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Celebrating female role models
The world of STEAM has been dominated by male figures, but incredible women have shattered barriers, defied stereotypes and contributed to groundbreaking discoveries and innovations. Still, many of those female role models are often overlooked despite their significant influence on the world we know today.
As detailed in previous articles on our blog, women and girls often face biases and societal expectations that steer them away from STEM fields. By celebrating women who have excelled in these domains, we aim to create a more inclusive and diverse narrative that invites all children to dream big and see themselves in these roles and careers.
To encourage young people to explore STEAM subjects, the representation of female and marginalised role models plays a crucial role: inspiring young girls and minorities to see that their ambitions are attainable, providing visibility to challenge stereotypes and reshape societal expectations, and empowering kids so they can gain confidence in their abilities when they learn about women who have achieved great things, despite the challenges and obstacles they faced and overcame.
To explore this in practice, let’s dive into the stories of famously brilliant women in STEM that you may have heard of but whose significant contributions are still often overlooked
- Marie Curie is the first name many can think of, synonymous with groundbreaking scientific work. Born in Poland in 1867, she was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields: Physics and Chemistry. Despite being denied access to university in Poland due to her gender, she moved to study in Paris, where she exceeded every expectation. Her discovery of radium and polonium and her work in radiation physics have saved countless lives, led to revolutionary advancements and laid the foundation for future medical treatments.
- Ada Lovelace, an English mathematician and writer, is considered the world’s first computer programmer. Born in 1815, she was introduced to the works of Charles Babbage, who conceptualised the first mechanical computer, and her detailed observations led to the birth of an algorithm that became the foundation of modern computer programming. Her vision of computers as machines that could go beyond number crunching and could be used to perform tasks like music composition laid the groundwork for what we now call software engineering.
- Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray diffraction images were critical to the discovery of the DNA double helix, a key to understanding genetic science. Her work, while often overshadowed by James Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, was vital to their breakthrough in the structure of DNA and played an essential role in unlocking the genetic code that has shaped modern biology and medicine, making her a pioneer in science to this day.
- Katherine Johnson
was a mathematician whose calculations were critical to the success of NASA's space missions, including the first human spaceflight. As a Black woman in the 1950s and 60s, she overcame the combined barriers of racial and gender discrimination when the US was still segregated. Her most famous work was calculating the trajectory for the Apollo 11 mission, which enabled mankind’s first steps onto the Moon in 1969.
- Mae Jemison made history in 1992 when she became the first woman of colour to travel to space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. As a physician and engineer, her interest in space was sparked from a young age, but her path to becoming an astronaut was riddled with numerous obstacles, including racial and gender-based discrimination. After leaving NASA, she founded the Jemison Group, which works to advance technology in the fields of science and education.
These few examples, among the most famous ones, are far from the only remarkable female role models that can be highlighted in STEAM, which is why we have chosen 12 lesser-known women in various fields in order to enhance children’s STEAM education through their stories, along with experiences and lessons related to their work: Emmy Noether, Rita Levi Montalcini, Rose Dieng-Kuntz, Maryam Mirzakhani, Ángela Piskernik and many more!
Teachers and educators can inspire the next generation and foster a more inclusive future in these fields by integrating women’s stories into lessons and activities. In doing so, we can help shift the narrative in classrooms, making the contributions of underrepresented communities more visible. Introducing children to female role models provides them with relatable examples of people who have overcome adversity to achieve greatness through passion, curiosity, resilience and determination.
Discover more incredible and overlooked women’s stories through the STEAM Tales project resources
and inspire, represent and empower children of all backgrounds to pursue their dreams! Let’s celebrate minorities' and women’s achievements and work toward a world where all children can see themselves as future leaders in STEAM!
References
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024). Marie Curie | Biography, Nobel Prize, Accomplishments, & Facts.
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024). Ada Lovelace | Biography, Computer, & Facts.
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024). Rosalind Franklin | Biography, Facts, & DNA.
NASA. (2024). Katherine Johnson Biography.
NASA. (2024). Mae Jemison, M.D.
