Women’s HERstory Month: A Celebration of Women’s Contributions to STEM

By Maranda C. Ward, MPH

It’s Monday morning and you have a class presentation. So you pull out your favorite suit and notice it is filled with crinkles and creases. No problem. Thanks to Sarah Boone, who invented the ironing board in 1892, you can expertly place your suit on the board and get out those pesky wrinkles. Before you get dressed, you will appreciate the fact that you do not have to take a cold shower, but can use hot water thanks to an invention by Ida Forbes because she invented the electric hot water heater in 1917. This wonderfully genius invention allows you to wash your face, brush your teeth and shower in a temperature that suits your fancy. Next, you pull out a clean mug from the dishwasher made by Josephine Cochran in 1872. You can now sip on you coffee and get your day started. As you head out, you notice it’s raining as you run to your car. It’s all good because the windshield wiper was ingeniously crafted by Mary Anderson in 1903 and this invention allows you to see past the raindrops and navigate safely to your destination.

All of these women, and more, have contributed in meaningful ways to advancements in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Today, there are more opportunities to pursue a career in STEM. Many of these STEM oriented schools seek to encourage students (especially those underrepresented such as women and people of color) to pursue a STEM career. March is National Women’s History Month. The 2013 theme is Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

The Programming Committee of the Tripod Foundation Inc. is supporting the 2013 STEM Sister Summit from April 5-6th for D.C. area middle and high school girls. This overnight summit at the National 4-H Center will introduce a new generation of girls to professional women who currently working in the world of STEM. This event will be a day of shadowing, mentoring, motivational speakers and team building. For more information on National Women’s History Month and the list of STEM women honorees visit http://www.nwhp.org/whm/honorees2012.php.