begin to address at
but one that we can begin to address at the local level
the local level
the local level I propose a STEM program for girls in
I propose a STEM program for girls in
I propose a STEM program for girls in grades 6 through 8 as part of this
grades 6 through 8 as part of this
grades 6 through 8 as part of this program female stem faculty at colleges
program female stem faculty at colleges
program female stem faculty at colleges and universities would form a
and universities would form a
and universities would form a partnership with the local middle
partnership with the local middle
partnership with the local middle schools to plan one educational session
schools to plan one educational session
schools to plan one educational session on campus each month these experiences
on campus each month these experiences
on campus each month these experiences will establish the connection between
will establish the connection between
will establish the connection between education and future careers parents
education and future careers parents
education and future careers parents would be involved with career awareness
would be involved with career awareness
would be involved with career awareness and planning events local industry could
and planning events local industry could
and planning events local industry could provide female speakers who are
provide female speakers who are
provide female speakers who are practicing stem professionals in the
practicing stem professionals in the
practicing stem professionals in the community who could also provide that
community who could also provide that
community who could also provide that quality mentoring academic decisions
quality mentoring academic decisions
quality mentoring academic decisions made in middle school can open doors to
made in middle school can open doors to
made in middle school can open doors to stem career paths we can empower young
stem career paths we can empower young
stem career paths we can empower young women through STEM education generations
women through STEM education generations
women through STEM education generations ago women had very few choices of
ago women had very few choices of
ago women had very few choices of occupations today women can do and be
occupations today women can do and be
occupations today women can do and be anything choose to compete for the high
anything choose to compete for the high
anything choose to compete for the high demand high-paying stem occupations that
demand high-paying stem occupations that
demand high-paying stem occupations that allow you to create design invent and
allow you to create design invent and
allow you to create design invent and change our world you gotta have a dream
change our world you gotta have a dream
change our world you gotta have a dream if you don’t have a dream how you ever
if you don’t have a dream how you ever
if you don’t have a dream how you ever gonna have a dream come true my name is
gonna have a dream come true my name is
gonna have a dream come true my name is Brenda I am a college physics teacher I
Brenda I am a college physics teacher I
Brenda I am a college physics teacher I have the privilege and joy of explaining
have the privilege and joy of explaining
have the privilege and joy of explaining the rules of our universe I am a woman
the rules of our universe I am a woman
the rules of our universe I am a woman in stem
in stem
in stem [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
Be First to Comment