REINVENTED ISSUE 07
MYRIA PEREZ A Paleontologist's Unconventional Career
Team Credits EDITOR IN CHIEF Caeley Looney
WRITING Officer: Aparna Rajesh Director: Emily Miller Grace Pfohl Isabel Powell Jenn Toso Lavanya Sharma Luyang Zhang Madeleine Bloomer Madeline Day Meghana Krishna Rachel Mason Samyukta Iyer Sona Popat Sydney Kasner Zhao Gu Gammage
ASK GLORIA Gloria Kimbwala
PUBLISHING Officer: Laura Peckyno Isabelle Tran Patricia Mercado
GUEST WRITERS Courtney Thurston Erin St. Blaine Maddie Lee
CREATIVE CCO: Avika Patel Director: Alice Liu Director: Christine Ao Director: Megan Jacob Manager: Niamh Murphy Manager: Aditi Shinde Manager: Sarah Bargfrede Anoushka Shrivastava Caroline Dinh Faith Lam Jasmine Lin Jolie Miller Joyce Zhao Lisa Lam Lynn Nguyen Maria Fernanda Sagastume Nithya Guduri Reyna Morales Lumagui Rimi Chakravarti Vrinda Bansal
MARKETING CMO: Rachel Weeks Director: Anjali Cherukuri Director: Kaitlyn Davey Director: Marie Young Director: Varija Mehta Manager: Anika Garg Manager: Armita Hosseini Manager: Emma Fedewa Manager: Kristina Lian Manager: Sanjana Yeddula Manager: Sharafa Mohammed Manager: Paola Zapata Gonzalez
Abigail Jolteus Amelie Tran Ayushi Kumar Armita Hosseini Ella Kang Karen Velderrain-Lopez Shakaani Nasankar Shamailah Haque
FINANCE CFO: Erin Mitchell Director: Palak Mehta Manager: Amy Zheng Manager: Avantika Samanta
Manager: Nandini Goyal Manager: Niyati Patel Manager: Sonnet Xu Madeline Feigles Reema Sharma
OPERATIONS COO: Renee Becker-Blau COO: Aly Trevino Director: Nikki Stout Director: Snigdha Saha Manager: Aneesha Kodati Manager: Divya Sharma Manager: Erika Torkildsen Manager: Madhu Suraj Aashni Patel Aisha Lawrey Claire Carvalho Crystal Huynh Devon Langley Jolene Lee Kendall Hoes Olamide Fadahunsi Sharafa Mohammed Shayna Weinstein Vasundhara Bagchi
Allison Maurice Ananya Balaji Andrea Lawrence Cara Stievater Chantelle Faria Estrella Popoca Hannah Warsame Jacleen Nardiello Jessica Paul Joanna John Keerthi Sekar Krisha Khandelwal Madeline Estey Maesen Silva Mariana Toledo Mavis Murdock Miranda Liu Natasha Matta Nirmiti Nerkar Priti Sharma Riya Patel Sareena Patel Sophia Patel Sravya Nagalakunta Taylor Kohnow
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SPECIAL THANKS Andrew Dupuis Carla Sinclair James Cornett Jen Jones Karen Peterson Ruthe Farmer Sherry Huss Xyla Foxlin
Cover photo courtesy of the IF/THEN® Collection. © 2020 Orange Capital Media. All rights reserved.
page 2 | Team Credits
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, W
ell, 2020 was a year, huh? 10/10 would not recommend it to any time travelers out there who might be reading this. Besides the obvious issue of the pandemic and not being able to see our loved ones, we also endured things like “Tiger King” and murder hornets. Despite all of the craziness and hardship that each of us fought against last year, there also was so much good and change that surfaced from it. This issue not only focuses on that good but on the positive changes being made by people just like you, the people I consider the next generation in science and technology. From future astronauts to nonprofit founders to fierce advocates, the stories you will read in the next sixty pages are filled with pure inspiration. Very often, I’m asked for my advice on how young people can get involved in changing the world for the better, but what I think they don’t understand is that young women are already doing it. The next generation is already raising their voices and standing up for what they believe in to create global ripple effects for social good. The articles in this magazine will not only amplify stories of young changemakers but they will also provide you with tips on how to become a successful changemaker yourself. From advice on how to overcome age bias to salary negotiation tactics, we hope to equip you with the spark you need to fuel your own next steps.
What I hope you all will take away from this issue is that age, just like gender, does not define who you are and what you are capable of. Age should never be something that stops you from achieving everything you set your mind to. If you want to start a nonprofit, go for it. I encourage all of you to apply for that internship, seek out that mentor, wreak a little bit of havoc against the social norm, and don’t let fear get in the way while you do it. I’ve always said that in order to produce more diverse solutions, you need to have diverse voices sitting at the table offering their input. However, the work doesn’t stop when you simply have diverse voices sitting at your table; the work must continue until everyone is listening to each other. I think that while we may be a long way from that now, young women will be the key to making that change. And giving the next generation a voice will be essential in making sure our world keeps moving forward. To Infinity & Beyond, Caeley Looney
Letter From the Editor | page 3
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Overcoming Age Bias
"When we are young, it feels like we are waiting for permission to become the person we want to be. But when we wait for someone else’s approval, we prioritize what other people think of us over what we know to be true about ourselves." page 8 | Overcoming Age Bias
By Maddie Lee Trailblazers Doonyah Alucozai, 18, and Saniya Vashist, 18, are bright young founders who didn’t wait for society to grant them permission. By following their passion for STEM, they highlight just how unstoppable you can be when you step into your power. Unwilling to wait for tomorrow, Saniya founded codeHER at the age of 13 after feeling uncomfortable as the only girl in any coding class she took. “I didn't want anyone else who is a girl, a minority, or from a marginalized community to go through that or have that be a problem for them to enter that space,” she says. As a result, codeHER combines computer science skills and leadership skills to empower young women and encourage them to take charge in male-dominated fields. For Doonyah, it was the general lack of classes available in her Indiana suburb that inspired her to start her non-profit, Coderdojo, Anvil on Purdue University’s campus with her sister. Both women began running their non-profits before even reaching high school. However, both women found their capabilities being questioned. Doonyah says when she first started, it was the opinion of others that was challenging. “I had a lot of people telling me not to pursue something like this. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a woman, or I’m Muslim, or a woman of color." Even when she would ask for advice from the parents of friends, who were professors at Purdue, they were more skeptical than supportive. “They’d be like, ‘but you’re so young is this really what you want to do? You should be outside and having fun.’ And I would be like, ‘This is me having fun. I'm confused as to why you think it's not.’” Doonyah says when she first started, it was the opinion of others that was challenging. “I had a lot of people telling me not to pursue something like this. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a woman, or I’m Muslim, or a woman of color."
Even when she would ask for advice from the parents of friends, who were professors at Purdue, they were more skeptical than supportive. “They’d be like, ‘but you’re so young is this really what you want to do? You should be outside and having fun.’ And I would be like, ‘This is me having fun. I'm confused as to why you think it's not.’” Nonetheless, she never let the opinion of others deter her. "I think they undermine my abilities and need to give me a chance. If they don’t give me a chance, I’m going to take one and create one.” She firmly believes that “It's about what I want, what I think the community will benefit from, and how I think I can make an impact in other people's lives.” Initially, when trying to get codeHER off the ground, Saniya would try to censor her age at meetings. “I didn't want to take that risk of delegitimizing what we want to do. I thought if they found out I was 13, it wouldn’t be as professional a partnership or program,” She adds. “But looking back, I would've told myself, ‘Just own it.’ My youth was a strength, and it still is.” Saniya learned to lean into her youth but has still faced a gender and age bias. “When we were having our closing ceremony in Kenitra, Morocco. I was meeting a couple of political leaders, and we had scheduled a time to talk. They were asking for the executive director or CEO of codeHER, and they just walked right past me.”
Saniya Vashist, founder of codeHER, giving a speech. Overcoming Age Bias | page 9
it shows that you were able to persevere. These experiences pile up, and you have confidence at the end of this journey.” “Fake it ‘til you make it” is a popular slogan when it comes to finding confidence. But Saniya says her mentors tell her, “Don’t fake it. Become it.” For Sanyia, her tricks included wearing professional clothing or using extra verbiage. However, she insists that it comes down to “recognizing your ability to get something done. Even if you are young, we all have that potential in us.”
Doonyah Alucozai, founder of CoderDojo, standing alongside with her students.
Although a frustrating incident, she believes her gender and age have never truly hindered her from accomplishing her goals. She noticed that although it might be intimidating at first, “Oftentimes, people are very encouraging and want to build youth up instead of tearing them down.” Fearless in their initiatives and passionate in their pursuits, Doonyah and Saniya have pioneered an inspiring trail for young women. Both are college freshmen, Doonyah at Purdue University and Saniya taking a gap year before entering Stanford University, and we’re keen to see what untapped potential remains for these two. In the meantime, they prove to us that labels, whether it be your age, race, or gender, cannot stop you from becoming who you want to be. Once your labels are redefined to hold the power you want them to have, nothing can stop you from becoming a leader of today. Saniya and Doonyah still have vulnerable moments. Gaining confidence can be difficult, especially in the beginning. "“There are still situations I’m put into that I don't feel comfortable in.” Doonyah disclosed. “But getting through
page 10 | Overcoming Age Bias
ALARY
NEGOTIATION BY: COURTNEY THURSTON
??
The importance of negotiating a job offer cannot be overstated. It is easy—and culturally encouraged — to say things like, “Money isn’t everything.” Indeed, it isn’t, but it is a lot. Women are paid less than men in nearly all fields, tech notwithstanding. Concerningly (or excitingly, depending on who you ask,) research shows that the first salary commanded by a person in their desired field of work can have long-term impacts on their financial trajectory over time. This phenomenon exists for myriad reasons, including that financial incentives like performance bonuses are often calculated as a percentage of base salary, something which new graduates may not be aware of nor attuned to (yet). Though negotiating an already strong job offer may feel a bit like tedious penny-pinching, one of the simultaneously greatest and also most frightening things about money is that it compounds. Just as a series of financial victories can compound on each other and yield increasing interest or dividends over time, so too can seemingly small financial minutiae translate into huge losses over time. Neglecting to negotiate a job offer where possible can mean less base salary, which can mean less performance bonus, which can mean less money saved, which can mean less invested in the market, which can mean fewer dividends, which can mean… hundreds of thousands less for retirement. With that said, don’t panic too much: just recognize the importance of negotiating page 12 | Salary Negotiation
negotiating a job offer if you can. It may feel inconvenient—and some employers may try to convince you that you’re doing too much—but money is important, and negotiating is actually a signal to any company worth its salt that you are a competent candidate. Some other red flags to look out for, company-conduct-wise, when negotiating: mentions of loyalty to the company (why should that translate to to less money for you?), needing to pay dues (forbetter or worse, we live in a capitalist society, so salary is theoretically supposed to be determined by market rate— skills and experience), and other statements which feel like gaslighting. Hold your ground. Feel free to remind a company— politely—that business is business, no hard feelings.
Mistakes to Avoid While many candidates in tech are aware enough to attempt to negotiate, there are a series of errors that you should try to avoid making:
First,
be sure to research market rate salaries only within your sub-fields. While it may be true that software engineers with your experience are making, say, $135k base market space—meaning you’re going to see much lower figures in, for example, academia, government, small firms, and other market segments like aerospace. Take care to compare apples to apples.
Second,
be sure to use the right reasons when negotiating. School name, for instance, is not typically a factor that is weighted heavily in tech fields (this is different than in, say, quantitative trading firms or law firms, where school prestige does tend to be considered.) Other personal factors like student loan debt, family obligations, medical expenses, et cetera should not be brought up in negotiation. Keep it focused on what financial figures are commensurate with your skills and experience according to the market. Typically, factors like cost of living will already be factored into an offer—but do feel free to ask.
Finally,
get creative with negotiation. In tech, many employers will not negotiate base salary but will negotiate factors like stock grants or options, signing or starting bonus, or even sometimes things like relocation or percentage targets for eventual performance bonuses (rare but worth mentioning.) If you find that an employer won’t budge on one factor, try another.
After all, business is business.
Salary Negotiation | page 13
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BECOMING A MULTIDIMENSIONAL ENGINEER WITH
Patricia Garcia
B
BY: LAVANYA SHARMA
orn in a community where STEM was believed to be “better suited for boys,” Patricia Garcia often questioned whether engineering was the right path of study for her. Growing up in Miami’s underserved Hispanic community of Little Havana, the typical response to Patricia’s hope to one day be an engineer was an ill-informed comment along the lines of, “You want to be a mechanic? That’s a man’s job.” She often found herself asking how she would contribute to a field that she had come to believe was designed for a person that she was not. After much reflection, Patricia decided that she would not let societal influences, especially the constraining power of stereotypes, deter her from pursuing what she was truly passionate about. page 16 | Patricia Garcia
Today, Patricia knows she’s made the right decision; she is now a senior in the Honors College at Florida International University on track to be the first graduate of the newly established School of Universal Computing, Construction, and Engineering Education (SUCCEED). Through this program, Patricia is spearheading the brandnew interdisciplinary engineering degree with a concentration in manufacturing engineering and minor in business. Her experiences at the intersection of engineering and business development have shaped her desire to pursue a master’s degree in Engineering Management with a concentration in product development and manufacturing systems. Over the years, she has come to realize that she is passionate about utilizing a systems perspective to collaborate across disciplines and design innovative, human-centered solutions to various 21st century challenges. During Patricia’s early undergraduate years, she traded the typical Miami swimsuit for a lab coat, traveling over a thousand miles from home to take on full-time summer research positions at renowned research universities across the nation. From engineering 3D skeletal muscle tissue at MIT to developing a piezoelectric sensor to detect pressure changes of the radial artery at UC Berkeley, she came to understand the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in order to produce more innovative solutions. Throughout these research projects, she also learned the process of creating and developing new products from initial ideation, researching, sketching concepts, and model-making. These transferable skills prepared her for the shift to industry, despite the remote setting due to COVID-19.
"Do not let your degree limit your opportunities!" UC Berkeley
MIT
Patricia at Berkeley Working in these different roles, Patricia began to realize something was different as she was “writing” her engineering journey: she was more than a one-dimensional engineer, and had identified her passions along the way. While in the Bay Area during her research experience at UC Berkeley, she decided to nurture her entrepreneurial spirit and began working towards the development of a social venture, college thrifts LLC, focused on creating more inclusive and sustainable college campuses. Through this, she learned how to react quickly and effectively to changes while keeping the end user in mind -- in an industry setting, this translated into designing innovative solutions with the user at the core. She was also able to hone in on her technical skills to create value for the users by implementing systems thinking and humancentered design principles. Through the process with her venture, Patricia was able to translate technical success into market success by understanding the users, amounting to over $20,000 earned in pitch competitions and features in various media publications. Being entrepreneurial has allowed Patricia to be more strategic during projects that she undertakes as an engineer.
TECHNOLOchicas In addition to coursework and extracurriculars, Patricia has also focused her outreach efforts to assist the rising generation of Miami STEM leaders, with the goal of inspiring students to delve into the world of higher education and become leaders of their communities. She became involved with TECHNOLOchicas, an initiative of the National Center for Women Information Technology (NCWIT). She also works with the Televisa Foundation, which is designed to raise awareness among young Latinas and their families about opportunities and careers in technology. Her volunteer work focuses on planning interactive tech workshops for Latina girls aged nine to thirteen attending Title 1 schools in underprivileged Miami communities to foster their interests in STEM subjects. Ultimately, Patricia hopes to be an inspiration to others through her career, leadership, and diversity efforts. Patricia Garcia | page 17
Sasha Alston: Becoming An Activist and Author Through Sasha Savvy BY: ZHAO GU GAMMAGE First, there was “Rosie Revere, Engineer.” Then, “How to Code a Sandcastle.” And now “Sasha Savvy Starts It Up.” Sasha Ariel Alston has created and published her own books encouraging girls, specifically girls of color, to pursue STEM. Fueled by her own experiences in STEM, Alston wanted to create books that resonate with girls and redefine the perception of what girls can do. These books encompass Alston’s goal of creating more diversity in STEM by showing young girls that they can accomplish what they put their minds to, regardless of the challenges.
The Basis for the Books While Alston was studying Information Systems at Pace University with the intent of going into the business and management side of the technology industry, she noticed that only about a sixth of the students in her classes were girls. Once, while in school, she was even left out of a group project and forced to complete it on her own. This disconnect she felt between her peers and the gender bias she witnessed in her courses made her reconsider her plans of entering technical fields. Later , however, she learned about people like Bozoma St. John, current CMO of Netflix, who was one of the few women who entered the tech industry after majoring in English. She realized that being one of a few women going page 18 | Sasha Ariel Alston
going into technology with a business degree would be an asset, not a disadvantage. She says, “Technology is a large field, and you can enter it from different backgrounds and explore it in diverse roles....
"You don’t even have to major in STEM to work in the industry...” Alston then took this mindset and applied it to her books. When thinking about how to connect with girls, Alston knew she wanted to teach them that they can incorporate STEM into their daily lives. She realized that books would give girls something tangible to hold onto and reread. She believed that books “would be a great way to connect to children” and started drafting a picture book.
vertical title picture flow
Her first attempts were difficult, given that she had to explain complicated concepts in a simplistic story. Eventually, her picture book became a chapter book with a few illustrations, and Alston found she had more flexibility to craft a story that was entertaining, yet educational, and informative, yet inspirational. But her publishing journey was an even greater challenge than creating the storyline.
Sasha Savvy Loves to Code By her sophomore year, Alston began sending her book to multiple literary agents, the gatekeepers to publishers, but all of them rejected her. Nevertheless, these rejections did not dissuade her. Refusing to give up, she decided to fundraise to publish the book herself with the goal of raising $5,000. She met this amount in just five days. By the end of the fundraiser, she surpassed her goal threefold, raising over $18,000.
Alston did not allow setbacks to stop her from accomplishing her vision. Now she was equipped with the funding to create her book on her own and bring it into the world. When she first promoted her book, Alston did not imagine receiving the level of positive feedback that she did. Her book became a best-seller. To her surprise, it provided her the opportunity to speak at conferences in big tech, to be featured in national publications like Forbes and Huffington Post, and even to be part of the Disney Dream Big campaign. These unforeseen opportunities allowed her to expand her book’s audience globally and for her to emerge as a public figure, thought leader, and STEM advocate. “Being a public speaker allowed me to build up my confidence, inspire girls, and connect with so many phenomenal women in tech..” Her first book, Sasha Savvy Loves to Code (2017), focuses on Sasha Savvy, an amateur coder who is hesitant about attending coding camp. Encouraged by her mother, a software developer, Sasha Savvy attends the camp with her friends and gains both coding knowledge and confidence. Alston’s second book, Sasha Savvy Starts It Up (2020), follows Sasha Savvy and her friends as they attend a hackathon, which combines coding and entrepreneurship. The book chronicles how they start their own business, going from developing an idea to acting on it. Going forward, Alston wants to shift her focus from publishing books to expanding her brand by creating Sasha Savvy merchandise. By writing books and developing Sasha Savvy, she wants a space for girls to feel empowered to do anything they want. With hopes of creating an online Sasha Savvy store, Alston hopes to add a personal touch to girls’ relationships with her books. Sasha Savvy Loves to Code and Sasha Savvy Starts It Up exemplify new, unconventional ways girls can go into STEM because it shows them how to integrate STEM into their daily lives, solve a myriad of problems, and confidently explore their passions. “I want girls to know that they can be leaders, inventors, and CEOs, if they choose.” Sasha Ariel Alston | page 19
ABIGAYLE
PETERSON TECH INNOVATOR FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
BY: SAMYUKTA IYER
Magnifying Wellness After gaining confidence in web development, the next step in Peterson’s journey was developing an iOS app for a local dental hygiene business to facilitate file tracking and organization for each patient. The business needed an app to “effectively bridge the gap between the community, senior citizens from lowincome areas, and technology.” Peterson built one using React.JS, creating a database to track various patient records and a simple, interactive UI (user interface) for patients. “After building that app, it sparked this passion for entrepreneurship and innovation within me, [and I realized] that I could do more than just coding and actually code for a purpose. It really helped encourage me and realize that I can code to help people who may not be able to help themselves.” After this experience, Peterson began programming Magnify Wellness and building Mental Health Forever, a database of over 1000+ resources currently being used by the Western Washington University Honors Program. However, this journey to impact came with many challenges. “I had to overcome so many different roadblocks that made me seriously just want to throw my computer out of the window,” she remarked. ## | delete page 20 | Abigayle if right page Peterson
COVID-19 has brought drastic changes to all of our lives, but in these times of hardship, many young people have stepped up to solve issues and make a difference through technology and leadership. A prime example of this bold leadership is seen in Abigayle Peterson, a freshman at Western Washington University studying computer science. Peterson is the founder of Magnify Wellness, an international nonprofit whose mission is to ensure equity and equality in mental health support through outreach events and technology. Peterson found her passion for computer science and technology after attending an Hour of Code event as a seventh-grader. “Growing up, I really liked playing the Pokemon and Nintendo games, so I was really excited to learn how to make video games like that.” Although the experience itself was mostly simplified block programming, it had a major impact on Peterson. “I was just so fascinated by how you can connect little blocks together to create something beautiful- creating something out of nothing.” Later, she began developing her skills and learning more through Codecademy, spending hours coding desktop applications in Ruby or developing a text-based game in Python. “I felt a sense of empowerment while coding, and since then, I've been coding website desktop apps and helping build websites for startups. I just love doing it.” delete if left page | ##
In addition to actually programming the app herself, Peterson faced obstacles when publishing on the App Store, struggling with vague critiques and errors. “I was very discouraged because I had spent months on this project. To hear that my design wasn't good enough, really, really hurt.” However, focusing on the ultimate goals and purpose of her project motivated Peterson to push through these challenges. She changed her approach after gaining insight from other women who had faced similar challenges with the App Store and then submitted a video demonstration of the app with redesigned tabs. Finally, after clearing the code critiques and interview, Magnify Wellness was accepted onto the App Store in September 2020. Since their founding in June, they’ve impacted over 51,000 youth internationally through events, marketing campaigns, and their Slack community. “My team is a very diverse group of over 83 individuals from around the globe trying to make this world a happier place, so doing all this in the middle of a pandemic has been empowering. I'm doing all that I love while coding and helping people with their mental health.” Peterson has also been featured in 10+ articles, the “And This is How it Started” podcast, and given 15+ presentations on her STEM journey and work with Magnify at events such as TechTogether, Helloo Hacks, She Creates Makeathon, Girl Genius Magazine, Desircle, and much more. In the future, Peterson hopes to continue expanding and improving Magnify, including launching their ambassador program, expanding through international chapters, and improving their AI-driven chatbot, Maggie. In addition to her work on Magnify, she will also be interning as a software engineer at Bank of America next summer. “In terms of my career, I hope to be a software engineer focusing on AI and robotics.” Peterson also wants to continue mentoring, as her own mentors have been crucial in achieving her full potential within STEM and reinforcing the importance of not giving up amidst adversity. “It's really cliché to say, ‘Oh, don't give up, you can do it,’ but it's so crucial to have mentors who believe in you when you have a hard time believing in yourself, so I hope to give back and mentor more aspiring women in STEM and female entrepreneurs.” ## | delete if right page
Peterson also offered valuable advice for future young entrepreneurs and innovators in STEM. “When I was first starting in computer science, I wish I had all of these amazing communities of women in STEM who are uplifting each other to pursue their goals, like NCWIT, #BUILTBYGIRLS, Grace Hopper Celebration, and the Girl Genius communities.” These communities are extremely valuable when facing obstacles, in addition to mentorship. In terms of skill development, Peterson highly recommends learning to code, regardless of what career field you want to enter. “In the future, coding’s probably going to be a required skill to learn, like learning Spanish or French, because it's so relevant. I think that it's really important to have a really solid foundation in coding and then keep growing your skills.” Finally, as you seek out all these opportunities, it’s critical to avoid comparison. “Even now, I still find myself scrolling on LinkedIn and marveling at other people's accomplishments, but the truth is, comparing yourself doesn't do any good for you. It’s important to realize that comparison is normal, but, to overcome that, you must focus on the good that you've already accomplished, whether that's mentoring someone or learning a new coding language. Just by trying, you are making an impact.” Overall, find your community and mentors, learn to code, and “focus on the impact that you've already made because you're doing great.” Abigayle delete Peterson if left page | page | ## 21
The Will for WiTech: WHY
AUDREY PE
Created a Nonprofit Organization BY: ZHAO GU GAMMAGE
Think of an engineer. Who comes to mind? Bill Gates? Steve Jobs? Sheldon Cooper? For fifteen-year-old Audrey Pe, those were the people she thought of. Growing up as a girl in the Philippines, Pe held the idea that only middle-aged white men could be in STEM careers, not her. Now a freshman at Stanford University, she thinks of women like Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code. Hoping to redefine the idea of who can be an engineer, Pe created her nonprofit organization, WiTech.
In school, Pe’s computer classes consisted of creating Word documents and spreadsheets, and her first exposure to computer science was playing a coding game. When she asked her teacher for additional resources to learn more about computer science, she was told to look online. And that’s exactly what Pe did. She spent countless hours on YouTube, code.org, and Codecademy and became enthralled with what she learned. When Pe decided she wanted to study STEM, she received mixed responses. Her peers called her “really brave,” since she was one of only two girls in her ninth grade class who were planning to pursue STEM. Her teachers, on the other hand, condescendingly told her, “you aren’t a good fit for tech.” She went home from school that day, remembering her teachers’ doubts and rethinking her decision about pursuing STEM. “I doubted myself because I had a lack of role models for women in tech.” “I doubted myself because I had a lack of role models for women in tech.” page 22 | Audrey Pe
When she attended local tech conferences in Manila, Philippines, she was often the only woman and teenager. Society in the Philippines is very wait-yourturn, so the idea that Pe, with very little tech experience, was trying to enter the field caused much skepticism. People chided her, making comments like “Shouldn’t you be in school?” She noticed that often, none of the speakers or judges at tech events were women. Wanting to hear more from female voices in tech, Pe created a blog entitled “WiTech.” This gave her a new outlet to share her observations from hackathons and tech media. “How can girls enter tech when they have such distant role models? The goal of WiTech was to educate, inspire, and empower youth to break gender barriers and use tech to make a difference in society, ” explains Pe. Over time, Pe realized that the blog didn’t have as great of an impact as she had wanted. She began to question the purpose of WiTech: “What good is inspiration if there is no action?” Soon after, she decided to recruit other girls to help expand WiTech into a nonprofit, which eventually hosted their own women in tech conference.
Hosting their own conference did not come easy, though. Pe and her team had to work tirelessly securing a venue, speakers, and sponsors. Their goal of hosting one of the first women in tech events for young women was met with many hurdles. Despite this adversity, their event marked WiTech’s transition into community organization, and became a nonprofit in 2019. Pe reflects how she is, “still realizing the full extent of what we were able to do that day.” Now four years since WiTech’s creation, the nonprofit has expanded into multiple countries and is still growing. In the past few years, Pe has begun thinking on a macro level, focusing on sustaining WiTech’s core values while working with chapter coordinators on specific aspects, such as partnerships and fundraisers. She thinks about the impact of future actions and where she wants WiTech to go. “When starting a nonprofit, you have to be comfortable with not having a strict plan. It’s important to have an overall problem you want to help solve and work from there,” Pe advises.
Since that first coding game, Pe has been captivated by computer science, but exploring this interest has led her to face opposition both from her teachers and people in the field. Through creating WiTech and her efforts pursuing STEM, she has learned the importance of finding a collaborative community and a strong support system. When first developing WiTech, she relied on a group of like-minded girls who were all working toward a common goal. Now in its fifth year, WiTech is more than a nonprofit organization; it is a community for anyone -- regardless of their gender or socioeconomic status -- to freely explore STEM. Going forward, Pe intends to expand WiTech’s impact, both in the Philippines and abroad. Pe has grown from the girl without role models to being the role model herself. I didn’t imagine myself creating this kind of supportive community.
I didn’t imagine myself creating this kind of supportive community.
Learning how to create and sustain a nonprofit has proven to be a team effort, and Pe has come to rely on a larger group of people, not just herself. Running WiTech has allowed Pe to develop interdependence with other organizers and an understanding of her limits. She hopes to further expand her impact in other countries and deepen her impact in the Philippines. In her home country, she wants to share more STEM resources with local schools so that their communities can introduce children to technology and change the infrastructure of education. In other countries, she wants to open more WiTech chapters and equip students with resources to tackle gender inequality and promote diversity. She hopes to expose more young people to the wonders of technology so that the field “reflects diverse people so that it can serve the most people.” Audrey Pe | page 23
Bailey Burns: CHANGING THE FUTURE OF SPACE MISSIONS BY ABIGAIL JOHNSON
Bailey Burns is an engineer from Colorado who has her hopes set on the stars. As a student with a background in engineering, a sub-orbital spaceflight trainee, and a participant in a recent analog mission, Burns has made it her mission to excel in the space industry. Not only does Burns enjoy studying the possibility of space, but she also aspires to protect the outer space environment. Burns currently works at Paragon Space Development Corporation as a systems engineer, where she focuses on the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) that keeps astronauts alive in space. She is helping to develop the Human Lander System that will hopefully fly astronauts from a spacecraft in orbit around the Moon down to the lunar surface. She began her journey in engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, where she graduated in 2018 with a degree in mechanical engineering. “I thought I was going to be a journalist,” Burns says. “And then I got into this engineering school and was like ‘I guess I’ll try the engineering thing. We’ll see how this goes....’ Because I didn’t have this idea of the dream engineering job, when I went into engineering, I was just kind of an open book.” However, she quickly found her place when learning about space in one of her classes and decided to continue down that road. Burns is currently still studying at the Colorado School of Mines in pursuit of a master’s degree in Space Resources. Her interest in the efficient use of outer space and its resources is also fueled by her desire to protect the space environment. "Specifically, we need to page 24 | Bailey Burns
use the [space] resources so that we can go to space,” explains Burns. “But we don’t want to destroy space like we did Earth. So it’s trying to figure that stuff out before we make those mistakes instead of trying to clean it up.” Her most recent work was done in a small isolated environment in Hawaii. For 14 days, she was on an analog mission: a mission on Earth designed to mimic the conditions of completing a similar mission in space. Her assignment was to conduct various biology experiments by collecting lava tubes from the side of a volcano for NASA research. This means she had to perform extravehicular activities (EVAs) as if she was on the lunar or martian surface in a spacesuit.“ “All the analog astronauts are like ‘Quarantine is basically an analog mission,’ and it’s so true,” explains Burns. “It’s like pretending you’re living on a different planet.” She spent two weeks with six other crewmates in a Hab, a simulated space living area, isolated from the world just as if she was living on Mars. This simulation allows for observation of crew dynamics in closed environments during the mission. Burns recalls the isolation being an interesting experience with few distractions. As the youngest and the least experienced in the field of biology, she had to quickly adapt to the work environment, but she was still able to build solid relationships with her crew members through social fdsfdfs
activities and the experience of living in isolation. “It was very much a learning opportunity for me, and I think that’s the main point of why analog missions are so important,” Burns says.
“You start uncovering these things about yourself that you didn’t know so you can be ready for space.”
This is important for crew dynamics and competing missions goals while living in space. In the future, Burns hopes to continue to have more extraordinary experiences in the industry with the possibility of traveling to space herself. But most of all, she wishes to share her experiences with others in order to persuade and inspire younger generations to aim for the stars.
Burns describes these analog missions as important for understanding how future astronauts will be able to live and work in the space environment. Figuring out the problems here on Earth will improve safety measures for humans in space and will allow for mission planners to predict what problems these astronauts may encounter. Analog missions also help scientists understand how people in small isolated areas bond and work together in specific situations or conditions.
Bailey Burns | 25
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KI’ILANI ARRUDA
BIOLOGY AND BEA MEET KI'ILANI BY: SYDNEY KASNER
This year’s Miss Teen USA perfectly exemplifies that there is no “right” way to look or act as a young woman pursuing a career in STEM. You might be surprised to learn that Miss Teen USA, Ki’ilani Arruda of Hawaii, graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA and now studies biology in college. Eventually, she aspires to become a doctor. As a student athlete and brainiac, some have wondered where Ki’ilani found the inspiration to do pageants. She admits that her mom signed her up for her first pageant two years ago and that she was initially nervous about the public speaking that would inevitably be involved. Thankfully, her experiences so far have actually helped her overcome this anxiety! Ki’ilani says these competitions have taught her to be more self-reflective: “Pageants have helped me become comfortable with who I am, [because] with pageants you have to know yourself inside and out.” In addition to introspection and public speaking, Ki’ilani also appreciates that pageants have helped her to practice networking—being involved in pageants meant surrounding herself with driven, successful young women from all over the country. She has been lucky to find several empowering mentors as well. Ki’ilani shares, “I’ve had so many amazing people encouraging me and pushing me to do my best. That’s just really what it is, is me doing my best and taking every opportunity that I can with this.” All of the benefits of competing will surely help this year’s Miss Teen USA as she enters the next chapter of her life: college!
Miss Teen USA Begins Her STEM Education An exciting part of being crowned Miss Teen USA is the substantial scholarship that comes along with it. This scholarship will help Ki’ilani finance her education at the University of Puget Sound, where she studies cellular and molecular biology in order to optimally prepare her for medical school in the future. Ki’ilani is most passionate about dermatology; she says that her personal experiences with skin problems have made her aware of how dramatically dermatological struggles can impact someone’s self confidence. “I want to help other people feel confident in their own skin and take their power back. That’s so important for teens [especially], to feel confident,” Ki’ilani explains. A future dermatologist might expect 12 to 14 years of education after high school. The schooling requires an undergraduate degree (typically four years), four years in medical school, and finally at least four years in residency training. Thankfully, this teen loves school and isn’t bothered at all by a lengthy education! Page 28 | Biology and Beauty Pageants
I WANT TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE FEEL CONFIDENT IN THEIR OWN SKIN AND TAKE THEIR POWER BACK.
UTY PAGEANTS: ARRUDA, MISS TEEN USA Representing the Aloha Spirit In addition to healthcare, Miss Teen USA is passionate about raising awareness for autism and other disabilities. Part of competing in a pageant often includes outlining a platform to highlight your passions or create a focus for future advocacy and volunteering. The platform Ki’ilani created in her state title involved educating the public on autism and acting as a voice for her little brother Channing, who has autism and is non-verbal.
2020
#CHANNINGSVOICE Ki'ilani's platform focusing on Autism Awareness
kiilaniarruda.com/channingsvoice.html
Ki’ilani explains, “[I wanted to] share my experience, and I hope I get to share other experiences too, and create a positive community for people with disabilities and educate the public about people with disabilities.” The love and affection Miss Teen USA has for her brother is obvious to everyone around her, and her smile brightens whenever she talks about him. Ki’ilani and her mother obtained their Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) licenses together in order to help Channing and other people like him that may benefit from special behavioral therapies that focus on positive reinforcement and improving communication skills.
Biology and Beauty Pageants | page 29
In her new role as Miss Teen USA, there are many opportunities to look forward to, but Ki’ilani is most excited to work with Best Buddies, a nonprofit promoting partnerships with people that have intellectual or developmental disabilities. Her platform of inclusivity and love reflects her personal values while also representing the Aloha Spirit of Hawaii. If you haven’t been to Hawaii or aren’t familiar with the culture, there is actually an existing state law about the Aloha Spirit! This quote from the statute describes it well: “The ‘Aloha Spirit’ is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It brings each person to the self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others.” It is clear Ki’ilani represents Hawaii well. She has a big heart and hopes to give back to the world a little bit every day, using her new spotlight to create change.
IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING
Buddies: t s e B CHECK OUT:
bestbuddies.org/
The ‘Aloha Spirit’ is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. Where To Begin? If you are feeling inspired by Ki’ilani, you can follow in her footsteps. Don’t be afraid to take on a new challenge, like trying out for your school sports team, joining an interesting club, or maybe even entering a pageant! A few short years ago, Ki’ilani had no idea she would love pageants and certainly never thought she would become Miss Teen USA one day. Everyone starts somewhere. Stick to your goals and passions, and you are bound to achieve great things.
Page 30 | Biology and Beauty Pageants
Myria PEREZ
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A Paleontologist's Unconventional Career BY: MEGHANA KRISHNA
Myria Perez’s fascination with dinosaurs began when she could barely hobble on two feet. Many of her earliest memories include playing with dinosaur toys and scavenging for “fossils” in her backyard. “My mom used to sew me dresses with dinosaurs on them,” Myria laughs. “That’s how obsessed I was.” Unlike most kids, Myria never grew out of her dinosaur phase. Today, she works as a fossil preparator at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, Texas. The twenty-five-yearold paleontologist is dedicated to educating others about the challenging and impactful work paleontologists do. “When we talk about STEM, we typically think engineering, computer science, or medicine,” Myria says. “Paleontology doesn’t get as much attention as those fields, and I want to change that.”
When most people hear “paleontology,” they think of velociraptors and T-rexes. However, the field encompasses much more than that — National Geographic describes it as the study of the entire history of life on Earth. Paleontologists use fossils, which contain the remains of ancient organisms preserved through natural processes, to unlock clues about the state of life throughout various periods in history. Fossils can help scientists understand how ancient organisms lived, ate, reproduced, and adapted to their environment. They can also explain why certain species have gone extinct and how life on Earth has evolved over time. Due largely to fossil evidence, scientists today can model the climatic and geographic conditions of Earth across millions of years.
the age of 12, she began volunteering at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The experience made her passion for the field grow tremendously.
As Myria grew older, her interest in branched out beyond her toy box. At the age of
She eventually completed a dual major in geology and anthropology (subjects she f.
“It felt like home,” Myria recalls. “I loved being surrounded by people who were so passionate about what they did.” She was taught to clean and prepare fossils and had the opportunity to go digging at an excavation site. David Temple, the museum’s associate curator, became a mentor to Myria. “He’s the one who first taught me how to fossil prep. He took me under his wing and was such an important part of my volunteer experience.” Myria, who is still in touch with Temple, praises his guidance and credits him with shaping her interests within the field.
Myria Perez | page 33
paleontology, particularly fossil preparation. “Fossil prep has an artistic component — there’s something so therapeutic about it,” she says. Shortly after graduation, Myria began working at the Perot Museum as an entry-level fossil preparator. Much of Myria’s day involves carefully extracting and preserving fossils. Under the careful eye of a magnifying glass, she uses an array of tools, including toothpicks, q-tips, and drills called air scribes, to pick away at the rock surrounding an object of interest. Myria also educates museum volunteers and visitors on fossil preparation. The museum regularly hosts events like Social Science Night, where employees present their work to the public. The best part of the job, according to Myria, is going on field excavations. Local fossil hunters who find an item of interest in a nearby fossil park often notify the museum, and paleontologists like Myria are tasked with uncovering the potential fossil. Most of the time, what people actually find are round rocks called nodules that are mistaken for eggs, says Myria. However, excavation requests will occasionally produce a real fossil.
(subjects she felt were most relevant to paleontology) at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas. In the summer of 2017, Myria was granted an internship at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Paired with a museum curator, Myria completed a research project on the ichthyosaurus’s extinction. She also studied some of the fossil specimens from Mary Anning, one of the world’s first female paleontologists and Myria’s idol. Additionally, she was invited to work on the “Sea Monsters on Earth” exhibit at the Smithsonian, where she prepared some of the specimens on display and designed content for the exhibit. For her senior thesis at SMU, Myria prepped and analyzed a newly discovered fossil specimen from an animal called the eunotosaurus, a likely ancestor of turtles. Through the experience, she learned she favored the hands-on side of paleontology, particularly fossil preparation. page 34 | Myria Perez
Myria’s work as a paleontologist has invited opportunities beyond the museum. In 2019, Myria was appointed an IF/THEN ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Nominated by the Perot Museum, Myria is one of 125 women nationwide serving as a role model to inspire girls’ interest in STEM. IF/THEN (named after the phrase, ‘IF we can support a woman in STEM, THEN she can change the world’) is an initiative geared toward educating middle school girls about opportunities in STEM. Studies show girls start to lose interest in STEMrelated subjects around pre-adolescence, and IF/THEN ambassadors are tasked with reigniting that interest. As part of her role, Myria attends in-person summits, shares her STEM story through outreach initiatives, and engages with entertainment and media outlets as opportunities arise. One of Myria’s most noteworthy media stints was her feature on CBS’s Mission Unstoppable, an Emmynominated television series showcasing female innovators in STEM working on the cutting edge of science. Myria guest-starred on the show hosted by former Nickelodeonguest
Article cover photo courtesy of the IF/THEN® Collection. © 2020 Orange Capital Media. All rights reserved.
Nickelodeon star Miranda Cosgrove in May of 2020. In her ten-minute segment, Myria shared a typical day in the life of a paleontologist and explained how fossils are extracted from rock. “It was an incredible experience,” Myria says. “At the museum, I’m able to share that kind of information with visitors, but having the opportunity to go on Mission Unstoppable allowed me to reach a national audience.” In addition to her ambassadorship duties, Myria occasionally speaks at Girl Scouts workshops. As a former scout, Myria sees workshops and other events as a chance to give back to the organization that shaped her so profoundly. Myria was the recipient of the Girl Scouts Gold Award (the highest honor to be earned as a Girl Scout) in 2012 for her work on an interactive touch cart she created for the Houston Museum’s Morian Hall of Paleontology. She spent nearly 130 hours excavating andpreparing fossil specimens, creating content for the exhibit, and educating visitors about the ancient life and geology of the Early Permian Age. (Beginning about 300 million years ago, the Permian age was the last period of the Paleozoic Era and culminated in the mass extinction of dinosaurs and most marine invertebrates). “Girl Scouts taught me how to set goals and achieve them in a timely manner when earning badges or selling cookies to earn money for our troop. Learning these skills early gave me the confidence to continue on my path in paleontology.” Myria’s endeavors have kept her more than busy, earning her little time to ponder the future of her career. However, she hopes to one day become a manager at a fossil lab and possibly explore academia. “I’d like to eventually try my hand in some kind of a people-focused, educator role,” she adds. She encourages anyone interested in paleontology or the natural sciences to find a mentor and investigate which subfield(s) they find most appealing. For example, paleontologists can focus on specific species, explore paleobotany (the study of plant fossils), or study environmental markers like fossil traps. Aspiring paleontologists should also expect to eventually need an advanced degree (most paleontologists have doctorates and work in academia).
“Definitely get in touch with a paleontologist and find volunteering or shadowing opportunities,” Myria advises. “Get a feel for what the day-to-day work looks like — school doesn’t really prepare you fully.” Employment opportunities in paleontology aren’t always the easiest to come by. Networking is critical to getting your foot in the door, Myria says. However, she is certain anyone willing to put in the work will find a fulfilling and exciting career. Myria feels incredibly lucky to work in a field aligned with her passions — by continuing to share her story and engage with young women, she hopes paleontology can become accessible to a more diverse group of people. Want to keep up with Myria’s latest paleontological expeditions? Be sure to follow her on Instagram (@paleontologica) and Twitter (@perez_myria). Myria Perez | page 35
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TIPS FOR SURVIVING IN A HOME OFFICE BY: JENN TOSO
The COVID-19 pandemic has adjusted what normal looks like in work and play for the entire world. People now need to take social distancing and a myriad of other safety measures into account in every facet of daily life. Whether a person is still going into the office or taking online classes, the way people conduct business and go to school has drastically changed -- millions of people, regardless of age, are now working and/or studying from home, and many had no previous experience in doing so. What started out as a temporary fix has become a part of the new normal for many folks, and the novelty is wearing off. As most have discovered, the couch, bed, or cluttered kitchen table is not an ideal workspace. Whether it’s a tug on the shirt from a little person looking for attention, ignoring the daily lunch requests, or a furry friend constantly trying to sit on your laptop, the need for a designated workspace becomes apparent.
HERE ARE THREE TIPS THAT CAN HELP YOU SURVIVE WORKING IN A HOME OFFICE: Creating a quiet space to get things done is crucial to working or studying from home. A separate room would be ideal, but if space is an issue, use the kitchen or dining room table if there’s no other option. However, make sure people at home know that space is offlimits while work is in progress.
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DESIGNATE A WORKSPACE
Avoid using an occupied bedroom. Creating space in a bedroom may seem like a quick fix, but it allows work to creep into daily life. It’s hard to shut down at night when office or school work is within reach — it’s too tempting to get up and extend working hours past a healthy limit. The goal is to have a place to get comfortable, organized, and mentally prepared to get to work, that still allows a good work-life balance. The Center for Disease Control recommends maintaining a consistent sleep schedule along with getting regular exercise to help avoid the stressors of working from home. Setting a designated end time for work and staying connected with coworkers and friends is very important in these days of social distancing. Scheduling a coffee meeting over Zoom is a great way to bring back a little normalcy to the office environment, and good mental health is essential for a productive workday. page 36 | Surviving in a Home Office
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HOME OFFICE SET UP
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The home office should function essentially as an on-site office or study space. It should contain a good office chair that is comfortable yet sturdy. Other necessities include a good keyboard along with a monitor, mouse, speakers, and a webcam for online meetings. If it fo\ is possible to bring items from the on-site office home, that works operfectly! perfoff If that is not the case, ask leadership or co-workers for guidance on how to get those items. If there are family members at home during work or school hours, discussing availability is a good idea. Putting a sign on the office door or somewhere in the workspace would help establish work hours and availability. Family members need to know that working from home means exactly that: working. Getting the office set up is another way to bring some normalcy back into the environment and get mentally prepared for work or school while at home.
Surviving in a home office boils down to organization, connection, communication, and good mental health. Setting aside space, time, and boundaries that pertain to work or school sets a clear work-life balance. Knowing when to focus on work and school goals and when to turn work off is the most significant factor in successfully working or studying from home.
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The most important thing: don’t panic. Unintentional chaos is a normal part of life. Accepting that is key to minimizing stress levels. Videos will fail to play, presentations will stall, speakers will go silent, and people will inadvertently walk into the room during meetin meetings or classes. It’s inevitable. Tackle the issues as they come ups and perfoff learn from them. If a Zoom or other online meeting is not working reschedule ,emlsch it. If people walk into the room repeatedly during video chats, get up and shut the door. Moments such as these are days when remembering to wear pants will be critical! Remember: the entire world is learning to manage this new digital life together. Nobody is in this alone.
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Surviving in a Home Office | page 37
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Undergraduate Researc HERS
A SERIES BY DAPHN E FAUBER
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Abigayle Moser. Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University Abigayle Moser began her undergraduate research career several months after she started at Iowa State University as an aerospace engineering major. Now, she is a sophomore and has been involved in several renewable energy-focused labs and research projects at two different universities.
Moser got into research through the First Year Honors Mentor Program, a program at Iowa State through which freshmen honors students have the opportunity to do research with an Iowa State faculty member as their research mentor. Through this program, she joined Dr. Hui Hu’s lab with the Iowa State Icing Wind Tunnel, located in the Wind Simulation and Testing Laboratory. Moser tested various de-icing methods and ran flow diagnostics for use in the aero industry. The work Moser did in Dr. Hu’s lab introduced her to the exciting world of research, and she was able to present the work she assisted in during her time in the lab. “Getting into research felt natural because it’s a way to genuinely make an impact,” Moser explained, “and it's a way of being able to apply science in order to create change.” However, while it was a foundational experience, working in the Icing Wind Tunnels was not the change Moser wanted to make. Part of the way through her first semester, Moser attended a lecture from a visiting professor from Purdue University about his work using wind turbines as a means of creating responsible and
responsible and sustainable power in low-resource areas. Moser strongly connected to the subject matter due to its focus on renewable energy and social justice. After his presentation, she approached him and asked for a job and, that Summer, found herself working at the Purdue University Maha Fluid Power Research Center. Moser’s favorite research project she has worked on so far is the project at Purdue University, for which she was able to travel to Peru and conduct research on providing renewable energy to impoverished areas through the development of microgrids. During the three-week trip, she spent time in mountainous regions of Peru, areas that are traditionally relegated to be “off the grid” due to the difficulty of building and maintaining power infrastructure. The group worked with local universities and community members to develop and test microgrids that could provide power to these areas and help improve quality of life.
“I liked that project because of how interdisciplinary it was. We had experts from a variety of fields that were passionate about what they were doing and were all working together to make change,” Moser described.
page 40 | Undergraduate ResearcHERS: Abigayle Moser
“The hardest thing about research is starting it… it’s about being able to push yourself to do something different.” Since then, Moser’s research portfolio has continued to diversify. She has worked with nanosurfaces, superhydrophobic coatings, particle image velocimetry (PIV), flow diagnostic methods, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). She doesn’t plan on stopping her work anytime soon. Moser aspires to become a professor at a research university and continue being a part of interdisciplinary projects that use renewable energy systems to make a difference in the world. Short term, Moser plans on continuing to do research and pursuing a Ph.D., using her research as a means of combating climate change and promoting sustainable energy. For those who are considering getting into research, Moser has this to say, “The hardest thing about research is starting it…it’s about being able to push yourself to do something different.” She highly encourages undergraduates to seek out opportunities to contribute to their fields and have fun doing so.
Raegan Harrington, psychology major, University of Maine
The instructor for one of Harrington’s classes approached her about joining the lab they worked in due to her exemplary performance throughout the course, and Harrington has been in the lab since. “Undeniably, joining a research lab was the best choice I made in terms of gaining significant research opportunities... I encourage [people] to think about their general research interests and join an active research laboratory with related research topics,” Harrington explained.
Raegan Harrington, a senior at the University of Maine, Orono majoring in Psychology, knew she wanted to pursue a career in psychology after taking the associated Advanced Placement class in high school.
“I always wanted to help my community and make an impact but, before this course, I was not sure how I might do that,” Harrington explained. “[It] made me realize that I could link my interests in psychology with my desires to help the world by becoming a clinical psychologist, making an impact through research and clinical practice.” She did not have to wait long to begin fulfilling her dream of making an impact. In her freshman year of college, Harrington was invited to become an undergraduate research assistant in the Peer Relations Lab, a lab studying how the social relationships of young people affect health outcomes.
As a part of her work within the Peer Relations Lab, Harrington has used existing data to answer her own original research question about the effects of co-rumination (a phenomenon in which peers engage in repetitive, speculative, and negatively-focused problem discussion) on the health of teenagers. In order to answer her research question and assist in the research of others that work in the Peer Relations Lab, Harrington has collected observational and self-reported data from local schools and drawn on data from an already available data set, the Maine Adolescent Peer Project. Harrington has had the opportunity to publish several peer-reviewed papers and present the new knowledge she has helped create through her work in the Peer Relations Lab. Her contributions have been significant enough that she is now Lab Coordinator, training and supervising other undergraduate research assistants.
After Harrington graduates, she will be joining the Doctoral Training Program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Maine. She will be continuing her project with the current professor she works with and will be expanding her research project on co-rumination. Harrington hopes to become a clinical psychologist, where she could continue her research projects, teach classes, and be involved in clinical practices. Harrington’s college career has revolved around research, and she has no intentions of stopping anytime soon. “I enjoy adding to the literature to create a more nuanced understanding of topics such as depression and friendship, which are important to our community and global wellbeing... I enjoy that there is always more research to be done and more to learn.”
Read more guest-written stories like this by visiting our website at www.reinvented magazine.com/blog
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Harrington described her formula for success when working in a lab: “When in a research lab, it is incredibly important to be engaged, detail-oriented, and clearly seeking advanced responsibility in order to gain increasingly more significant research opportunities.” Undergraduate ResearcHERS: Raegan Harrington | page 41
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There’s arguably no stronger influence in a child’s early life than that of her mother. Mothers are our earliest example of strength, character, and womanhood. Today, we celebrate the sacrifices and unconditional support of mothers everywhere by sharing the story of Reinvented’s First Mom, Betty Looney.
Betty Looney was born to a young woman named Maria in the Southwestern Ecuadorian town of Guayaquil, a port city situated along the Guayas River, packed dirt roads and smallhouses. Born in 1965, Betty wou ld be the second of Maria’s three children. Though Betty remembers little of her days in Ecuador, many of her afternoons were spent roaming around the town, snacking on gooseberries, and exploring the local open-air markets with her cousins. Maria immigrated to the United States when Betty was two years old, leaving her daughters in the care of their abuelita. Fleeing an unhealthy relationship, Maria, unbeknownst to Betty’s biological father, had purchased a flight to New York City where she hoped to find work to support herself and her children. She was taken in by a few cousins in Queens who taught her the art of wig making. Maria created toupées and hairpieces for a living and sent a portion of each paycheck back to Ecuador. Betty was four years old when her mother sent for her daughters to join her in New York. The girls moved into a home with Maria, their new stepfather, and an infant half-brother. Maria’s marriage lasted about eight years, after which a motorcycle accident left her former husband unable to work and pay child support. As a result, Maria became the family’s sole breadwinner and caretaker. Betty and her siblings never wanted for the essentials; however, the family’s financial situation was precarious at best, and Maria struggled to make ends meet. Though the lack of money was a consistent chokehold on the family’s aspirations, Maria was adamant that her children learn to play piano and scraped together money to pay for their lessons. “I don’t know how she did it, but she managed,” Betty says. “My mom has always been an extremely hard worker.”
page 44 | Moms Behind the Leaders
Though Betty would grow up thousands of miles away from her hometown in one of the most progressive cities in the world, her mother’s traditional Ecuadorian values followed the family to their new home. Ecuadorian culture during the time of Maria’s upbringing enforced strict gender roles: women were expected to be mothers and caretakers of the home, and men were the breadwinners and decision-makers. A high school education was a privilege afforded to few girls, and women rarely, if ever, inherited any form of wealth. “As a woman, you basically did what you were told — first by your father, and then by your husband. I didn’t like that,” Betty says. As a single mother, Maria’s life, in many ways, defied tradition. Regardless, she remained largely committed to conservative values. Like many immigrants, Maria struggled to understand how a culture vastly different from that of her native country would shape her children’s values. “I remember my mother’s surprise when I wanted to get my driver’s license — she didn’t understand why I would need to be able to drive myself around when eventually, my husband would do that,” Betty recalls. After graduating from high school, Betty began attending SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx to study marine engineering, a decision that again puzzled her mother. “My mother never discouraged me from pursuing what she saw as traditionally male paths, but she didn’t really encourage it either. More than anything, I don’t think she understood why I wanted to do the things I did,” Betty says. Witnessing her mother’s struggle to provide for the family drove Betty toward a career with good pay and stability. “I didn’t want to depend on anyone,” she says.
“As a woman, basically did what were told — first by father, and then by husband. I didn’t that,” Betty says.
you you your your like
As Maria lacked the means to support her daughter’s ambitions, Betty paid her own way through college. She joined the crew and tennis teams and began dating a computer science major named Jerry Looney. Betty graduated as a U.S. Navy Reservist and joined Gibbs & Cox, a naval architecture firm where she designed piping systems for military vessels. After a lengthy courtship, Betty and Jerry tied the knot and soon became pregnant with their first child — a girl they would name Caeley. The pair was thrilled. For Betty, starting a family was an opportunity to give her children what she didn’t have: financial stability and a nuclear family. More importantly, Betty wanted her kids to know the sky was the limit. After growing up with a mother who couldn’t quite understand her ambitions, Betty committed to becoming her children’s biggest cheerleader. Caeley’s passion, determination, and precocity for a variety of subjects gave Betty and Jerry no shortage of things to cheer for. From Girl Scouts to FIRST Robotics, to sports like dance and taekwondo, there wasn’t much Caeley wasn’t willing to try. And there wasn’t much she wasn’t good at.
That's Betty!
“Caeley has always been so bright and creative. Even when she was little, she was very competitive and wanted to be the best at everything,” Betty notes. Caeley’s incredible drive and focus, however, came with its challenges. Her desire to be the best bordered on perfectionism, and she would often become dangerously self-critical when her performance came up short. Still, Betty and Jerry never considered her angst abnormal, writing it off as the natural consequence of demanding schoolwork and extracurriculars. Still, Betty and Jerry never considered her angst abnormal, writing it off as the natural consequence of demanding schoolwork and extracurriculars.
Moms Behind the Leaders | page 45
Things changed during Caeley’s first summer home after her freshman year of college. “Going away to college definitely pushed me over the edge,” she remembers. “At that point, I was a thousand miles away from my family, and I didn't have an in-person crutch to keep me grounded and calm.” She confided to her parents that she was struggling, and Betty suggested she see a therapist. Shortly after Caeley enrolled in therapy, Betty received an unanticipated call. “The therapist told me Caeley had been self-harming to cope with her anxiety,” Betty says. The scars across Caeley’s legs would become an ever-present reminder of one of the darkest periods of her life. “We never knew because she always wore pants.” Betty was heartbroken and frightened — fdfd page 46 | Moms Behind the Leaders
Betty was heartbroken and frightened — though stigma surrounding mental illness is on the decline, many mental illnesses are still poorly understood. They are also frequently misdiagnosed and mismanaged, particularly in women and people of color. “I was so anxious. I knew this would be a long road for her,” Betty recalls. Caeley was diagnosed with extreme anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and a panic disorder. Her therapist placed her in an outpatient program to help manage her symptoms. Caeley completed the program successfully and planned to return to campus in the fall for her sophomore year. Though Betty was reluctant to let her daughter out of her sight, Caeley’s therapist believed schoolwork, friends, and extracurriculars would keep her mind occupied.“ I gave my phone number to every single one of Caeley’s friends and acquaintances that I knew of,” Betty says. “I asked them to keep an eye on her and to let me know if anything was off.” Betty and Jerry made a routine of spending quality, in-person time with Caeley despite their distance. “I would go and stay with Caeley at least two weekends a month, sometimes more if things were especially hard for her,” says Betty.
The intensifying demands of schoolwork and other personal challenges landed Caeley in the hospital multiple times during college. Though her battles with anxiety and depression were incredibly painful for both her and her family, they brought Caeley and Betty closer than ever. Conversations became more meaningful as Betty reminded Caeley why her life was worth living. Betty’s unwavering compassion and commitment to understanding her daughter’s illness was critical to Caeley’s healing journey. “My mom never once told me that my mental illness was just a phase or that it was all in my head,” Caeley remarks. “She genuinely tried (and still does try) to understand what I was going through and did her best to support me however I needed her to.”
Visits today are less frequent with the demands of Caeley’s full-time job (and a pandemic), but Betty and Caeley stay close through daily texts and phone calls, as well as through their special tea-time ritual: “Growing up, tea was the cure for just about everything. Bad grades, bad day, mean boys, you name it — tea was the cure,” Caeley says. “Every time something goes wrong, my mom reminds me to make myself a cup of tea and calm down before doing anything else. We Facetime and drink tea together, and she sometimes tries to talk me through how to make her tea — even though I always fail,” Caeley laughs. “Knowing that she’s always a phone call away with a virtual cup of tea means everything to me.” Betty has the gift of always knowing exactly what to say to raise her daughter’s spirits and provide guidance. She shared some of the advice she’s given Caeley: “I always tell her to follow her passion. Making a living is important, but it’s possible to love what you do and still be able to support yourself.
"And I always remind her that she is more than enough, just as she is.” The most important piece of advice, however, comes from the heart of Ecuadorian culture: “Family is always first! No matter what happens, I’m the mom. And that means I’ll always have Caeley’s back.”
Today, Caeley’s family is still the foundation of her support system. Betty is always ready to talk her out of a rut, provide encouragement, and help with the magazine: “Caeley still has her bad days, but her father and I are here to remind her that she’s strong, capable, and worthy. And we’re also here to warn her when it’s time to slow down to keep her mental health in check.” Moms Behind the Leaders | page 47
BY: MADELINE DAY
Fashion is not usually the first idea that comes to mind when the word “technology” is mentioned. At times, the two concepts even contradict: technology has brought us hologram projectors, Bluetooth speakers, hoverboards, and more, but fashion has remained relatively constant. Year in and year out, styles fade but make their generational return. (Tie-dye, scrunchies, and mom jeans, say what?). Quantum physicist Kitty Yeung aims to change just that. With her fashion brand “Art by Physicist,” Dr. Kitty Yeung creates pieces ranging from Wifi-Programmable Earth Dresses and Bluetooth Flower Brooches, integrating technology with fashion in collections inspired by nature and science.
Physicist by day, Artist by night As a young girl, Kitty recalls being fascinated by her surroundings, spending her time “observing the stars and reading books on dinosaurs and the universe.” So, when she started learning physics in middle school, it was like everything clicked. Physics allows you to “understand how the universe works,” and for Kitty, physics embodied her love of answering questions about the practical world. But how does fashion design relate to physics, if at all? Even for Kitty, it “wasn’t clear in the beginning that art and physics could be merged.” However, her love for design and art guided her towards fashion design. She first stepped foot in fashion when designing clothing for her graphic novel characters, another artistic project that Kitty has maintained since childhood. She “wanted to make [the clothes] into a reality” and quickly realized nothing was stopping her from doing so. So, she “bought a sewing machine, watched Youtube tutorials, read several books,” and embarked on a new endeavor. Channeling her scientific side, Kitty began to innovate with clothing. “Why can’t I embed robots, or electronic gadgets, into clothes?” she wondered. And if simple gadgets such as a LED circuit could be embedded, so could other electronics and much more. Pursuing this train of thought, Kitty has brought numerous design ideas to fruition through her clothing brand, such as her Wifi-Programmable Earth Dress. The dress lights up in migrating patterns to create an Earth from outer space shot. Art by Physicist | page 49
Art and Connection “I’m very happy with the flower brooches,” Kitty remarks. In a world where technological developments--such as video calls--remove the need for in-person connection, Kitty views wearable technology as a way to “increase human-to-human interaction.” She came up with the idea for the digital brooches after remembering one of her childhood pranks. As a toddler, she mischievously hid in corners at a shopping mall, which, for her mother, was a devastating scare. To address such circumstances, the flower brooches can be programmed to vibrate if the two wearers are more than a set distance apart. Kitty gives the example of a parent and a child. If both wear a flower brooch, the parent would be alerted if the child is too far away, avoiding stress or any heart-wrenching situations. Such a function can be set by first pairing the two flower brooches with Bluetooth and then using Arduino or Scratch programming to customize the brooches’ vibrations based on a distance parameter. Not only do Kitty’s flower brooches serve a practical purpose, but they also maintain an aesthetic, artistic purpose, and can be programmed to display different LED pattern designs and create user-defined interactions, demonstrating how art and technology enhance each other
Sustainability Beyond flower brooches, there are other major practical applications for technology in fashion. While searching for clothing manufacturers to produce her designs, Kitty became aware of how overproduction-driven the fashion industry was. She was appalled that “globally, 30% of clothing produced is never sold,” as she believes that the industry should be driven by “creativity and need,” not “profit and mass production.” ## | delete page 50 | Art if right by Physicist page
...the industry should be driven by 'creativity and need,' not 'profit and mass production.' Kitty hopes that her wearable fashion can not only push the bounds of what technology can do, but also influence the fashion industry to be based more on personal demand. Wearables are often open-sourced and are primarily produced on a made-to-order basis, which eliminates the waste of typical fast fashion. Instead of producing clothing that may never be worn, companies that manufacture byorder are able to use their resources more effectively by avoiding unnecessary production and pollution to the environment. There are benefits for consumers too: the customer on the purchasing end is able to personalize their orders, having more control over their clothing. Kitty’s search for more sustainable methods of clothing production actually connects back to her professional work in science. In addition to being a Senior Program Manager in Quantum Computing at Microsoft, Kitty is developing a side project - a “mass fashion database” that will make it easier for brands to make by order. “It’s like Github for fashion,” Kitty points out. Artists can upload designs, and consumers can mix and match the elements that they desire. Then, a company can manufacture the selected design. While it’s still in development, Kitty is excited about how this online library of design could drive the future of fashion, all while addressing global waste.
What's Next? Though right now, the majority of the fashion and technology industries are still within their own spheres, Kitty hopes to integrate the two. As someone who can speak the languages of tech and art, Kitty wants to show the world that the two are mutually beneficial for each other. “It’s like a spectrum,” she explains. “You have art on one side and science on the other,” but “both seek to do things that people have not done before.” Technology pushes the possibilities of what art and design entail. (The flower brooches would not function without Bluetooth technology, for example). In return, art inspires people and adds happiness to our lives. “It’s a positive feedback loop,” Kitty notes, and it’s “actually why [her] brand is called Art by Physicist.” With her clothing brand, Kitty aims to elevate technology to a wearable level but also give back to nature and the science that first inspired her, which is why she donates portions of Art by Physicist sales to STEM and environmental sustainability nonprofits that reduce human waste. In fact, Kitty will be donating to Reinvented Magazine, and there is a special discount code REINVENTED for readers who purchase from Art by Physicist. She wants other young artists and scientists to embrace their creativity and experience the magic of making. Through her pursuits in both quantum computing and innovative fashion design, Kitty demonstrates that as women in STEM, it’s not necessary to be more of one identity than the other. We can, and should, embrace all parts of ourselves. Or, as Kitty puts it, “be fearless and focus.”
Art by Physicist | page 51
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DIY PAPER-CRAFT
Crystals catch our eye and our imagination like no other substance on Earth. These unique structures are south out and prized in almost every culture. Everyone has a fascination with crystals — the way they catch the light is unlike anything else on the planet. They are rare and beautiful, and they resonate with us on so many levels.These paper crafted crystals are a remarkable facsimile of the real thing. Their iridescence and faceted “occlusions” evoke a feeling of deep caverns, mystical seers, and fortresses of solitude in my imagination. I just can’t stop making them! Add a strand of twinkly NeoPixels, and we’ve got the perfect recipe for magic.
DIY BY ERIN ST. BLAINE
What are they made of? These crystals are made from iridescent cellophane wrap (from the craft store, like you find in fancy gift baskets) that has been crinkled up and then run through a laminating machine. They can be cut by hand with a utility knife or cut out on a vinyl cutting machine like a Cricut or Silhouette.Then they are folded into shape, tabin-slot style, and finally we add a small piece of iridescent cellophane inside to mimic the crystalline occlusions. The crystal patterns in this guide are designed to slot perfectly around Adafruit’s NeoPixel dot strand. This is surprisingly convincing — they look like the real thing, but are light and flexible — perfect for cosplay applications or just stringing up around the house. DIY: Crystal Light Strand | page 53
Adafruit Circuit Playground Bluefruit Bluetooth Low Energy
Adafruit NeoPixel LED Dots Strand - 20 LEDs at 2” or 4” Pitch
Wire Strippers
Iridescent Cellophane Wrap
Bolt-On Kit for Circuit 3x AAA Battery Holder with On/Off Switch Playground, micro:bit, Flora and 2-Pin JST or Gemma
Laminating Machine & 3 mil Laminating Pouches
Vinyl Cutting Machine or Sharp Utility Knife
Circuit Diagram The NeoPixel strand connects as follows:
Red wire → VOUT Middle wire → A1 Remaining wire → GND
Be sure you’re connecting to the IN end of the strip. You can connect power (VOUT) and ground (GND) at either end, but the middle data connection MUST connect to the correct end of the strip. Check for an arrow on the back of the pixels to be sure you’ve got the right end. More about this in the assembly section! Power your lights with a USB cable via the USB port, or a battery pack connected to the JST port. page 54 | DIY: Crystal Light Strand
MakeCode
CircuitPython
MakeCode is an easy way to get up and running with the Circuit Playground. No prior coding knowledge is needed, and it’s an easy way to experiment and learn to think like a coder. You just drag and drop code blocks like building with LEGO® pieces. MakeCode makes coding fun!
CircuitPython is a fast growing programming platform, based on Python, that’s easy to learn and customize. This project makes use of the CircuitPython LED Animations code by Kattni Rembor to quickly and easily add gorgeous animations to your light strand. There are more pre-made animations available than we’re using for this tutorial, so go check it out if you need more modes on your light strand.
Follow the QR code below to see the full tutorial on how to upload the code, how to use the Circuit Playground, and how to customize and troubleshoot the code so you can make your crystals glow!
Follow the QR code below to see the full tutorial on how to upload the code, how to use the Circuit Playground, and how to customize the code so you can make your crystals glow!
Troubleshooting: If your lights didn’t come on, here are a few things to try: Flip the tiny slide switch on the face of the Circuit Playground the other way. Our sample code uses this as an on/off switch, so make sure it’s not just in the “off” position.
Re-upload your code to make sure it’s on there.
Make sure your wires are neat and tidy, and not touching any of the other pads or causing a short.
Try connecting to the other end of the strip -you may have the “out” end instead of the “in” end.
Check your wiring. Is the red wire on VOUT, the middle wire on A1 (not Audio), and the 3rd wire on GND?
DIY: Crystal Light Strand | page 55
1. You’ll need a screwdriver and some wire cutters/ strippers, plus the Circuit Playground Bluefruit, LED strand, and bolt-on kit. 2. Find the IN end of the strip. The lights won’t work if you connect to the wrong end. It’s written really small on the back so look closely. If you just can’t see any writing, align it with the photo and you should be safe. The male connector is usually (but not always) connected to the IN end. 3. Cut the connector off. Strip about ¼” of shielding from each of the three wires.
Assembly 2
written really small on the back so look closely. If you just can’t see any writing, align it with the photo and you should be safe. The male connector is usually (but not alwa 2. ys) connected to the IN end. 3. Cut the connector off. Strip about ¼” of shielding from each of the three wires. 4. Neaten up the strands with your fingers, then hook the wires through the holes as shown: a. Red wire → VOUT b. Middle wire → A1 c. Last wire → GND 5. The light should be face up with this orientation. If it’s face down, you’ve got the wrong end of the strip! Switch it around and use the other end 6. Push a screw through each wired hole and secure it on the back with a bolt. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screw firmly down while holding the bolt tightly against the back of the board with your fingers. 7. Time to test it! Upload your code, if you haven’t already, and make sure the lights come on and that the buttons work to change the modes and variations of the lights!
Assembly 3
Laminate 1
Ready to Assemble 3
page 56 | DIY: Crystal Light
Assembly 4
Laminate 2
Ready to Assemble 4
Ready to Assemble 5
Download the Crystal ShapeI’ve included one basic shape, called “Khyber,” for this tutorial. There are several other designs you can try out and download from my Etsy stor e linked at the end of this article. There are three sizes for each crystal shape, a small, medium, and large. Each design has two pieces that connect together with locking tabs. If you don’t have a vinyl cutter, you can still do this project! Just print the shapes out and use them as a template. The dotted lines are score lines and the solid lines are cut lines. Feel free to resize them -just be sure the NeoPixel wires will fit through the rectangular wire holes.
Download the crystal shapes:
Laminate Your Cellophane 1. Unroll your cellophane wrap and cut pieces that are the same size as or slightly smaller than your laminating pouches. I use a rotary cutter for this and find it goes quickly and gives me nice, clean, straight edges. I’m using 3 mil thickness laminating pouches. The 5 mil will also work, but the extra stiffness makes the cutting and folding a lot more difficult, so stick with 3 mil if you can. 2. Crumple up the cellophane and then flatten it out again to give your material some fun texture. Place the cellophane inside the laminating pouch so no edges are poking out. 3. Run it through your laminating machine. I find it helpful to smooth it gently as it comes out of the machine. The flatter and smoother you can get your sheets, the better they’ll work with a cutting machine.
Cutting on a Vinyl Cutter If you’re cutting on a vinyl cutter, like a Cricut, place your laminated sheet onto your vinyl cutter’s sticky mat and press it down firmly. I used a wallpaper scraper for this -- they’re almost free at the hardware store and I haven’t found a tool I like better for the purpose. They also work great for cleaning the mats in between use!If you’re using a Cricut specifically, visit the full tutorial online to see step-by-step instructions on how to set up the print!
Ready to Assemble 1. Each crystal cuts in two pieces, with a rectangular hole for the NeoPixel strand wires to poke through. Crease all the fold lines and tabs. The edges with the NeoPixel wire hole are not scores, because I wanted to make them sturdier, but you’ll need to fold those as well. 2. Line up the tabs on either side of the hole segments and crease to the point of the crystal. This is more easily shown in the video in the full tutorial, so if you can’t figure it out, go take a look there! 3. Insert the tabs from the outside in, so they end up on the interior of the crystal. 4. Crease all the folds on both pieces, the assemble, leaving the three tabs between the two light holes open for now. 5. Cut and crumple a small piece of un-laminated cellophane and tuck it inside to create the illusory “occlusions” that catch the light and make this crystal so convincing. 6. Insert the light strand into the two holes, with the light centered inside the peak of the crystal facing downwards. Finish by buttoning up the last three tabs! 7. If you’re just making indoor string lights, the tabs are sufficient to hold them with no glue. If you’re using the crystal for cosplay or other applications where they’ll need to stand up to the wind or other elements, I recommend adding a dab of glue to a few tabs to make sure they stay put. Hot glue or a tiny drop of super glue works great! 8. Plug in your Circuit Playground Bluefruit and watch your crystals glow!
View the full tutorial on Adafruit.com:
And check out Erin St.Blaine's Etsy page for more downloads!
DIY: Crystal Light Strand | page 57
OPPORTUNITY National Conf er U nd ergra d u a t ence on e R e se a r c h (NCUR)
When: April 12 What: NCUR is dedica -14, 2021 undergraduate researted to promoting and creative activity ch, scholarship, by sponsoring an an in all fields of study n students and this gathual conference for scholars welcomes pr ering of student institutions of higher esenters from all learning across all disciplines https://www.cur. org/w ts/students/ncur/ hat/even 2021/
International Confe rence on Computer Science, C ybersecurity and Information Tech nology (ICCSCIT) 2021 When: April 22nd -23rd, What: This conference aim 2021 together leading academic s to bring researchers, and research scientists, exchange and share their ex scholars to research results on all aspe periences and cts Science, Cybersecurity and of Computer Information technology https://waset.org/com puter-sciencecybersecurity-and-in technology-conferenc formatione-in-april-2021in-new-york?ref=info secconferences.com page 58 | Opportunity Board
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Women’s Health Seminar Series
When: Ap What: This series sh ril 5, 2021 ow research on women cases multidisciplinary ’s health and its goal is to provide multidis mentorship for trai ciplinary training and ne women’s health rese es across a broad range of present their resear arch topics. Speakers will ch psychological, beha regarding the biological, vior impacts on women’s al, economic, and social health outcomes. seminar will feature 45 minutes talks folloEach wed an interactive questio n and answer period by . https://www.eve ntbrite.com/e/a ecological-appro -s ach-to-the-stud ociohormones-and-b yehaviour-ticket ofs119176 aff=ebdssbonlin 448967? esearch&keep_t ld=1
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Free Virtual Telescope viewing - Chabot Space & Science Center When: Occurs weekly from March 13-August 4, 2021 What: Join resident astronomers on Facebook Live and YouTube every Saturday evening live from Chabot’s Observation deck! Each week, astronomers will guide us through spectacular night sky viewing through Nellie, Chabot‘s most powerful telescope. Weather permitting, we will be able to view objects live through the telescopes, and the astronomers will be available for an open forum for all of your most pressing astronomy questions. https://chabotspace.org/calendar/fre e-telescope-viewings/2021-03-13/
Opportunity Board | page 59
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ASK GLORIA
How can I effectively lead a group without coming off as aggressive or disrespectful? One of the tricks that I learned when leading a group is to create an atmosphere where people can voice their concerns and input but make transparent and definitive answers. It’s important to be clear as to why you are making the decision that you are making and articulating it back to stakeholders. Most people want to make sure their concerns are being heard when decisions are being made, and when there is transparency around it, people tend to respect the decision more even if they don’t agree with it 100%.
How can I make myself stand out in a competitive field or class where there are very few women? There are many ways to stand out even when it’s competitive. One way to stand out is to become the go-to person about a tool or technology. As time progresses, your research and understanding of the technology become more helpful to your colleagues. You can stand out by knowledge sharing of events, advancements, and relevant articles about that technology and help the community grow. Another way to stand out is to be the person who takes on the new challenges and shares what they learned with others. Take on a new task that you have not done before and provide feedback on the task to the rest of the class, team, or world. You can do this by updating a doc, creating a medium article, or sharing it on open source.
What is the best way to approach someone that I’m hoping will be my mentor? Mentors are great! Once you have found a person that you have identified as a potential mentor, it's important to approach it like any other relationship. The first thing that you would need to do is to reach out and get the mentor’s best form of contact. After that, I would ask for a 1:1, either via zoom or a phone call. Once your 1:1 is scheduled, I would start working on the specific questions that you have for your mentor. Do your research beforehand to make sure that you are using your mentor’s time as wisely as possible. During your 1:1, try to be in the moment as much as possible. Before the session is over, ask for recommendations and permission to reach out again. Continue the process as long as the relationship is respected and mutually beneficial for both of you. page 60 | Ask Gloria
A
What’s the best way to deal with being rejected from my dream job? First off, don’t take it personally. There are a lot of reasons why someone could be rejected. Rejection doesn't really mean “no”; it means “not yet”. Ask for feedback from your interview, and see if there is something that you can work on. It might also mean working on a role that can feed into that dream job. Continue to develop your skill set and apply for the role again when the position becomes open.
How do I make sure that my ideas are being heard even when my coworkers quickly shoot them down? Bright ideas can come from anywhere, and when you have one, it’s worth sharing. When sharing a bright idea it is important to communicate an idea effectively. One of the ways to do it is to ask deeper questions like: “Can we take a moment to figure out why this won’t work?”, “Can we explore this for a moment?”, etc. If you feel like your question has been completely ignored. it pays to ask it again in a different manner, maybe in an email, on Slack, or during a 1:1. If ideas are being shot down regularly, you might want to start conducting meetings with agendas and let people add to the agenda ahead of the scheduled meeting, and read over the ideas during the first part of the meeting. This helps ensure that all ideas and voices are considered and not just the loudest ones.
GLORIA
Interviews are a great time to find out more about a role and the company. Some of the questions that I like to ask during an interview are as follows: “Can you tell me what success in this role looks like?”, “What does my first day look like?”, “Can you tell me what resources are available to employees?”, and “What does this role/ company look like in 5 years?”. The many goals of these questions are to get a deeper insight into what you are getting into and where the company is going.
AS
What questions should I ask my interviewer to get a better feel of what the job and company will be like?
My partner doesn’t know how to support me in advocating for women in STEM. How can I help him understand why this is so important to me? This is a relationship question in how do I get my partner in supporting me on something that is important to me. At the very least, a partner might be supportive of something because it is important to their partner. It’s important to share why advocating for women in STEM is important to you. They might not understand it 100%, but they will understand that it is something that you are passionate about and will want to support you in your passions. If they are still unsupportive of you after you have explained why it's important to you, you might have a deeper relationship issue that needs to be addressed.
Want to ask Gloria a question?
ASK
Scan here to submit your question today! Ask Gloria | page 61
Thank You Partners
To our partners who helped to make this magazine possible through their generosity and dedication to encouraging more women in STEM.
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page 62 | Thank You Partners
One-for-One Program Participants
These participating organizations and institutions will receive free copies of Reinvented magazine to encourage more girls to pursue and love STEM.
One-for-One Program Participants | page 63
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Issue 7 Spring 2021