Women in Physics Celebrates Diversity in STEM

"Science is all about wonder. Women in Physics gets us wondering how the world really works. It introduces children to the female icons of physics who opened doors for the rest of us!" — Donna Strickland, Ph.D., Recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics

Women from around the world, such as Dr. Strickland, have made significant contributions to the scientific community. A professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Strickland’s research in intense laser pulses paved the way for today’s laser eye surgery and the machining of small glass parts for cell phones.

While we celebrate her work, we need to keep in mind that she is one of only four women to ever receive a Nobel Prize in Physics. In fact, only 22 out of the 623 recipients of STEM-related Nobel Prizes are women—a mere 3.5%!

Children’s books such as Women in Physics, with its Spanish language edition,

Las mujeres en la física, help inspire young minds -- and future Nobel Prize winners -- by showing that anyone can be a scientist. In fact, inspiring children is the reason we published the entire Science Wide Open series.

STEM Magazine hopes to trigger that curiosity in search of innovation. The April cover story on the Women in Physics book is a wonderful reminder of how children today can learn from the past.

Click on the link below to read the story. Then try your hand at completing the activity below to see if you can match the amazing female physicist to her scientific discovery.

“Women in Physics” Celebrates Female Scientists, Old and New

Excerpted from STEM Magazine April 2021

Physics educators have long pondered how to get elementary school learners excited about a field of science that even adults find intimidating. How can we simplify difficult topics and tap into a child’s natural curiosity?

In a simple, easy-to-understand format, Women in Physics, and the Spanish edition, Las mujeres en la física, use quirky illustrations and relatable role models to explore fundamental concepts such as gravity, atoms, and energy.

The third book in the award-winning Science Wide Open series, this title helps children feel more comfortable with the daunting field of physics and gets them excited about it, too.

Most kids know who Albert Einstein is, but how many female scientists can they name? Female role models in STEM education are important because they can leave an impact on children, and especially girls, for years to come. They can inspire a budding scientist to pursue her dreams to cure disease, discover a new element, or prove her own hypothesis. Representation in STEM is also vital, especially for young girls, because it assures them that they, too, can make a difference in the world.

Designed for readers ages 7–10, Women in Physics and Las mujeres en la física are the perfect pathway to help young scientists understand the power of curiosity and resilience. The book introduces readers to the wonders of physics through a conversation between a spunky young protagonist, who asks questions about the world around her, and a scientifically astute narrator, whose answers are crafted to be understandable to young minds. A variety of countries, eras, and languages are represented through the compelling female scientists profiled in this book. Readers learn about groundbreaking scientific discoveries and the trailblazing women who made them possible.

Continue reading the full article here!

Match the physicist to her incredible scientific contribution!

You can read STEM Magazine's full April issue here,

and be sure to visit STEMmagazine.com to learn more about the magazine!

Answers:

Émilie du Châtelet - Translated Isaac Newton’s book, the Principia, from Latin to French so she could read it in her own language.

Laura Bassi - The first female professor of physics.

Marie Curie - The first woman to receive a Nobel Prize in Physics.

Irene Joliot-Curie - Synthesized new radioactive elements.

Chien-Shiung Wu - Conducted research and experiments that changed the way people look at physics.