Hello, World!

I originally intended to start this blog with another post. One that gave voice to some of the struggles I've experienced over the past decade in STEM, but some friends pointed out a perspective I hadn't considered. They worried if I started out talking about the struggles, I might inadvertently discourage younger girls from pursuing or continuing their interests in these fields. I have to say, that's a fair point, so I want to use this post to set the intention of my blog. I promise to keep it quick.

My STEM experience lies primarily within the computer science and physics categories, but I have friends with varying backgrounds, even extending more into the STEAM realm of things. My hope is for this to be a place for any one of them to speak about their experiences, both good and bad. Presenting both sides is a difficult balance to strike, but they're both super important so let's start with mentioning some of the good.

Women in STEM have certainly come a long way in the past few decades. For example, according to US census statistics, the percentage of female STEM workers has increased from 8% in 1970 to 27% in 2019, and perhaps more importantly, according to a study published in The Journal of Neuroscience, the implicit gender bias that men belong in sciences and women belong in the arts has decreased by about 16% from 2007-2016. On a more personal note, I can even say that my own experience was one where in all instances but one, my mentors and educators were brilliant individuals who encouraged and supported me regardless of what goal I was after. I owe them so much gratitude for the opportunities I've been given.

However, even with the progress we've had, there are still areas that need a lot of work and things we need to be doing and saying to ensure STEM isn't just accessible, but also welcoming to girls and women at any age. I think one of the first steps to growing is by talking — having a conversation focused on what helps, what doesn't, and giving voice to feelings that may not be obvious unless you experience it yourself. So that is my true intent with what I write, to encourage conversation where others may not know what to say or how to start.