Women’s History Month is a time to recognize the achievements of women and the barriers they continue to break in many fields. Women have made major progress in education, leadership and science, yet many industries are largely male-dominated.
Programs at Weber State University are working to change that by encouraging more women to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Scientista is a club for women, from women, whose goal is to empower pre-professional women in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine (STEM).
“For many years, this program has been a club in which to represent women in STEM fields, like science, technology, engineering, math, and just increase the awareness of women in these different careers,” said Gennie Parkman, the faculty adviser of Weber State’s Scientista program. “Women can do anything, and we need more of that representation of women in all of these different fields.”
Representation is an important part of inspiring young women to pursue careers in STEM. Parkman said that when she was young, she rarely saw women working in those careers.
“When I was growing up, STEM was a field that I didn’t see many women in,” Parkman said. “I knew I loved science, and I was in a rural area. It wasn’t unknown to have women in this field, but it definitely wasn’t what it is now.”
Parkman said she hopes the club helps change that perception by connecting students with mentors and building a supportive community.
“(The students) want to have it all. They want to have a family, and they want to have a career,” she said. “We’ll help you find those opportunities. We’ll help you find mentorship … We’ll help you reach out to other people and have those connections that in this world are so important.”
The supportive environment at Weber State also helps encourage students to pursue ambitious goals.
“We have so many amazing female professors and scientists,” she said. “That community is uplifting to me, and it’s really nice for me to share my inspiration by these people with my students.”
Ultimately, the goal of the program is to empower students to explore their interests and believe in their potential.
“You can never start dreaming too young,” Parkman said. “You can do just as much as anybody else, even if it’s currently a male-dominated field. By the time that you put yourself there, we’re going to change that narrative, and it’s going to be a lot more equal throughout.”
As Women’s History Month celebrates the accomplishments of women in the past, programs like Women in STEM are helping ensure that the next generation of women continues to break barriers and expand opportunities for the future.
