Leading Women in STEM

The history of the hard sciences shows that male dominance has been a dominant force in the field for a long time. Before the 20th century, women had limited opportunities to pursue advanced education and careers in STEM. The STEM curriculum is an interdisciplinary approach that combines the earth’s and physical sciences’ various disciplines. It allows students to develop a deeper understanding of these subjects.

This is why it’s so exciting to look closely at how the field has changed through a 21st-century lens. This article lists three women who have contributed significantly to the scientific landscape. They are all working to continue building on the progress made in this field.

Cynthia Breazeal

Breazeal grew up in New Mexico. After graduating from the University of California-Santa Barbara in 1989, she pursued a doctor of science degree in computer science and electrical engineering from MIT in 2000.

At MIT, she worked under Rodney Brooks, known for his pioneering work in robotics. For her doctoral thesis, she developed Kismet, a highly expressive robot that can perform various emotional and intuitive actions.

Mary L. Cummings

While she was in the Navy, Cummings taught at Virginia Tech and Pennsylvania State University. In 2010, she became the Human and Automation Lab director at MIT. This division is focused on developing new technologies that can automate and improve people’s lives.

Her research interests are in the areas of human interaction and complex systems. She also studies the ethics of technology. In particular, she studies how it affects society. Her work has been featured in various publications and conferences, such as the International Society for Human Robotics.

Sandra Faber

As the marketing and sales representative for the original design of the telescope known as the Keck I, she was instrumental in helping to change the face of astronomy. She also worked on developing the second generation of the telescope and the plans for the Hubble Space Telescope.

When the Hubble Space Telescope was discovered with a flaw in its optical system, Faber was assigned to lead a team that identified the cause of the issue and came up with a solution that would allow the mission to continue. The telescope went on to produce amazing images of the universe.

ABOUT KELLY HANSARD

Kelly Hansard is a young professional who has already formed an impressive resume for herself. Based in Austin, Texas, Kelly has jumped headfirst into a career in program management.

In this current role, Kelly Hansard manages strategic initiatives at an enterprise software company. She is able to lend her expertise to the organization while also learning from her superiors. Kelly is proud to be involved with an organization that prioritizes the growth of its employees and provides feedback when needed. She has already learned and applied many newfound skills and pieces of knowledge that are sure to accompany her throughout all stages of her career.

Kelly Hansard loves embracing her passion for travel and visiting new places throughout the year. For Kelly, travel is not just a privilege in life – it is a necessity.

Travel is often a form of self-expression and self-growth. Throughout her youth, Kelly emphasized the importance of travel in her life and used it to learn more about the world around her. These experiences helped shape Kelly Hansard into the woman she is today and formed her into a well-cultured individual the more often she experienced new parts of the world. Her college years spent at the University of Texas, where she earned her MBA, allowed her many opportunities to learn about new cultures. Wanting to take advantage of her youthful freedom, Kelly took every chance she could get to embark on trips.