Women – When it comes to the scientific, construction, engineering and Astro world many people will classify this as a male dominated place to be in. However, not many people know or are aware that women are actually dominating this field of work and exploring the unknown.
NASA’s Historic Leap Towards Gender Equality
The history of women’s in space is existent, and is not dying out anytime soon. The world we live in today is seeing NASA investing in sending more women up to space. Recently it was announced that four out of eight new NASA candidates were women – the first time ever there has been an equal balance of men and women on a program. You could say that this new development is one big leap for women.
So, how does news like this impact the youngsters or females of today? It has become apparent that there are a very low number of women’s working in engineering and science. However, the women that do currently dominate this space are successfully influencing others to join the force field and rightly so.
Woman’s Shattering Stereotypes
Although many perceive the scientific, engineering, construction, and astro industries as male-dominated, there is a growing presence of women who are dominating these fields and exploring uncharted territories. The history of women in space is still prevalent, and NASA’s recent move to send more women into space highlights this fact. In a recent announcement, four out of eight new NASA candidates were women, marking the first time that gender balance was achieved in a space program. This breakthrough is likely to inspire young womens and girls who are underrepresented in the fields of science and engineering to join these sectors. Despite the relatively low number of women currently working in engineering and science, the successes of women who dominate this space can positively influence and encourage others to follow in their footsteps.
Heidi Hammel’s Journey as a Woman Dominating Space
Heidi Hammel, a Senior Research Scientist at the Space Science Institute in Colorado, shared her experiences as a womans in science and encouraged more women to pursue careers in this field. Hammel is an expert in studying outer planets and holds a Ph.D. in Physics and Astronomy. She initially did not plan on pursuing a career in this field but took an elective course in astronomy during university, which sparked her interest and ultimately led her to dominate space. Despite feeling like she did not belong in a male-dominated field, Hammel’s teacher encouraged her to pursue the course. Although she encountered challenges along the way, Hammel persevered and never looked back.
Valentina Tereshkova, a cosmonaut who made history by becoming the first womans to fly into space in 1963, is an inspiring figure from history. She orbited the earth 48 times as a pilot on the Vostok 6 spacecraft. Her accomplishment paved the way for many other female cosmonauts, including Sally Ride, who became the first American female astronaut to travel to space and was also a physicist. Although Tereshkova’s achievement was a few years prior to Ride’s, both have influenced and encouraged women to join the space revolution.
Women Leaders Breaking Barriers in Science
Science and physics are fascinating fields with endless discoveries and innovations, despite some people finding them boring. More womens are showing interest in these subjects at the education level, and there is a need to encourage their enthusiasm further. Women leaders like Barbara Osband, who dominates the field of science as the president and CEO of Cambridge Biomedical, are speaking honestly about the lack of women in top positions. Her words may hurt, but they inspire young women to aspire to leadership roles in the future.
The world is seeing many people, including youngsters from poorly developed countries, develop their skills in the fields of science and engineering. An inspiring example is Kelvin Doe, a 15-year-old self-taught engineer who combined metals and soda to create battery power for his family’s home. Although not female, Doe’s achievement led to him being the youngest invitee to the MIT program, demonstrating that anyone can make themselves known with little resources or funding.
Women are breaking barriers and taking over traditionally male-dominated fields, and this trend is gaining momentum. Instead of being set aside, women are dominating and supporting each other through movements and organizations such as WISE, which promotes female talent in science and engineering. Women leaders like Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo, and Jennifer Chayes, a former professor of mathematics at UCLA who now has over 20 patents at Microsoft, serve as inspiring examples of female success. As we move towards the future, it is time to follow their lead and continue to break down barriers.
