5 Organizations That Support & Empower Women In Science
Women with careers in STEM can often feel like outsiders, especially as students in majority-male classes. These organizations are looking to change that, offering guidance, support, and networking opportunities that will help women succeed in their chosen fields. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
5 Organizations For Women Pursuing Science
| Name | Mission |
|---|---|
| The Rosalind Franklin Society | "To showcase and support eminent scientists who are women" |
| Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology | "A recognized leader for and a voice of a national community for women in SETT, CCWESTT builds alliances and partnerships which support and celebrate a diverse SETT workforce" |
| Powers Education | To "build a strong academic foundation for college-level science courses, and simultaneously encourage and increase the number of women who will choose a career in a scientific field" |
| Women in STEMM Australia | "To connect women in STEMM regardless of their discipline and profession" |
| Earth Science Women's Network | "To build a resilient community that lifts all scientists and moves the geosciences forward" |
Rosalind Franklin: DNA's Unsung Hero
Percentage Of Women In The Workforce
The percentage of men & women in the civilian labor force over time, according to the U.S. Department of Labor
| Year | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 29.6% | 70.4% |
| 1960 | 33.4% | 66.6% |
| 1970 | 38.1% | 61.9% |
| 1980 | 42.5% | 57.5% |
| 1990 | 45.2% | 54.8% |
| 2000 | 46.5% | 53.5% |
| 2010 | 46.7% | 53.3% |
Nan Armour, Former Chair of the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology
6 Women Offering A Blueprint For Success
| Name | Popular Work |
|---|---|
| Arlene Dickinson | Author of Persuasion: A New Approach to Changing Minds & Reinvention: Changing Your Life, Your Career, Your Future and co-host of The Business of Life podcast |
| Lisa Lieberman-Wang | Author of Fine to Fab: 7 Secrets of a Successful Woman's Journey Away from Depression, Disordered Eating & Self Sabotage |
| JJ DiGeronimo | Author of Accelerate Your Impact: Action-Based Strategies to Pave Your Professional Path & The Working Woman's GPS: When the Plan to Have It All Has Led You Astray and founder of Tech Savvy Women |
| Stacey Harris | Host of Hit the Mic with The Stacey Harris and CEO of Uncommonly More digital marketing agency |
| Jacki Zehner | President of The Jacquelyn and Gregory Zehner Foundation, blogger, public speaker, and former president/co-founder of Women Moving Millions |
| Catriona Pollard | Author of From Unknown to Expert: How to Use Clever PR and Social Media to Become a Recognised Expert, speaker, artist, and founder of CP Communications |
In Depth
Women are the minority in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics occupations, holding about 23% of STEM jobs. With an uphill battle to climb, it's more important than ever that those working in these fields provide guidance and encouragement to the next generation. This list, presented in no particular order, highlights organizations dedicated to encouraging and empowering women to achieve their goals in the sciences.
Coming in at #1 is The Rosalind Franklin Society, an honorific, interdisciplinary, and international society which recognizes, fosters, and advances the important contributions of women in the life sciences and affiliated disciplines. In so doing, the Society honors the under-recognized achievements of the late Rosalind Franklin, a British x-ray crystallographer whose work producing x-ray images of DNA was crucial in the discovery of its structure.
To celebrate the life, work, and symbolic power of this heroine in science, the Society recognizes the work of outstanding women scientists, fosters greater opportunities for women in the sciences, and motivates and educates young generations of women who have this calling. The Society's efforts aim at enabling more women to achieve tenure-track appointments in academia as well as leadership positions in industry, academia, and government.
To celebrate the life, work, and symbolic power of this heroine in science, the Society recognizes the work of outstanding women scientists, fosters greater opportunities for women in the sciences, and motivates and educates young generations of women who have this calling.
Next at #2 is The Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology. Established in 1992, it is a voluntary, non-profit national coalition of individual members and groups from across the country who advocate for a diverse and inclusive Canadian Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology workforce.
The group strives for inclusion, compassion, respect, cooperation, trust, and integrity in partnerships and collaborations. The history of the Coalition, shared core values, and collaborative efforts have provided a firm base from which it has built a national voice for women to change, build, and lead policy and practice for a diverse workforce.
At #3 is Powers Education, which offers one on one private tutoring, specializing in quantitative subjects. The Powers Method is dedicated to science and encouraging women to succeed. Dr. Anna Powers developed this method over seven years of teaching at the university level when she recognized that diminished confidence in the perception of their ability to succeed was a pattern that was holding women back.
The Powers Method is dedicated to science and encouraging women to succeed.
Powers Education tutors are skilled instructors and role models. They are trained in the Powers Method and take on only college students who have exceptional academic records and a deep passion for the sciences. The tutors are talented young women who are all trained and selected by Dr. Powers herself.
At #4 is Women in STEMM Australia, a non-profit organization founded in 2014 which has grown into a nationally recognized association for women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. The over-arching goal is to connect women in STEMM regardless of their discipline and profession. This organization advocates for increased diversity among women in STEMM.
Women in STEMM Australia primarily engages through their website and social media profiles to connect, share stories, ideas, opinions, and to network with others. Wanting to increase the visibility and profile of Australia's women in STEMM, they regularly feature on their website women at all stages of their various careers and professions.
Women in STEMM Australia primarily engages through their website and social media profiles to connect, share stories, ideas, opinions, and to network with others.
Lastly at #5 is Earth Science Women's Network, a grassroots, non-profit, member driven organization. ESWN's mission is to promote career development, build community, provide opportunities for informal mentoring and support, and facilitate professional collaborations. The organization informally took shape in 2002 when six women who had pre-existing friendships formed a cadre of early career scientists with similar interests and goals.
ESWN is made up of women at various stages of their careers. Members can learn from one another and offer valuable insights. These women represent a variety of geological and environmentally oriented disciplines. Their research spans a range of topics. The most popular include climate change, biogeochemistry, ecology, and atmospheric science.
