This display was created by Sarah Tribelhorn, Sciences Librarian and Cat Ellis, Health Sciences (Nursing and SLHS) Librarian.
Sarah Tribelhorn, Sciences Librarian: As a sciences librarian during Women's History Month, promoting women in science holds particular significance for me. By highlighting women’s historical and contemporary contributions to STEM – from groundbreaking discoveries to overcoming systemic barriers – we celebrate their achievements and address the critical need for greater gender equity in the field. Showcasing diverse role models inspires young women to explore scientific careers, dismantling the misconception that science is a "male-dominated" domain. Promoting the work of women scientists ensures a more comprehensive understanding of scientific progress by acknowledging their unique perspectives and contributions. Ultimately, fostering an inclusive scientific landscape with equal opportunities for all genders is essential for the advancement of knowledge and innovation.
Cat Ellis, Health Sciences Librarian: Coming from a medical social sciences background, I have read many stories of women whose contributions to science were ignored and forgotten. I see this the most with women form multiply marginalized backgrounds: women of color, disabled women, queer women, and women living at the intersection of several of these identities. With this display, we wanted to highlight some of these women. While some, like Ellen Ochoa, are better known, many have long gone unrecognized by scientists and historians. For instance, few of us learned about Flossie Wong-Staal or Delfina Cuero in school. These women all contributed greatly to our understanding of the world around us. Our goal with this display is to encourage students to consider science as a field and create a better environment for women in STEM.