Girl Genius Magazine | Issue II

table of contents INTRO & CLOSURE 03

SOCIAL MEDIA + EDITOR'S LETTER

SCIENCE 33

HOW HUMANS ARE DESTROYING THE EARTH

05

MEET THE TEAM + TEAM HIGHLIGHT

09

PARTNERS

59

FINAL NOTE

62

TECHNOLOGY 35

GIRLBOSSTECH INTERVIEW

36

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN IN TECH

40

JUSTINA CHUA INTERVIEW

APPLY FOR ISSUE THREE

STEAM: GENERAL 11

WOMEN NOW AND THEN

15

STEAM ADVICE

17

RESOURCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

ENGINEERING 43

MY STORY OF GENDER IDENTIFYING AND CONFIDENCE IN ENGINEERING

TO PURSUE STEAM

47

BONNIE LIBERMAN CZUKOSKI - GBT COLLABORATION

19

STEAM AND THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY

23

MIDDLE SCHOOL

CREATIVE WRITING 28

POTENTIAL IN STEAM

29

UNITY IN DIVERSITY

31

KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR

ART 49

WHY WE INCLUDE ART

53

MEET LARA PALOMBI

MATH 57

WHY STUDY MATHEMATICS

LAYOUT BY ABBY LIANG COVER BY ALAINAH CABRADILLA 1 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

if you_are_interested_in_something == true: print("pursue it! Even if you think it’s late in the game") print(“The community you will join will make it worthwhile.”)

Here is Issue Two of Girl Genius Magazine. We hope to make you feel that you are an integral part of our community.

Join our online community today!

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LAYOUT BY SHIVALI GULATI

editor's note JOINING MAKE

IT

THE

COMMUNITY

WILL

WORTHWILE

Three weeks before our first intra-club

It was the day of competition and all of us

competition, I joined my school’s robotics

were frantically working on finishing, some

team. I don’t necessarily know what I was thinking, participating in a competition against twelve other teams, despite only having built one robot by following a

starting, their bots. Bots began breaking down, code was failing, but it was all good, the competition had started and people were here to see what we could do. They were here to see what this

simple instruction manual.. And it was May, the end of the year. Those kids were good.

But that didn’t stop me from joining

community I’ve joined is capable of.

What

this community that I’ve been accepted to, can do.

and I’m happy it didn’t.

“Let’s do this team! Let’s do this.”

3 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE LAYOUT BY SHIVALI GULATI

One thing I learned from starting Girl Genius Magazine was trusting others to help you accomplish your vision and I’m very happy to be working with girls who are motivated and believe in the message we are establishing with our magazine.

shivali gulati ChangemakersZ interview

4 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE LAYOUT BY SHIVALI GULATI

ANDREA GONZALEZ ISSUE || TEAM HIGHLIGHT

From Palm Springs, Florida, Andrea is

to showcase Girl Genius and our amazing cause and opportunities we have. I’m helping Girl Genius and other organizations grow through partnerships (which I love so much!). I’m dedicated to sharing Girl Genius Magazine to girls around the world who are interested in STEAM through these partnerships and social media opportunities.

the Director Of Partnerships at Girl Genius Magazine.

She is interested in

Machine Learning, Community Outreach, K-Pop, and STEAM.

What you’ve done for Girl Genius?

What does community mean to you?

Community, to me, is the ability to interact with those close to you and have a supportive circle. No matter what you’re interested in, a community will

When I first joined Girl Genius Magazine, I was an editor. Soon afterwards, I wanted to be a part of growing and marketing Girl Genius and

support and encourage through your life, goals, and challenges. Community, to me, is also a family who will always have each other’s backs.

our goals. I’ve become a social media manager and the Director of Partnerships and Connections. I’m able

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LAYOUT BY SHIVALI GULATI

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G I R L

G E N I U S

M A G A Z I N E

IZZY LAPIDUS ISSUE || TEAM HIGHLIGHT What you’ve done for Girl Genius?

Ever since I first joined GG towards the beginning of this year, I have been incredibly passionate about our cause. I go to a performing arts school in New York City, LaGuardia, which I love, but that lacks STEAM opportunities. Towards the beginning of my work on GG, I focused on Layout Design and Social Media Management. As Director of Writing, I used my keen organization skills to create multitudes of different spreadsheets for assigning tasks, and sent out detailed emails for each and every assignment. I introduced the concept of ‘joint-article writing’ to GG, which increased team building skills, as members of our Writing Team from all across the world collaborated on articles.

What does community mean to you?

Community means working for the sake of your team. Community is supporting those around you, and encouraging others to dive deeper into their passions, set the highest of standards for themselves, and pursue their dreams. A community’s job is to give you a shoulder to lean on and the motivation to propel yourself forward.

LAYOUT BY SHIVALI GULATI

the creators EDITORS

WRITERS Director: Izzy Lapidus Shivali Gulati Annika Agarwal Esther Duong Sarah Meredith Anaya Patel Billiejean Staggs Carolina Andrade Caroline Skwara Chaitrali Padhye Chiffon Nguyen Chinmayi Balusu Cyra Paladini Emma Quinn Eve O’Leary Mullock Hailey Espinosa Hailey Jay Harshita Singh Hope Levin Ishika Kohli Karen Huynh Lexie Peltola Maddie Sullivan Madina Rain Maha Rahman Marturia Yami Michelle Sun Rajvee Patel

BLOGGERS

Director: Esther Duong

Director: Annika Agarwal

Andrea Gonzalez

Aarushi Choudhary

Athena Yao

Anum Ahmad

Abby Liang

Billiejean Staggs

Adriana Midkiff

Carolina Robledo Velini De

Agnes Mar

Andrade

Anna Xia

Cassie Areff

Audrey Kim

Cyra Paladini

Caroline Skwara

Elaine Ly

Chinmayi Balusu

Emma Quinn

Elaine Ly

Hailey Espinosa

Ellie Klibaner-Schiff

Izzy Lapidus

Emma Quinn

Karen Huynh

Esme Sacks

Maddie Sullivan

Eve O’Leary Mullock

Marturia Yami

Hailey Jay

Sarah Meredith

Kauther Almamori

Sungryu (Selei) Cho

Lexie Peltola

Samriddhi Rastogi

Madina Rain

Nikki Agarwal

Maia Alviar

Nhiyhana Nutter

Marnie Davidson

Mia Cardenas

Michelle Sun

Nayanika Singha

Rebecca Kanter

Chowdhury

Sabeen Arain Samantha Doyle-Jacobson Sami Broder Samriddhi Rastogi Yutika Pandit

Sabeen Arain Salma Alrowaie Sneha Pullanoor Sungryu (Selei) Cho Vaishali Gupta Xueyi Lu Nayanika Singha Chowdhury

LAYOUT BY SHIVALI GULATI 7 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

of issue two!

ARTISTS

LAYOUT DESIGNERS

SOCIAL MEDIA

Director: Shivali Gulati

Director: Athena Yao Cover Art: Alainah Cabradila

Director: Victoria Chang

Athena Yao

Katie Hall

Shivali Gulati

Abby Liang

Alice Zhang

Andrea Gonzalez

Angie Landin

Anum Ahmad

Aishwarya Gattanj

Chiffon Nguyen

Esme Sacks

Alyssa Lopez

Hope Levin

Jasmine Serna

Anaya Patel

Salma Alrowaie

Joyce Guo

Hope Levin

Samantha Doyle-Jacobson

Marturia Yami

Madina Rain

Sandra Nguyen

Mia-Aiyana Cardenas

Roaa Elawady

Vaishali Gupta

Nishat Chowdury

Samriddhi Rastogi

Vanessa Guo

Quennie Luc

Varshini Gopinatha

Varshini Gopinathan

Sabrina Ma

VIDEO PRODUCERS

INTERVIEWERS Director: Rebecca Kanter Amanda Bolden

Director: Priyanshi Nigam

Sabrina Ma

Billiejean Staggs Chinmayi Balusu

n

PARTNERSHIPS Director: Andrea Gonzalez Alyssa Lopez Amanda Bolden Hailey Espinosa Roaa Elawady

PHOTOGRAPHY Director: Tran Le Esther Duong Camille Coriell Hope Levin

FINANCE VIDEO EDITORS

Director: Ayushi Malhotra Aishwarya Gattanj Carolina Robledo Velini De

Director: Cassie Areff

Andrade

Ayushi Malhotra

Ellie Klibaner-Schiff

Beth Polito

Harshita Singh

Victoria Chang

Maha Rahman

Katie Hall

Salma Alrowaie Roaa Elawady LAYOUT BY SHIVALI GULATI 8 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

Our Partners Thank you for supporting our initiative!

LAYOUT BY SHIVALI GULATI 9 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

Partner With Girl Genius!

Join our community and reach our auidience.

To partner with us, please email ggpartnershipsdirector@gmail.com. We offer partnerships through Instagram, YouTube, and our blog.

LAYOUT BY SHIVALI GULATI 10 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

WOMEN NOW

By Karen Huynh, Cyra Paladini, Nayanika Singha Chowdhury | Artists: Mia-Aiyana Cardenas, Jasmine Serna

AND THEN 11 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE LAYOUT BY SALMA ALROWAIE

IVIE ANI Ivie who

Ani is

is

a

CORETTA KING

Nigerian-American

currently

working

covering

culture.

website

centered

at

Okayplayer around

journalist,

Okayplayer, is

an

online

hip-hop

and

It’s

honestly

system

that

a

failure

we

of

don’t

the

learn

education

more

about

Coretta Scott King in school. When covering the

civil

rights

era,

we

hear

extensively

alternative music. in 2014, Ivie graduated

about her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,

from New York University where she majored

yet somehow Ms. King is routinely cast into

in Journalism and Africana Studies. Ivie has

her

written many articles throughout her career,

supportive

some of which have been published in The

mother, and yes, she was a loud and proud

New

intersectional

York

Times,

Teen

Vogue,

PAPER

Magazine, and Women in the World.

She

husband’s

activism

shadow.

wife,

yes,

she

feminist

experience

Yes,

with

as

her

she

was

just

was

a

a

caring

as

much

husband.

Well

has also been invited to speak at events for

before she married, she was an established

Girls

member of the National Association for the

Write

Now,

Harvard

Medical

School,

and many more. Ivie’s commentary and keen

Advancement

eye fire detail is what makes her work stand

several

out. As a journalist, it is her job to share the

During Martin’s rise to fame, she not only

truth and she does just that. She speaks out

supported

against the injustices women in the music

participated in several rallies, boycotts, and

industry

marches. She was a dedicated

are

readers

on

today’s

top

put

the

through.

cultural

hits.

She

She

educates

inspiration shares

behind

her

own

of

other

Colored

civil

rights

People,

and

organizations.

demonstrations

but

also

champion

of African American activism, but she also tackled

women’s

subordination

head

on!

personal stories and advice to help young

Coretta was a proud feminist; she played a

girls

significant

advance

honest,

in

the

thoughtful,

world.

and

Her

work

provocative.

is

The

role

in

the

founding

of

the

National Organization for Women, and even

truth she shares sometimes differs from the

hosted

a

convention

in

Atlanta.

All

in

all,

popular opinion, but it aids us in perceiving

Coretta was a woman who refused to be

our world on a deeper level.

suppressed.

12 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

ATHENA MAYBANK MARGARET SANGER Born

in

Aletha

It’s a fact that even today, contraception is,

Maybank is a physician with a dream to see

well, controversial. In 1914, the concept was

increased

both unheard of, and absolutely unwelcome

studied

Harrisburg,

diversity

at

where

she

the

Pennsylvania,

in

her

John

Hopkins

University,

public.

However,

Margaret

Sanger

right to be able to control her reproductive

as she continued on to Temple University

abilities, and in that very year she released

School of Medicine for her medical degree

her

and Columbia University Mailman School of

Woman

Public

advocated

receive

her

of

the

Her schooling did not stop there,

to

Bachelor

to

believed that it was a woman’s fundamental

Health

a

Maybank

Arts

degree.

earned

field.

Master’s

in

first

feminist

publication,

Rebel”

in

for

which

birth

called she

control

“The

openly and

its

Public Health Today, Maybank works as an

widespread use. Naturally, her work wasn’t

Assistant

York

exactly well accepted. She was forced to

Mental

flee to England after being charged with

Hygiene. Maybank, along with several other

violating the Comstock act (a law banning

African-American

contraceptives on the basis that they were

City

Commissioner

Department

created

the

of

“We

movement in 2012.

at

the

Health

and

female Are

New

physicians,

Doc

McStuffins”

Their inspiration arises

“obscene”

and

“illicit.”)

Despite

the

harsh

criticism, Sanger carried on. She believed

from the Disney Junior show Doc McStuffins,

that

a show about a young African-American girl

poverty would be birth control, as she came

nurturing her toys in her playhouse clinic.

from

Alongside the movement, the women have

families

created

resources. In hiding and through jail time,

the

organization celebrate

a

Artemis

Medical

aimed global

physicians of color.

to

Society,

mentor

sisterhood

of

an and

women

and

the

just

primary

one

way

of

erase

millions

suffering

Margaret

to

of

from

continued

pamphlets

and

essays

contraceptive

techniques

and

women’s

poor

large

inadequate

to

release detailing

advocating

for their use.

13 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

FRIDA KAHLO

PLAUTELLA NELLI

Frida Kahlo is most widely known for her art.

Plautella Nelli was a self-taught nun artist

She

who was highly inspired by the paintings of

famously

traditional

painted

style,

while

in

the

also

Mexican

incorporating

Bartholomeo

and

Savonaralo.

She

was

a

thematic elements of renaissance art into

trailblazer -- she stood out at a time when

her work. But, Frida was both an innovator

women artists only did paintings depicting

in the creative and social sphere, she was

stereotypes. She is one of the few female

unabashedly

artists

‘feminist,’

a

women's

decades

advocate,

Lives

of

the

Most

coined, and here’s why: From an early age

one of the most influential writings on the

she drew inspiration from her surroundings

Italian

in

characterized by religious themes, with vivid

folklore.

Frida

female!

She

culture,

was didn’t

bold,

term

in

Excellent Painters, Sculptors and Architects,

local

the

mentioned

was

nature,

before

a

and and

just

Hispanic

a

fearless

document

the

Renaissance.

portrayals faces.

of

Due

emotion to

her

Nelli’s

on

her

work

is

characters'

religious

vocation

environment she lived in, she put society on

prohibiting study of the nude male, Nelli’s

trial!

male

Not

comment class, such

only on

and

did

questions

sexual

issues

Kahlo

were

of

use

race,

orientation publicly

her

art

to

figures

are

said

to

have

“feminine

gender,

characteristics”. In 2007, her paintings were

before

restored at The Uffizi’s Department of Prints

long

acknowledged,

and

Drawings;

they

include

several

but she herself routinely defied gender roles

representations of the human figure, such as

and

“Bust

female

Her

most

were

her

Male Figure”. She was most renowned for

ungroomed brows and faint mustache, both

her painting The Last Supper, the first piece

commonly

of art ever rendered by a woman, at the

defining

beauty

physical

standards. features

identified

as

‘male’

of

a

Woman”

as

successfully made her place and mark in the

aspects.

and

refused

conformity

in

all

Maria.

“Kneeling

Basilica

was,

Santa

and

characteristics. She embraced her beauty it

of

Young

Plautella

Nelli

male-dominated art society.

14 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

15 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

How is art contributed to the technology field?

Art has a surprising yet simple contribution to the technology field. Any physical piece of technology that we use requires design, and that within itself is art. Furthermore, if you are looking at usable software there is a lot of art involved in the user interface, making sure that the product is not only usable but also aesthetically appealing, an important aspect to user experience. All the tech we use today might have heavy science behind them, but they also include a lot of art and creativity that helps the users enjoy their everyday products.

How do I know if a career in STEAM is right for me?

For myself, I found that STEAM was right for me because it was a great intersection between my curiosity for athe world around me and my passion for problem-solving. Therefore, my

steam advice from girl genius magazine

recommendation is to find what you are passionate about and see if it can be applied to STEAM. If you find you are interested in both computers and drawing, how about animation?

Furthermore, what’s really great about STEAM is that it has a wide breadth of careers for many different interests.

Therefore, if you want to pursue STEAM, there is most likely a way to do so.

What can I do to help other women in STEAM? Encourage others to join the field. And share your knowledge with others.

Sharing events with others is also important, because a lot of women do not know where to start when looking.

There are many events for women in STEAM that allows women to connect with other women. These events are optimal to learn more about women in STEAM. Finally, be supportive and learn from each other.

BY CASSIE AREFF + MARTURIA YAMI | LAYOUT BY SANDRA NGUYEN

What is the best way to get involved in research early?

A great way to get into research early is by contacting professors at a college/university near you and asking if they would be willing to mentor you. I would recommend doing research on these professors online to see if you are interested in the research they are doing. This can give you an opportunity to really find what you’re interested in and ever discover things you’ve never heard of. I also suggest taking this time to find their contact information which can usually be found on

What is #BUILTBYGIRLS? #BUILTBYGIRLS is an initiative started by the group Built By Girls to reimagine what the world would be like if women had equal footing from the beginning. To do this, in their WAVE program they work to pair young girls with female trailblazers, all while working to address issues of diversity and inclusion. Built By Girls, itself, is an amazing resource that works to provide young girls in high school and college access to mentors, career advising, and job opportunities at tech companies. Their purpose is to make the STEAM world more accessible for girls through

their school’s website or their own personal

their connected community, programs, and

website (not as common but still occurs). In

more. If you want to look more into their work,

your email, always make sure to introduce yourself and be direct with why you are messaging that professor, explain a little about your interests to build some rapport, always make sure to be courteous and polite, and don’t forget to sign off the email with your name and where they can contact you. Making that connection with a professor not only gives you access to research and resources but is also a great networking opportunity. If you are rejected or don’t hear a response, no worries because you can always conduct your own research!

Find something you are passionate about and have an interest in, then get to work.

Develop a hypothesis and start conducting your experiments. In fact, there are many journals online that actually publish work from high school students, such as the National High School Journal of Science.

Why is it important to address the disparity between men and women involved in STEAM? It is important to address this gap because it encourages companies to make the necessary changes to improve conditions.

These changes could include providing the opportunity for women to attend programs and conferences and encouraging women to be involved in the field and thus cultivating a welcoming environment for all genders.

Not only does it alter companies, but also

you can access them through their website, builtbygirls.com.

What programs to industry professionals advise for you to participate in?

Industry professionals that I’ve had conversations with mostly suggest participation in programs that increase your exposure to STEAM. This exposure allows for a better understanding of your interests and to see if you can picture yourself in that field/concentration.

Such actions would include joining Girls Who Code, starting a Society of Women Engineers branch at your campus, a network like Built by Girls, or even looking at videos on YouTube..

Common misconceptions about STEAM? Are there any?

A common misconception about STEAM is that it is a heavily male-dominated field in which women would have difficulty succeeding. While it is true that STEAM is male-dominated, it does not mean that women cannot participate in it or can’t be successful in it. Anyone can do STEAM and women are no exception, as success matters on passion and dedication. Another misconception is that STEAM subjects are mutually exclusive, which is far from true. In fact, STEAM subjects are deeply integrated within one another and a wide understanding of all the subjects can actually be a great benefit to your specific concentration. A great example would be robotics which melds art, mathematics, and engineering into one.

increases the quality of products produced by the company. To build a product for everyone, you need diversity and ideas from a wide diverse group.

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PHOTO BY TRAN LE

RESOURCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS IN STEM

By Madeleine Sullivan, Emma Quinn | Layout By Sandra Nguyen & Shivali Gulati

An interactive, personal way for

Eureka! is a program offered in

Girls Who Code is an extremely

young women to become

New York City that exposes girls

renowned company that has

involved in STEAM is through

entering 8th-12th grade to a wide

helped girls all around the world

STEAM clubs and organizations.

variety of STEAM-related topics.

get involved in technology. Full of

Here are three examples of

From environmental science to

clubs, jobs, and camps, this

STEAM programs offered for girls.

DNA analysis, this course has

program consists of numerous

anything and everything related

ways for girls to participate.

Million Women Mentors

to STEAM. It is offered over the

Partnering with well-known

connects experienced women in

summer from July to August and is

companies such as Adobe,

STEAM-related careers to young

completely free of charge. Girls

Walmart, Amazon, and more, Girls

girls, mentoring young girls and

experiment with an endless

Who Code has connections all

acting as a guide as the girls go

amount of hands-on activities,

over and brings girls once in a

through their career-life. Mentors

such as robot-building and

lifetime experiences. Reports

and mentees often spend over 20

coding. Girls usually stay within

have shown that the company

hours working together over the

the program for five years; this

has helped over 185,000 girls

course of one year, whether by

long term involvement allows the

learn more on technology, and

telephone, email, or face-to-

mentor and student to

their numbers don’t plan on

face. Mentors present enormous

understand each other on a deep

stopping. By joining groups that

amounts of internships and

level, in which the students are

center around the themes of

opportunities that these girls

often recommended for

STEAM, young women grow

would never have been able to

exceptional internships in the

stronger and develop their

receive before.

near future.

STEAM related interests.

In our own community here at

Girl Genius, we too are

involved in many STEAM clubs and organizations. All of us play a crucial role in uplifting young women by expressing how STEAM is approachable and can be a dream anyone can achieve. We all help each other by sharing our interests and ideas to make the magazine the best it can possibly be.

Many are involved in STEAM clubs outside of the magazine.

Some examples of these clubs are a Science Competition Club, a Reading Quiz Bowl team, and STEMgirls, a group to empower women in science fields. With these opportunities in school, the girls in GG Magazine are growing their interests in science fields.

One

empowering

writes

that

“STEAM

environment

for

clubs

future

create female

a

positive

scholars”

and (GG

Writer, 2019). This is most definitely true. By joining STEAM clubs you can nurture your passions and meet young women who are just as passionate as you. Not only this, but these clubs can provide

opportunities

to

enrich

and

further

your

academic

endeavors.

It can seem daunting to find these sources at first, especially in a world that seems to prioritize boys over girls in some of these fields. This does not mean we do not persist, and don’t try to have our voices heard by being brave enough to pursue our passions as women, no matter what field of STEAM it is in.

Reach out in your community to form your own STEAM-related clubs if none are present; you could be the match that ignites the fire for young women everywhere in your community.

Girls shouldn’t be afraid to reach out into their communities or their schools and get involved in what they are passionate about.

18 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

19 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE GRAPHIC BY ALAINAH CABRADILLA LAYOUT BY SANDRA NGUYEN

STEAM & The LGBTQIA+ Community BY

CHAITRALI

PADHYE

In STEAM programs and fields, it’s common knowledge that women are given fewer opportunities to thrive. There are more men in STEAM than women, and that number gets

&

LEXIE

PELTOLA

“but only 29% of the science and engineering workforce... Minority women comprise fewer than 1 in 10 employed scientists and engineers.”

smaller when you take into account race and orientation. Research is so underfunded that

From the National Science Foundation, here

there are practically no articles about queer

are some statistics to show how few women

people in STEAM, let alone actual statistics.

are in STEAM fields: 35.2% of chemists are

It’s about time we bridge the gap and make

women; 11.1% of physicists and astronomers

these careers more open and accessible to

are women; 22.7% of chemical engineers are

everyone. Let’s start with sharing some, like

women; 17.1% of industrial engineers are

just how few women and queer people are in

women; 10.7% of electrical or computer

STEAM.

hardware engineers are women; 7.9% of mechanical engineers are women.Things

According to the National Girls Collaborative

don’t look any better when

Project, women make up half of the total U.S.

According to Wikipedia, a news article

post-graduate workforce,

discusses current or recent news of either general interest or of a specific topic.

19 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

About 3.5% of Americans identify as queer.

Alan Turing was a mathematician and

The National Science Foundation does not

computer scientist working in the height of

provide statistics on people in the LGBTQ+

World War II. He is said to be the "founder of

community, so resources and websites

computer science… philosopher,

pertaining to this are rare and hard to come

codebreaker, strange visionary and a gay

by. And while others are fighting against the

man before his time." His most famous work

stigma to make STEAM diverse, virtually no

was breaking the German enigma code and

efforts include the LGBTQ+ community.

enabling the Allies to defeat Adolf Hitler in

STEAM fields are not nearly as accepting of

World War II. Sadly, the British government

queer people, and that has led to many

arrested him because of his homosexuality

people in the community to consider leaving

and forced him to go through conversion

their job or school after enduring

therapy. Turing died by suicide at the age of

discrimination.

41.

Karen Warkentin, a queer professor at Boston

Laurence Michael Dillon was the first

University, has experienced these hardships in

transgender man to undergo gender

her life for over thirty years. She was

reassignment surgery, according to

teaching at the University of Texas at Austin

Australia's Gender Centre. In doing so, he

during her PhD, and was thrilled at the

had given up his claim to a noble title, and a

acceptance and love she received in regards

career in medicine, which he was passionate

to her being queer. She then took a professor

about. He lived out the rest of his days as a

job at Boston University in 2001, and quickly

Buddhist monk and authored two books

realized that the school was not as

about spirituality.

accommodating to queer people. The president at the time, John Silber, had

These people were so impactful in the STEAM

banned the GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance, now

and the LGBTQ+ community; they continue to

known as Gender-Sexuality Alliance), and

shape and pave the way for other queer

refused to include sexual orientation into the

people. They inspire others to pursue a career

school’s nondiscrimination policy. Warkentin

in STEAM, as they didn’t back down from the

said she was used to the accepting

challenges thrown their way. We thank them

environment offered at the University of

endlessly for what they have done.

Texas at Austin, so it was “surprisingly hard… los[ing] the diversity and openness.” Millions

There are so many young men and women

more people like Karen have and are facing

out there that desperately want a STEAM

some of the same hardships everyday.

career, but are scared they won’t be accepted because they are LGBTQ+. Thus,

Sally Ride was America's first female

here’s a list of resources, articles, and

astronaut and a space shuttle robotic arm

websites that may help people get started on

operator. She flew with the 1983 Challenger

learning more about STEAM, the LGBTQ+

expedition, the same shuttle that exploded

community, and how to make it a more

three years later mid-liftoff (though she was

accepting and loving environment.

not apart of it and lived until 2012).

20 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

19 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

The National Organization of Gay and

The reason we need more acceptance and

Lesbian Scientists and Technical

inclusivity in STEAM is to encourage others to

Professionals (https://www.noglstp.org) is an

be a part of these great careers. People with

organization that “advocates for equal

skills in STEAM are in high demand for

employment opportunity... science education,

interesting new projects and even

and scientific freedom.” They aim to

fundamentally changing the way we view the

“educate everyone in any community about

universe. According to GLSEN,

the scientific, technological, and medical concerns of LGBTQ+ people.”

“while LGBT students benefit from an LGBTinclusive STEM curriculum, STEM as a field

GLSEN (Gay Lesbian and Straight Education

benefits, too. When LGBT students see

Network) is an organization designed to

themselves reflected in their curriculum and

“improve an education system that too

choose STEM careers, diverse new

frequently allows its [LGBTQ+] students to be

perspectives are introduced into the field.”

bullied, discriminated against, or fall through the cracks.” Their article, Why (and How)

An LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum includes

STEM Curriculum Needs to Be LGBT Inclusive

highlighting the lives of queer individuals in

(https://www.glsen.org/blog/why-and-how-

the field. The LGBTQ+ community doesn’t feel

stem-curriculum-needs-be-lgbt-inclusive),

accepted in these careers and that needs to

written by bisexual genderqueer Mary

change.

Hoelscher, is all about personal experiences in STEAM as a bisexual and genderqueer

There’s loads more to learn about STEAM in

person and why it’s beneficial to implement

regards to the LGBTQ+ community, and it’s

more policies for inclusive teachings.

time for some big changes to happen. This beautiful community needs to be seen more;

LGBT STEM is an international project that

it doesn’t deserve to live on in the shadows of

showcases LGBT people in the STEM fields,

discrimination and bigotry. We deserve to be

showing the diversity of people found in roles

seen in all of our colorful glory. All it takes is

all across the STEM careers and providing

one little drop in the vast ocean to make a

role models for those who are considering

ripple effect, to change the whole world and

the possibility of going into a STEM field.

its’ views on the community. Be that drop.

21 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

JUDGE GEARY

IN路CLU路SIV路I路TY IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE FOR A SELECT FEW.

22 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

Middle School Feedback and Interviews

"Hi! Just read Issue One of GG Magazine and I’m nothing short of impressed, both by the quality and quantity of the articles that are here for readers! :) I feel that the A in STEAM just makes everything more inclusive, because traditionally people have been used to separating arts and sciences but, really, in the real world there is no such distinction between the two as they are really integrated in various aspects of our lives. For instance, three dimensional art structures require an eye for art but also a good

Feedback on our magazine and

sense of mathematical and physical understanding,

additional insights from the next

lest the structure might collapse. I am also a firm

generation of female changemakers—

believer and supporter of women in STEM, as this

middle school girls interested in developing and pursuing their passions

area is where we are vastly underrepresented, especially when it comes to fields like engineering and mathematics. I feel that such magazines will

in STEAM!

really help to empower those of us who would like to pursue our passions in these fields but are deterred

INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY SALMA ALROWAIE

by the fact that not a lot of women have done it

& HARSHITA SINGH

previously."

-Ruby

LAYOUT DESIGN BY ATHENA YAO

"I think that Girl Genius Magazine is an amazing platform that allows many intelligent girls to work together and showcase their love for STEAM! As for my favorite part, I personally lean more towards technology

"I feel that the A in STEAM just makes everything more inclusive, because traditionally people have been used to separating arts and sciences but, really, in the real world there is no such distinction between the two as they are really integrated in various aspects of our lives."

because it has drastically improved the way we live our lives! It makes accessing information much easier and it gives us the ability to instantly connect with family and friends whenever we want and wherever we go.

Technology has left a huge impact on the world, and I think that it would be much more difficult to live in a world without technology because it would make everything less efficient and more time consuming.

All in all, I think that all of the parts of STEAM work hand in hand. For example, to build a tower you would need engineers who would use their knowledge in mathematics and physics in order to make it stand. The suitable technology will be used to build it, and architects will add their finishing touches to make it look aesthetically pleasing. Nothing would exist without these five essential components."

-Jurie 23 | G 23 I R |L G GIE RN L IG US EN M IU AS GA MZ AI G NE AZINE

INTERVIEW WITH THI LE Thi Le is a middle school girl who has just started out in her journey through the world of art! Read about her perspective here.

Why do you find art interesting?

I find art very interesting because of the different types of mediums it offers. Pencil and charcoal can look abstract, watercolor can look loose but refined, and painting can look messy but regal.

How do you find that art connects to other parts of your life?

Even though we might not speak the same language, everyone can speak the language of art. Thus, art connects many different people together. That’s how I found artist friends online.

Who inspires you most in the realm of art?

There are many people who inspire me in the realm of art. For example, @tengerineart, @hanandesu, and my many other friends on Instagram inspire and motivate me to keep on creating art.

How do you think that you can use art to help other people?

Art can be used as a weapon or a tool that can send out important messages to the public. In the past and even now, art has been used to support the LGBTQ+ communiy, people with mental illnesses, and those facing third world problems. I plan to create art in the future to address the societal issues in my community.

What are your ambitions with art for the future?

I plan to use my art skills to enter contests (and hopefully win) and use art to raise awareness about global warming. Follow my Instagram account @theartsbythi to see my art adventure!

How do you think being a middle schooler influences your perspective on art?

As a middle schooler, the new environment and people around me makes me more grateful that art even exists.

Images on left: some examples of Thi's artwork! See more of her work and support her through her artistic journey by checking out her Instagram page @theartsbythi.

24 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

Meet Danielle Kanter Danielle is an ambitious middle school student from New York City interested in pursuing the field of mathematics.

Read on to find out why she's so fascinated by this subject and how she plans to continue studying it in the future!

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY SALMA ALROWAIE & HARSHITA SINGH | LAYOUT DESIGN BY ATHENA YAO

Who inspires you most in the realm of math?

My math teacher is the person who inspires me the most. She was a very good teacher who was able to get everyone (and I mean everyone) in the class interested in math and excited to come to class every day to learn. She was very patient with every student and would go over each topic in as many ways as possible to ensure that everyone understood it and wasn’t left behind. She even taught us some calculus! She assigned us awesome math projects that related to everyday life. For instance, we had a project about calories in food that related to algebraic inequalities.

What interests you about the field of math—why do you find it interesting?

I find math interesting because whatever you are learning in math always has a real life application to other fields like architecture or science. Any career that I want to go into, whether it be as a doctor or scientist or lawyer can use the skills that I learned in math. I also like the possibilities of math and math research - it is super interesting to read about what mathematicians are capable of doing and discovering about the laws of our world. Math is cool because it is universal; if I go to China, it will be the same as what I learn in New York City.

How do you find that math connects to other parts of your life?

Anywhere you go, math can connect to what you are looking at, interacting with, or learning about.

Math dictates everything around us, including music, so every time I listen to a song, math controls what I am listening to. Music has rhythm and tones that use math. The chemistry that goes into baking is mathematically controlled and determines if your cake is perfect or inedible.

25 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

"Anywhere you go, math can connect to what you are looking at, interacting with, or learning about."

How do you think you can use your math skills to help other people?

I was able to use my math skills this past year by tutoring the sixth graders at school in math to help them to understand concepts they were struggling with and to complete assignments that they would have been otherwise unable to finish. I reviewed the concepts with them and kept on explaining it to them in different ways until they were finally able to understand it as well as I did. This resulted in them getting better grades, which made both me and them feel good. It gave them more confidence in math class, which was nice to see.

What are your ambitions with math for the future?

I am excited to take my first high school level math class this year while still in eighth grade. When I do actually get into high school, I hope to be able to be on the math team at school and to take computer science classes. I also hope to join Girls Who Code in high school because it seems really cool and empowering for the girls who do it. Maybe one day I’ll get to take really hard classes like AP Calculus!

How do you think being a middle schooler influences your perspective on the realm of STEAM? I think it’s beneficial because it gives me a fresh and uninfluenced view so I only see what’s possible and not what’s impossible. I have a lot of ambition and it is not interfered with yet. I can see every opportunity available for me and my future.

"I am excited to take my first high school level math class this year while still in eighth grade. When I do actually get into high school, I hope to be able to be on the math team at school and to take comptuer science classes...Maybe one day I'll get to take really hard classes like AP Calculus!"

26 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

so...why community?

Girl Genius Magazine strives to establish strong connections and a sense of community between girls and women that are passionate about STEAM. This sense of community among people is what brings us together and drive us to progress.

All of us bring our own unique ideas and strengths to the table, and when we all work together as a team, great things can happen.

However, our individualities and ideas are susceptible to being smothered and unacknowledged, and this is where 'group-think' and censorship hold us back from advancement.

In this issue, our creative writers explore the sense of community and the importance of representation, teamwork, leadership, and support.

27 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

28 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE GRAPHIC BY ALICE ZHANG LAYOUT BY VARSHINI GOPINATHAN

potential in steam

underneath.

Each individual should navigate through life alongside a community in their every single stride.

Appreciation stems from the most accepting of

By Sungryu (Selei) Cho

beings,

Love, cherish, and appreciate one another.

to encourage worldwide healing?

so why don’t we begin that journey in this world

Dedicate yourselves to not only promote yourself but to promote each other.

Look on, and glance at the future ahead.

There is no easy way to work together,

We can make it quite far if we try yet again.

for people have voices that can easily muffle

If we cease in making attempts, what would

others’.

come of our breakthroughs

But if we take time to adjust ourselves to

since we’d have nobody else to share them

promote care,

with?

we can empower one another to make

We need one another.

everything fair.

Otherwise, we may easily wither as a plant made to live

No more shall we face discrimination alone,

without the radiance of the sun.

but allow ourselves to lean on others’ shoulders some more.

So, let us join hands

We are individuals that need to be freed,

and seek our own

vnot in a cage, locked up, and swept

potential together.

X U E Y I

L U

UNITY IN DIVERSITY when

we

weigh

the

collective and the individual we often undervalue one or the other when

we

toil

to

seek

diversity we

often

forget

the

need

for unity

a

single

drop

of

water

cannot create a wave and

the

ripple

it

creates

always seems too small but

a

wave

cannot

exist

the

droplets

that

without

complete it— this is the very essence of our seas.

LAYOUT BY VARSHINI GOPINATHAN GRAPHIC BY JOYCE GUO 29 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS There is no universe that can only harbor a UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS single star UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY DIVERSITY UNITY DIVERSITY there is noINcosmic fabric with IN only a single UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS stitch UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS so be sure to shine brightly, since your glory UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY does not dull the lights ofUNITY others.IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS could we call the forest a forest if it had a UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS single tree?

UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS could we call a photo a photo if it had a UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS single pixel?

UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS could we call a novel a novel if it just one UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY INhad DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS word?

UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS could we call the earth the earth if it had just UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS one UNITY speck of UNITY IN DIVERSITY IN dirt?

DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS diversity is not chaos.unity is not conformity.

UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS whyUNITY limit ourselves by choosing to take a UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS side?

UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS we can embrace all entities whilst living UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS unique lives.

UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERS UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY V]UNITY IN DIVER UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNITY 30 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

Knight in Shining Armor WRITTEN BY SABEEN ARAIN, GRAPHIC: JASMINE SERNA, LAYOUT: VANESSA GUO

31 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

Boom boom boom. My head is

I let the battlefield continue, I let

throbbing, my brain is bursting,

the brutal words continue to be

my skull is cracking, my body is

thrown around to every woman in

shaking. I can’t hear anything

this vicinity, in this society. I see

except the painful migraine

the light slowly dimming, fading

flooding through my head. No

away. Someone cuts through my

one is listening, no one can hear

monologue like a knife going

me. I am smothered with a pillow,

through butter; it sounds so calm

I'm endlessly drowning, I can’t

and confident: ”Please let others

seem to escape this nightmare.

speak and do not throw around

This is exhausting. I close my eyes

words as though they mean

and I can see the battlefield

nothing. That seems like a great

raging on. Words, phrases,

idea, but we need others’ ideas in

sentences are thrown around,

order to come to a concise

drawing insecurities out, and

decision and to solve the

lowering women’s voices. I raise

predicament we have.” She looks

my hand to try and give my own

at me, the light reignites and I

opinion, and show my bravery, “I

smile. Suddenly, the throbbing

believe that the method you have

headache fades away, the

stated won’t work, its not-” I

battlefield disappears, the

flinch, I can hear a wailing

nightmare stops. She raised her

screech interrupt my speech, my

voice and it was heard, she saved

head pounds more violently.

Nonsense, you’re wrong, your opinion doesn’t matter, that’s stupid. Everyone keeps on saying that, all the time, all the damn time. What’s the point in having a voice if I can’t speak my

us all from the wounds and we could finally just...breathe. Great things can happen now.-A vignette about how women have each other and shouldn’t back down -Sabeen Arain

thoughts?

32 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

HOW

HUMANS

DESTROYING

ARE THE

EARTH

#FridaysForFuture is a movement that began

On the 8th of September, Greta decided to

in

continue

August

Thunberg

2018, sat

in

after

15-year-old

front

of

the

Greta

Swedish

striking

every

Friday.The

hashtags

#FridaysForFuture and #ClimateStrike spread,

parliament every school day for three weeks

and

many

students

to protest against the lack of action on the

world

climate crisis. She posted what she was doing

parliaments and local city halls as well. This

on Instagram and Twitter and it soon went

also

viral.

strikes.

began

inspired

to

and

adults

protest

Belgium’s

around

outside

Thursday

of

the their

school

Greta is autistic, which means that she sees the world from a different perspective than most people. When she was 8 years old, she first heard about the topic of climate change but couldn’t believe that nobody seemed to really be talking about it. When she was 11, she fell into depression and refused to eat or speak because she was worrying about the climate crisis. She watched a documentary about climate change in school, and she couldn’t understand why people kept saying that climate change was the most important issue of all, but they weren’t doing anything to solve it.

She thought for months, even years, about why adults didn’t make the necessary strides to solve the climate crisis even though they knew it was so important to the future of our planet and humankind.

Some

time

later,

she

decided

to

do

something

herself:

she

sat

outside

her

government’s offices every Friday instead of going to school to call for action. As she stated in her talk at TEDxStockholm, “...why should I be studying for a future that will soon be no more when no one is doing anything whatsoever to save that future?”

WRITTEN BY: ISHIKA KOHLI & SAMRIDDHI RASTOGI

33 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

It started out with her sitting outside on the road in appalling temperatures, posting pictures of her worried but determined self online, but it has now shifted into a worldwide movement for climate justice.On March 15th, 2019, Greta Thunberg helped coordinate a worldwide strike with people sharing the same principles that she did. People from all over the world lined up in front of their government offices and called for change.

As Greta continues to be an inspirational figure and advocate for climate change action, you can make your own voice heard in support of the movement. Fridays For Future does not ask you to bunk school or do anything you’re uncomfortable with. In fact, there are so many different ways of protesting. The official website states the following:“Many people do not think they can strike, i.e. they are worried about their school grades. The Belgium schools all used clocks which then 'struck' and then took a picture and this was their method to strike on November 30. Other groups have other ways to find a way to strike, even churches have their bells strike! Some empathy strike. All support is welcome.

save the save the save the

earth earth earth

If you use the hashtag #FridaysForFuture and #ClimateStrike, others passionate about this issue will be able to find and share your excellent work. Greta Thunberg, a teen and young adult just like us, has found that when one young person says something, not many people will listen, but if there are young people everywhere piping up for their future on this planet, action will certainly happen. Thus, go on and strike, post on social media, or start making changes in your daily habits to help protect our earth and its natural resources. It’s time to take action to help secure our future on this planet!

LAYOUT BY SALMA ALROWAIE

34 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

35 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

GirlTechBoss Written by GirlTechBoss | Layout by Abby Liang

In the upcoming months, they will be holding panel talks, more seminars, and hackathons for elementary, middle, and high school girls. Go check out their Youtube channel and website (girltechboss.com) for more information

GTB is excited to be partnering with Girl Genius Magazine for their September Issue. We love what you are doing on this platform and the message you are spreading to the next cohort of women leaders. Huge thank you to their entire team for creating an incredible piece.

We are so glad to be a part of this!

GirlTechBoss is a New York Metro centered non-profit led by Molly Cantillon and Melanie Herbert, two high schoolers from New Jersey. Their mission statement of empowering girls to pursue STEM and entrepreneurship stemmed from their own experiences competing in a robotics team and taking technical classes together. Growing up taking various STEM courses, they’ve become aware of the gender gap present in technology and entrepreneurship. Through GirlTechBoss, they aspire to fill this gap by creating a platform for girls to learn from and be inspired by. Recently, they launched a Youtube Series that interviews women STEM entrepreneurs about their experiences in the industry. Along with that, Melanie and Molly have also been organizing and instructing monthly seminar classes at a local robotics center.

scholarships for women in technology

By Hailey Jay, Vaishali Gupta, Hope Levin Many young girls and women around the world do not receive the education they desire and deserve due to financial need. While some may be more fortunate, going to college or a university is expensive for everyone. Some people can pay for it, some will take out loans, and others cannot afford to attend college without any form of assistance.

At Girl Genius, we want you, young girls and women in technology, to go to college without worrying about the costs. One more girl enrolled in a technology program is one more girl ready to change the world.

See each scholarship opportunity below and read carefully to see if you are eligible. There are a number of different scholarships for high school and college students in technology. Some scholarships have closer deadlines while others Photo by Tran Le are due in 2020. Either way, make sure to plan ahead to apply for any opportunity.

Photo by Tran Le

36 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE LAYOUT BY ABBY LIANG

1

The Alice T. Schafer Mathematics Prize for Undergraduate Women

For: Undergraduate

women who are U.S.

2 For:

The Edie Windsor Coding Scholarship for LGBTQ+ Women

LGBTQ+, non-binary, and transgender

citizens or have a school address in the U.S.

women who are ready to beginning their

and have demonstrated exceptional

coding careers!

mathematics skills and has made great contributions to the mathematics field.

Prize:

As coding becomes increasingly

prominent in our world, we need a diverse

Prize:

The winner will receive $1,000 and the

runner-up will receive $250.

group of students pursuing computer science more than ever. The benefits include up to half off your college tuition. Along your journey,

Time:

Undergraduate women can be

you will connect with a supportive and diverse

nominated for this award from August 16th to

community of scholars, receive academic and

October 1st during any year of their

professional coaching, and become prepared

undergraduate education.

for a full-time tech job after graduating!

Website:

Website:

https://awm-math.org/awards/

https://lesbianswhotech.org/

schafer-prize-for-undergraduates/

codingscholarship/

3

Details:

For:

Science Ambassador Scholarship - Women in STEM High school seniors & undergraduate

women. You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen to apply but you need to be attending--or plan to attend--a university in the United States.

Prize:

This application opens in the fall of

2020. You will need to film a 3 minute video explaining a STEM topic of your choosing.

Website:

https://www.scienceambassador

scholarship.org/

Did you know Cards Against Humanity

provides a scholarship for women studying STEM? Did you know that it entails full tuition?

37 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE GRAPHIC BY JOYCE GUO

4

Girls in STEM Scholarship Award For:

Undergraduate STEM women

enrolled in an accredited university.

5 For:

2020 (ISC)² Undergraduate Cybersecurity Scholarship This scholarship is aimed at students who

plan to study or are currently studying

Prize:

The Girls in STEM (GIS) Award aims to

cybersecurity, information assurance, or

increase participation and encourage the

another related major. High school seniors or

success of young women who wish to study

undergraduate students with a minimum GPA

STEM and pursue a STEM career. A $500

of 3.3 may apply.

award is given each year.

Prize: Details:

Apply by December 31st, 2019. To be

The (ISC)

²

Undergraduate Scholarship

provides awards ranging from $1,000 to

eligible, you must be in good academic

$5,000 for tuition, books, and student fees.

standing (3.0+ GPA) and show demonstrated

Women are highly encouraged to apply!

interest in STEM, which may include participation in extracurricular and community

Time:

activities (i.e. becoming a part of Girl Genius

1st, 2020 and closes March 1st, 2020 so mark

Magazine

☺ ).

Awards are also given to those

The application period opens January

your calendars now!

who show financial need.

Website: Website:

https://girlswhostem.com/girls-in-

https://iamcybersafe.org/s/

undergraduate-scholarships

stem-scholarship/

6

Women In Computing Scholarship For:

Female undergraduates pursuing

careers in computing. Applicants should be enrolled in a university in the USA or Canada.

They should either have declared their major or completed one year in a technical field, such as computer science, computer

Prize:

The Women In Computing Scholarship,

sponsored by Dotcom-Monitor, is a $1,000 scholarship. The application will open in the fall of 2019!

Website:

https://www.loadview-

testing.com/scholarship/

engineering, or a related field.

Happy searching!

38 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

STEM FOR

EVERYONE 39 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

Justina Chua (left) at a high school engineering conference ran by her friend, Monica Para.

JUSTINA CHUA INTERVIEW

What pulled you toward the fields of tech and hackathons?

Where did you first hear about hackathons?

talents.

Everyone is friendly and

open—attendees, mentors, and organizers alike—so you can reach out to anyone to help you

I got involved in computer science

troubleshoot or learn something

the summer after my freshman

new, like website design or game

year when I decided to take

development. You’re there for 24

Computer Science Honors on a

hours which means that there is a

whim. I fell in love with the

hard deadline of when you have

possibilities technology offered

to complete your project and

after learning about its endless

submit it. At hackathons,

applications. I first heard about

procrastination simply isn’t an

Interviewed by Rebecca Kanter

hackathons in high school, but I

option. It forces you to go out of

Layout by Abby Liang

wasn’t interested in them until I

your comfort zone, learn quickly,

realized that hackathons were

and take what you learn and

about learning and creating tech,

immediately utilize it. It’s not 100%

not literal ‘hacking’.

programming, too; hackathon

Full Name : Justina Chua Preferred Pronouns : She/her Grade : 12th Where I'm From : Chicago, IL

Graphic by Marturia Yami

organizers plan fun events, like

Why should other girls be interested in hackathons?

40 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

dancing and/or games, to ensure that your mind (and fingers!) get

Hackathons are the ideal place to

well-deserved breaks. Chances

learn computer science. First off,

are, you’ll make new friends since

you’re stuck in a venue for

everyone is united through a

(probably) around 24 hours with

common passion for technology.

other tech enthusiasts with

Also, who doesn’t love free food

varying degrees of skills and

and swag?

Justina is the founder & executive director of HAX, a nonprofit dedicated to making computer science education more accessible, one hackathon at a time.

the power of hackathons

Justina (right) at the NCWIT Northern Illinois affilate awards ceremony

What was your motivation in founding HAX? I realized how powerful high school hackathons are in getting people involved in computer science and connecting with others who share the same interests/passions. However, there isn’t much support offered for those who are interested in starting one; MLH is more focused on collegiatelevel hackathons, and it’s difficult as a high schooler to figure out the logistics of a hackathon like assembling a team, finding a venue, getting sponsors, and marketing the event. Through HAX, we make that process easier with our online guides and one-on-one personalized mentorship.

What is the purpose of HAX?

Touring the Google headquarters during the she++ fellowship, where she met other high school girls around the nation

HAX aims to make computer science education more accessible, one hackathon at a time. We provide hands-on assistance to bring these events to life. We also aim to empower girls and minorities in tech, especially at hackathons. By ensuring that they feel welcome and uplifted in such a techcentric environment, we hope that they will continue to pursue computer science in the future. Aside from hackathons, we are also currently working on our ‘workshops’ component, where those with less resources and time commitment will be able to organize workshops at their schools and communities.

41 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

WindyCityHacks, Chicago's largest annual hackathon. Her team won Best Overall for Habit@, which tracks sustainable habits

Have you always been interested in tech/hackathons?

Was there ever a time at which you felt dissuaded from tech/hackathons?

No. Growing up, I never saw technology and computer science as more than their stereotypes.

Whenever I heard words like “programming” and “hacking”, I always envisioned a hooded man typing away furiously in his

Justina & some others helped organize GirlCon, an annual all girls tech conference in Chicago hosted at Google

mother’s dimly lit basement. In middle school, I attended a game design summer program and was, to my dismay, the only girl there.

"I founded HAX to make computer science more accessible and inclusive for girls and underrepresented minorities."

How can Girl Genius Magazine readers and members get involved in HAX? We’re looking for talented individuals to join our team,

Where do you see HAX 1 year from now?

How should girls get started in learning more about tech?

Currently, we’re organizing 10+

Definitely get involved in all-girl

hackathons in over three

tech communities! As a Stanford

countries, including the U.S. We

she++ Fellow, NCWIT Awardee,

hope to continue expanding

and #BUILTBYGIRLS Advisee, I can

across the US and into more

attest to the power of these

countries to reach more people

organizations. Here, you’ll meet

around the world. We're also

other girls around the nation who

partnered with Girls Who Code,

are interested in technology,

#BUILTBYGIRLS, TILE, and

STEM, and gender equality. These

Crowdera. We aim to continue

communities are an incredible

growing our partnerships to reach

resource. Aside from those

more people and garner more

communities, definitely take

support for HAX, whether that be

computer science classes and get

through outreach, swag, and/or

involved in STEM extracurriculars

funding!

at school like Computer Science Club, Science Olympiad,

specifically those skilled in graphic design, writing, social media, marketing, and/or outreach. Our team is a friendly community of high school and college students from all around the U.S. and beyond, united by a passion for technology and helping others. You'll do rewarding work, build meaningful connections, grow skills, and uplift others. Time commitment is just a few hours a week, and is very flexible. If you’re interested in joining our team and making an impact. Apply at bit.ly/haxapply. If you’re interested in starting your own STEM/CS event and getting free mentorship, apply at bit.ly/haxinterest. Hope to work with you, and ad astra!

Robotics, and more! Learn online, too.

42 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

MY STORY OF GENDER IDENTIFYING

& EMPOWERMENT IN ENGINEERING WRITTEN BY: KARINA POPOVICH

LAYOUT BY VANESSA GUO & SHIIVALI GULATI GRAPHIC BY ALAINAH CABRADILLA 43 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

"TO ME, BEING A WOMAN IN STEM WASN’T ABOUT ACCEPTING MALE CULTURE, IT BECAME ABOUT STARTING A FEMALE CULTURE THAT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH ENGINEERING."

I noticed the gap as early as middle school,

Having internalized my inferiority, I felt

when I took my first Robotics class. But I didn’t

uncomfortable embracing my feminine side

feel or realize it until high-school, when I was

during the Girls Who Code summer program

one of 6 girls in a class of 25 boys. It felt like

that I did in 2017. I resisted time after time. I

gym class; where a girl purposely sits out and

laughed in my head as everyone chanted song

doesn’t even try to throw the ball because she

lyrics, and I had a look of disbelief and

knows she will never be as good as a boy when

annoyance when I was asked to chant along. I

it comes to sports.In high school, I couldn’t be

didn’t understand how any of these girls at my

oblivious like I was in middle school. I was

program could wear frilly dresses, floral prints,

constantly aware of the irreconcilable social

or crop tops and become programmers.

circumstance of being me, a woman, and

Clothing has always been a form of expression

pursuing a career in STEM. I was conscious of

for my gender identity, and in order for me to

the lack of women and how that implied that

become a programmer I had to reject my

we are worse at engineering. I felt inferior; I felt

femininity.To me, femininity and tech were

like I didn’t belong, and what’s worse, I felt like

antonyms. I thought that the only way to

everyone knew it. Feeling that everyone knew I

succeed in tech was to embrace its male

was a phony, I couldn’t ask any questions or get

culture. At my worst times, I truly believed that

help because that would only further prove that

the only way for me to be an engineer was to

I didn’t belong. I was stuck in a cycle and I

be a man, to hide my body, hide my femininity

couldn’t get better.I sat myself out, knowing

under oversized t-shirts, act like a man, think like

that I wasn’t good enough and me trying wasn’t

a man, and be like a man. I changed my entire

worth the embarrassment. In my head, boys

personality. I suppressed the enthusiastic and

were naturally better programmers just like they

bubbly me, for fear that guys would consider it

were naturally better at sports. I thought

childish. Instead, I became terse, assertive, and,

femininity was inferior. That’s what my

on occasion, harsh. I figured this was what it

American upbringing told me and above all

would take for me to be one of the top dogs in

that’s what my Ukrainian culture and Russian

the two male dominated spheres that I wanted

community raised me to believe. And it’s what

to pursue: business and engineering.

the tech world verified for me.

44 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

After going to such an extreme emotionally and

I started questioning, do I have to be a guy to

physically, it was only in the last month of 11th

succeed? Can I be a woman and successful

grade, when it was time to buy summer clothing,

at the same time? I realized how much I

that I realized how much I missed being a woman.

appreciated being a feminine. I loved feeling

I had forgotten how much I loved shopping, trying on clothes, and feeling beautiful. And I didn’t want to hide anymore; I wanted to feel sexy in the clothing I wore, and I wanted the world to see me and see how good I felt.That same summer I did a program called LaunchX, during which students built the foundations for a company over the span of a month. While there, I was one of four girls who had STEM experience and the only to have mechanical engineering experience. The atmosphere of the program focused on students’ unique abilities and the value they add.I soon realized that being a female mechanical engineer

beautiful and sexy again. I was slowly starting to love being a woman in STEM. I embraced every bit of myself. I let my bubbly personality permeate through. I allowed myself to be excited. In fact, I loved being excited and seeing how my excitement triggered a domino effect on the people around me. To me, being a woman in STEM wasn’t about accepting male culture, it became about starting a female culture that is synonymous with engineering.While embracing my femininity, I had something to take away from my extreme experience. As a Junior, I needed to learn to be professional and concise when

was the value I was bringing to the program. I

communicating, and my experience gave me

was beginning to love where my value was

the opportunity to do that. I toned down the

coming from. I loved it because it was the result

level of harshness and morphed my skill into

of the years of hard work and challenges that it

its current feminized form. I did the same with

took to acquire it. I earned my value. Seeing how

my assertiveness. I absorbed every positive

respected my skills made me among my male

skill and trait I could, to mold myself into the

peers at the program, I wholeheartedly accepted

best me.Now, as a Senior in High School, I

being both a woman and an engineer.This small

realized that me being a woman in STEM, me

acceptance is what propelled me to participate

daring to defy society, is badass and

in all female hackathons or women’s programs where I began celebrating being a woman. By attending multiple events, hackathons, and programs in my senior year, I began celebrating my femininity and with that, I realized just how powerful it is. I began appreciating everything Girls Who Code still does for me and regretting that I didn’t embrace the beautiful and empowering energy of the summer program.

powerful. Realizing my professional and personal successes has made me accomplished and proud of myself. Above all, I am grateful to be a woman in STEM because my struggle of overcoming a societally induced gender identity is just one example of the resilience that only women are strong enough to have. P.S. Take a look at “Purl”, a Pixar Short, that perfectly illustrates my story.

45 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

46 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

INSTAGRAM: @KARINA.POPOVICH WEBSITE: KARINAPOPOVICH.COM

What inspired you to create a business in a STEM field?

I’ve always liked tech, so when I first started out I was taking marketing and writing classes. I was working in the city during the time right before the heyday of the internet so I took all these tech classes so that I would be able to do a little bit of programming, a little bit of graphic design. I landed a job working at one of the biggest Internet companies, so it was really exciting. I

INTERVIEW WITH BONNIE LIEBERMAN CZUKOSKI CO-OWNER OF ROBOT REVOLUTION, LLC

realized there that that was the direction I wanted to go in. I also grew up in an entrepreneurial family. My dad, although at first a lawyer, fell into engineering as a career. He also liked to invent things as a hobby.

How has your definition of success changed throughout your career?

I think success for everyone is different, but for me it’s just sort of a piece of mind. Looking back on my past jobs and experiences, I wouldn’t say that I wasn’t successful at anything. I think it is important to not

Interviewed by Melanie Herbert and Molly

look back on life viewing yourself as not being

Cantillon from GirlTechBoss Layout Design by Athena Yao

successful. No matter what situation or job I was in, I always worked my hardest and strived to be the best I could.

Bonnie is the owner of Robot Revolution LLC in Summit and soon to be Edison, New Jersey, which runs classes and competitions to introduce kids and teens to robotics. She has a background in journalism and political science from Rutgers University.

Not only is Bonnie interested in business, but she is also passionate about technology and supporting young female engineers and entrepreneurs.

Learn about Bonnie's journey, from starting off as a writer to running her own technology company!

47 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

48 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

What is the funniest thing you have seen at your job?

We have a lot of fun at Robot Revolution. The instructors are always experimenting and building new things just because it is cool or to laugh at. Robot Revolution is located in downtown Summit next to a bunch of retail businesses and I noticed that stores like to put a little dog water bowls outside. I thought it would be fun to do something like that too. So one of the instructors made a robotic dog and dog bowl. We put blue robotics pins in the dog bowl and engineered it so that it would move like water.

What advice would you give to aspiring female tech entrepreneurs?

When I first started working for a big internet company, and that job was sort of my dream job at the time, I had to learn new skills. I took technical classes at NYU and was able to

"I think success for everyone is different, but for me it’s just sort of a piece of mind...No matter what situation or job I was in, I always worked my hardest and strived to be the best I could."

apply by learning to my job. I think the biggest piece of advice that I learned from my experiences is not to feel afraid to learn new skills. When shifting to a new job, you might have to learn new things. It is important to embrace the new skills and not feel afraid.

Photos from some of Robot Revolution's robotics classes!

WHY WE INCLUDE ART

STEM is an acronym that is used to

According to Anne Jolly in Education

represent four academic disciplines—

Week

Science,

Engineering,

struggle to find ways to integrate art

and Mathematics. It is used as a way

into their lessons without shifting the

to promote these fields in education

focus away from STEM, which would

as

STEM

defeat the whole purpose of a STEM-

are

oriented teaching style. “The focus of

many

teaches

Technology,

people

argue

children

that

skills

that

necessary in the twenty-first century.

STEM

However,

and

there

is

another

acronym

Teacher,

is

many

developing

science

rigorous

skills

through

engineering,”

which

you focus on other subjects (such as

There should

is

a

be

the

Arts

into

debate

on

added

into

the

mix.

whether the

Art

STEM

acronym. Why is that—why does the

art)

without

STEM

or

writes,

math

that is less commonly known: STEAM, adds

she

educators

losing

watering

the

down

“How

mission its

can

of

primary

purpose?”

STEAM vs. STEM dilemma exist?

49 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

LAYOUT BY SALMA ALROWAIE

STEAM VS STEM Many people believe a separation between the arts and the sciences is needed, as STEM subjects have always been involved in a constant struggle to keep students engaged. Again, the number one worry is that by promoting STEAM instead of STEM, the focus will shift too much into Art and leave the other letters with little attention.

However, it does not have to be this way. STEAM should be seen as combining art and STEM together to spark creativity and innovation in STEM projects. Zendaya’s MET Gala 2019 outfit displays such creativity in STEM as it used technology to light her Cinderella dress with a flick of the wand, literally. Anna Feldman, an educator who majored in Economics, was always told that Art spectrums

and STEM were entirely separate

that would never meet. Then, she took a college class called “Product Design”

which involved “problem solving, collaborating, and generating ideas, math without thinking about the numbers, from scaling to modeling products to meticulously drafting prototypes with precise angles and measurements”. Such skills are often attributed to STEM classes, but can be found and taught in a variety of other subjects. Moreover, defining principles such as ethics and empathy, which are often lacking in STEM education, can be provided by art education. But how do

ethics

and

empathy

matter

in

a

world

full

of

statistics and mechanics? As STEM fields become more and more advanced and scientists begin to come up with

solutions

question

of

how

comes into play.

GRAPHIC BY ALAINAH CABRADILLA 50 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

to

society’s these

biggest

changes

will

problems, affect

the

humans

HTAM

ECNEICS

Events

such

as

the

Chinese

government

curating an almost Big Brother technology and the possibility of gene editing require not just the skills of a scientist or engineer but

also

the

moral

principles

of

a

just,

normal human being. As Richard Lachman states,

these

“fundamentally

just

don't

technological

become issues”

but

ethical ones as well. These issues can be raised

and

debated

through

literature,

social sciences, and the Arts. For example, Lachman describes the Finland department of

experimentation,

which

aims

to

“bring

design-thinking experimentation into policy work.” These workers have to “be engaged” with

their

coworkers,

with

their

customers

and clients, and with the citizens.

ART

Art should not be neglected, as it is just as important as STEM in many aspects of life.

From the Fibonacci series in seashells to the golden ratio in trees and flowers, both art and

science

are

present

around

us.

It

is

essential to have just as much knowledge

51 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

YGOLONHCET

56

GNIREENIGNE

about the arts as about the STEM fields. In the end, it is definitely not about whether the

arts

and

humanities

should

be

correlated with STEM or not. It is about how an individual can get a quality education that can prepare him or her or them to a be well rounded member of society that has the ability to make decisions that would benefit the world at large in the long run. Perhaps, it is STEAM over STEM, isn’t it?

"develop interests and share

them with your community."

GRAPHIC BY ALICE ZHANG 52 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

Meet Lara Palombi Artist and Aspiring Astrophysicist from New York

Interviewed by Rebecca Kanter Layout Design by Athena Yao Graphic by Esmé Sacks

Above: Lara at work on a science project.

How can your passion for art and astrophysics help each other in the future?

She is building an acoustic levitator that will be able to levitate styrofoam with sound!

Art and astrophysics, to me, are more alike than one would think. In anatomy class, prior to drawing a live model, we study the bone and muscle structures underneath the skin. This is because in order to know how to draw a figure accurately, we must first understand what is happening beneath

"To have a fuller and more complex view of reality, we must first understand the mechanisms behind reality. This is where physics come in."

the skin. With science, I think of it in a similar manner. To have a fuller and more complex view of reality, we must first understand the mechanisms

Museums, more often than not, offer

behind reality. This is where physics come in. (A

amazing resources where students can

good book on how art and perception of beauty translate into physics is ‘A Beautiful Question’ by Frank Wilczek).

learn more about a field and even engage in high school research. also heard that to be a physicist, a knowledge of coding is crucial. So, I did Girls Who Code over the

What advice would you give to other aspiring astrophysicists?

I am still a high school student who is hoping to major in physics in college, so I am not sure if I am qualified to give advice. However, this is what I have been doing to hopefully push myself farther ahead in the game: I take classes at the American Museum of Natural History, and I also recently completed the Science Research Mentoring Program.

summer. This program taught me Python which assisted me greatly in the research program.

From talking to an astrophysicist at the Alfred University Astronomy Camp, I learned that mathematics are also incredibly important. He said to take as much math as possible in high school and college, as a strong math base will assist you greatly in astrophysics. I received a lot of advice simply by asking questions and doing a LOT of Googling.

53 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

How did you get involved in research?

About Me Full Name: Lara Palombi Preferred Pronouns: She/her Grade: 12th Where I'm From: Bronx, NY

After Googling things like “How to be a physicist,” I realized that it was very helpful to be involved in High School research. So, I then googled, “high school research programs NYC.” This is how I discovered the Science Research Mentoring Program. I completed the prerequisite programs, applied, and was accepted.

"When I do art, I enter the zone. When I am painting, I am focusing on whatever I am doing - but I am also thinking about a million different things at once. My mind is flowing freely and I don’t really notice time passing, and I’m not really focusing on art, but it is the most focused I can be."

What resources have helped you the most as an artist and astrophysicist?

I found that the museum was an incredible resource for me to have. Local colleges also sometimes give outreach lectures, which are also helpful. To be honest, the most helpful resource for me at least, was Google. This is where I was able to discover the programs, lectures, and internships.

There are also a ton of websites and YouTube videos that have interviews of astrophysicists. It was helpful to read the interviews and figure out how other people got to the place that I want to be.

Presenting the acoustic levitator at her school’s science fair!

54 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

In what way do you think science and art are similar?

When someone is drawing for the first time, the drawing is generally skewed, disproportionate, and inaccurate. However, as the person draws more and more, the drawings become more and more accurate. As you know, the person is not training their hand, but their eye. As one studies art more, they see reality more vividly, as they are trained to be more attentive to detail.

Science also trains you to be attentive to detail.

Science teachers you about the underlying mechanisms of reality. By having a greater understanding of these mechanisms, one is also

Above: Lara (on right) presenting her astrophysics research

able to see life more vividly, as well. So, in that

project from the Science Research Mentoring Program at

sense, science and art are very similar.

How has your art influenced you?

the American Museum of Natural History.

In a way, physics allows you to enter another reality. Despite the face that it is real and in our

When I do art, I enter the zone. When I am

reality, it is often difficult to conceptualize many

painting, I am focusing on whatever I am doing -

aspects of physics. This separates our reality from

but I am also thinking about a million different

physics, when, in fact, physics IS reality. I find it

things at once. My mind is flowing freely and I

easier to conceptualize physics as something that

don’t really notice time passing, and I’m not really

is a part of our reality, as I already understand

focusing on art, but it is the most focused I can be.

how it feels to be in this world and enter another

It’s hard to describe being in the zone, but I’m sure

reality through the zone.

most people have experienced it. The timeless awareness of being involved in something, whether it be art, music, writing, swimming, or even playing a video game. Anyway, the point is that you almost seem to enter another version of your brain, or even a different reality when you enter the zone.

GRAPHIC BY ESME SACKS 55 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

acoustic levitation

made by lara 56 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

WHY STUDY MATHEMATICS? Written by Billiejean Staggs and Caroline Andrade Layout Design by Athena Yao Photo by Tran Le | Graphics by Esme Sacks

"Mathematics is a subject that allows you to expand your vision of the world. When someone sees an airplane, they might just be seeing some metal tube flying high, but, when a mathematician sees a plane, they are visualizing all the small, complex things that make it possible for an airplane to fly."

A question often arises among those who

Does the name Ava Lovelace sound familiar?

are fascinated with the more logistical

Lovelace was a female mathematician born in 19th-century

sides of life. What exactly does the study of mathematics entail, and why is it so important study it?

England. Despite the animosity surrounding working women of her era, she became an inventor. Through ingenuity and pure work ethic, she created the first basic computer, decades before its time.

Mathematics is the study of quantity,

Actress Hedy Lemarr is similar in many respects. Despite being

structure, space and change. As abstract

known for her provocative movies, Lamarr pioneered unique radio

as that may seem, math is, at its core, a quest for absolutes, definitive solutions

transmissions that eventually lead to the creation of modern wifi.

These two women may have been lost in much of history, but their achievements have remained.

and answers. You may think of long numeric chains, seas of fractions or

And what about Elena Cornaro Piscopia? According to the article

spreadsheets stacked with figures, but

'11 Amazing Women in Mathematics History' from thoughtco.com,

what many don't realize is that math's

"She was a child prodigy who studied many languages, composed

complex equations are in fact roads to

music, sang and played many instruments, and learned philosophy,

simplicity. As Dale Stokdyk, Assistant Vice President of Product Marketing at Southern New Hampshire University, states in his article 'Importance of

mathematics and theology. Her doctorate, a first, was from the University of Padua, where she studied theology. She became a lecturer there in mathematics.� All of these women accomplished amazing things in the field of mathematics and deserve to be more frequently studied.

Mathematics and Why We Study It,' "Believers in better, faster, smarter solutions are often drawn to math.�

57 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

Why study math today?

Education is what makes it possible for us to really understand and learn the unique subject of mathematics. In elementary and middle school, teachers present to kids this new language—numbers—and teach them how to manipulate them in order to solve simple daily problems. Then students get to high school, where all the math becomes harder and more complex. This is when many people start disliking mathematics, because they suddenly can’t understand or solve problems at this level. In this phase of education, students start worrying about college entrance exams and doing well enough to get into their dream college or university, and doing poorly in math certainly doesn’t help things.

Have you watched the movie Hidden Figures? If you haven’t yet, you should—this movie is based on a true story, and it shows one of the many applications of math. It highlights Katherine Johnson, one of the women responsible for the main math sequences in the NASA moon landing project during the Space Race. She helped

In summary, the math used in education has mainly been aimed at teaching kids and teenagers how to solve problems using formulas and numbers. Of course, you need to understand the workings of math problems, but too often, the focus is on memorization of patterns and using a set order of steps to solve problems.

to make it possible for the astronauts to reach space and, inevitably, the moon. Mathematics was directly related to the trajectory of the space capsule, from Earth to open space. Can you imagine how important it was for the calculus calculations to be on the dot for the capsule to land at just the right angle?

A lot of teenagers go directly to college after high school, and it is very likely that many of them will struggle with the transition from high school math to college math. This may happen due to the way that math was taught in their high schools. Before, all they had to do was solve some problems. Now, they actually have to comprehend this complex language. In college, you are asked to understand the actual concepts and workings of math in addition to the situations in which it’s been used before analyzing and solving the problems.

If you are thinking of pursuing a degree in mathematics, do not be worried that there are a lack of career options for this path because there are a ton. Some opportunities include jobs as Statisticians, Operations Research Analysts, Financial and Business Analysts, Accountants, and Digital Analysts. If you take Computer Science classes in college, you can also work in the field of technology to design or refine mobile and web apps. And, of course, there is the option of being a Professor, Researcher or Teacher, whose main job is to give us a better understanding of the world as we know it.

Nowadays, only a relatively small percentage of people truly comprehend what a major in mathematics has to offer in terms of jobs and opportunities. After all, math is not usually discussed in social media or on TV, as it is

So, why should you study mathematics? Well, for one, its

usually not a relevant topic in breaking news or casual

scope extends far beyond classes and exams—it is a part

stories. Thus, not many people know how important

of your life through almost everything that surrounds you,

math really is in the real world, as it has a very

from electronic to simple devices that guarantee more

academic connotation.

comfortable and efficient living. In terms of a career, it gives you the opportunity to be involved in loads of

Many people ask what you can do for a living by

exciting discoveries and innovations.

studying math. Well, there are a ton of possibilities since math is everywhere. The generic thinking about math

Mathematics is a subject that allows you to expand your

today is often related to math competitions and

vision of the world. When someone sees an airplane, they

unsolved math theorems, but too little is known about its

might just be seeing some metal tube flying high, but,

purpose in the real world.

when a mathematician sees a plane, they are visualizing all the small, complex things that make it possible for an airplane to fly.

58 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

final note

Shivali Gulati

How do you show support for your community?

| I show support for

Nhiyhana Nutter

| I show support

Xueyi Lu

| I show support for my

my community by providing free

for my community by bringing

community by regularly volunteering

Coding lessons for students,

underrepresented groups into light

to do community service as part of

volunteering at Hackathons, and

and giving them a platform where

an NGO. I prioritize forming

helping my school run debate

they can truly succeed and learn.

connections with the other students

tournaments.

in my neighborhood. I also dedicate

Audrey Kim Andrea Gonzalez

| I show support

| I show support

myself to charitable causes through

through my community by giving

raising my voice to spread

for my community by providing

back through volunteer work. I’ve

awareness and donating what I can

opportunities for students to learn

been a TA for a local Girls Who

donate.

about their interests and to have

Code club, a food distributor at a

the ability to pursue them.

food bank, and a member of many beach cleanup parties.

Nayanika Singha Chowdhury

| I

Carolina Robledo Velini de Andrade | I show support for

my

community by participating in

show support for my community by

Abby Liang

being an advocate for child rights

community by volunteering and

school tutoring, women

and their education.I try eradicating

promoting STEAM education, such

empowerment and sharing

child labor through awareness

as teaching young girls to create a

opportunities for those that are not

drives,virtual activism and donating

website and leading food drives.

likely to have access to them. Also,

| I show support for my

stationary and clothes to children

volunteer projects related to high

by showing support to all my friends

who have been denied the right to

Ayushi Malhotra

live a normal childhood.I am trying

for my community by encouraging

with personal, academic or work

to bridge the gap between the

discourse and equality through TEDx

issues.

privileged and the less privileged

and a student organization that

students in my community.

empowers young girls.

| I show support

and colleagues that are struggling

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final note Rajvee Patel

| I show support for my community by volunteering at my

local library and encouraging young girls to join Speech & Debate club where their voices and concerns can be heard on political issues.

Sneha Pullanoor

| I show support for my community by educating girls

and conducting workshops to be cybersafe, tutoring students for free, fundraising for a local NGO by selling my artworks, and contributing virtually to organisations which support a noble cause.

Varshini Gopinathan

| I show support for my community by voicing out

opinions of the students at my school through our school’s radio station and by creating several Service as Action plans to help those in need for a greater cause.

Lexie Peltola

| I show support for my community by volunteering in my

local library Teen Advisory Board, where we help put together community events for kids and teens to be more immersed in the world of books. I also volunteer at events such as Diabetes walks, Special Olympics, and homeless shelters, as well as fundraising for local charities and small businesses.

Athena Yao |

I show support for my community by volunteering as a

member of Key Club, serving as a TA at my Chinese school, and running my school's Minds Matter Club. Whether through providing a helping hand around the community or encouraging my friends and cross country/track teammates, I always aim to uplift those around me.

Izzy Lapidus

| I show support for my community by aiding my friends in

achieving their highest potentials and finding their passions. I aim to be a reliable voice when it comes to ‘doing the right thing’ for my friends and fellow peers. I hope to be of inspiration to those around me, an example of someone who has goals and strives to achieve them, no matter the circumstance.

Esther Duong

| I show support for my community by seeking

opportunities to volunteer and help my city and fellow students around me.

90+ Girls, A Strong Community For All LAYOUT BY SHIVALI GULATI 60 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

APPLY FOR ISSUE THREE Are you a female high school or college student interested in Science, Technology, Design, Creative Writing, Engineering, or Mathematics? If so, Girl Genius Magazine is the place for you. Girl Genius is an online magazine created by aspiring girls in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) that provides a platform for girls to learn about women in STEAM, showcase their own projects, and connect with girls nationwide. We are looking for female change-makers interested in spreading education and awareness of the STEAM fields to girls from all over the world through our magazine.

Application Process Learn About Positions: https://tinyurl.com/ggpositions Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/girlgeniusissue3.

If you have any questions, the best way to contact us is at girlgeniusmagazine@gmail.com.

Thank you, Girl Genius Magazine

61 | GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE

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GIRL GENIUS MAGAZINE TEAM

THANK YOU FOR READING ISSUE II! YOU ARE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY

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