Chandra and #ScienceWoman

At the Chandra X-ray Center, we take pride in promoting and supporting women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) whenever we can. (Did you know that Belinda Wilkes is the first woman to be the director of a Great Observatory?) There are so many women who have been crucial to the Chandra project that we have put together a series of profiles called “Women in the High-Energy Universe.”

Unfortunately, many girls and women still feel marginalized or excluded from STEM fields. We noticed a new project by Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls that is trying to change that called #ScienceWoman. By teaming up with PBS Digital Studios and the “It’s Okay to be Smart” web series, they are asking for people to submit videos of the women in science who have inspired them: http://amysmartgirls.com/2015/02/sciencewoman/

With a great idea and cause, we wanted to get involved. We’re asking readers of the Chandra blog to think about women in science, and, if so inclined, submit their own entry to #ScienceWoman. In the meantime, a member of the Chandra family (the daughter of someone who works here) put her thoughts into this video, with some technical help from her mom. Take a look and let’s see where we can go in STEM when everyone feels welcome.

-Megan Watzke, CXC