Celebrating the innovative work of women in science in the Chicago area
Careers in science and technology can seem like an obscure and challenging path to many people who are not familiar with these careers. By describing women’s career paths in the Chicago area, the AWIS Chicago Area Chapter (AWIS-CAC) aims to bridge the gap between diverse scientific fields and the broad audience. AWIS-CAC has celebrated women’s accomplishments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through its Scientist of the Month (SOTM) article series and its Innovator and Motivator podcasts.
The SOTM features scientists who have had an impact on science and the lives of other women. These articles detail women’s journeys in diverse STEM fields, their challenges, and how they dealt with and still deal with adversities. These stories positively impact the community by inspiring some women searching for an ideal path in science. When faced with difficulties, other women can draw motivation from the experience described in the articles. Some scientists featured last year are Rinku Gupta, Dr. Carolyn Carta, and Dr. Suguna Pappu. The broad field of their work ranges from software engineering and material science to engineering and medicine. On the other hand, the Innovator and Motivator podcast is an organic conversation between a scientist and their mentee reflecting on their journey together.
Guided by former president Christina Nowicki and led by Elodie Kadjo, the AWIS-CAC chapter uses the articles and podcast episodes to connect volunteers to scientists. Kathryn Zamiela, one of the volunteers, says, “The podcasts were so great to work on. I found it rewarding to interact with women scientists and listen to their advice.” Through the stories of these women, resilience can be communicated, and non-traditional paths in science, such as entrepreneurship, can be showcased. In addition, women can see that their ambitions are attainable, and the stories nurture community engagement because of the resources that the women share. Elodie Kadjo states, “Through the series, I learned about the work done by other women, and it fosters an appreciation for the innovation happening in the Chicago area and the dedication involved in advancing research.”
The Chicago chapter is one of eight AWIS chapters who received a 2024 ‘Shooting Star’ Chapter Award. The other recipients were Boston, Houston, Notre Dame, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle, and St. Louis.