Breaking the Stereotype — Poster Project for Visualizing Women in STEM
The goal of this project is to help challenge the cultural image of science and scientists through the visual celebration of women in STEM fields. Your mission is to create an inspirational poster that offers a historical look at a woman of your choice in a STEM field whose discoveries and accomplishments helped transform the scientific world. The information on your poster should be typed, and presented clearly and innovatively. Your poster should be colorful, informative, creative, and inspirational. Posters should be no larger than 24″ by 36″ in size.
Your poster must contain the following information about the woman you are researching. At least three references should be used as part of your research.
1. Full name of the subject
2. At least two photographs (one portrait, one relating to work in the STEM field)
3. Date, city, and country of birth
4. Education (course of study, school name, and degrees)
5. Awards won
6. Location(s) of STEM career work
7. Detailed description of the STEM work performed
8. Explanation of contribution to the greater scientific community
9. Personal commentary about why this individual inspires you
Some useful websites for your research:
The 50 Most Important Women in Science – http://discovermagazine.com/2002/nov/feat50
The Untold History of Women in Science and Technology – https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/women-in-STEM
4000 Years of Women in Science – http://4kyws.ua.edu/bioframe.html
NASA Women in STEM – https://www.nasa.gov/education/womenstem
NASA Women in Science – https://www.nasa.gov/education/womenstem/women-in-science
NASA Women in Space – https://www.nasa.gov/education/womenstem/women-in-space
NASA Women in Mathematics – https://www.nasa.gov/education/womenstem/women-in-mathematics
NASA Women in Engineering – https://www.nasa.gov/education/womenstem/women-in-engineering
NASA Women in Technology – https://www.nasa.gov/education/womenstem/women-in-technology
Celebrating Amazing Women in Science and Exploration – http://www.exploringbytheseat.com/celebratingwomensciex
Celebrating Diversity: Women Energize an Atomic World – https://www.iaea.org/women/2003/
TED Talks by Brilliant Women in STEM – https://www.ted.com/playlists/253/11_ted_talks_by_brilliant_women
Do Girl’s See Themselves As Smart? Read the article and answer the questions on your own paper in complete sentences.
Answer the following questions:
1. According to the article, how do young girls see themselves in terms of their own “smartness” compared with boys of the
same age?
2. Andrei Cimpian is s professor of psychology at New York University and author of one of the studies detailed
in the article. Cimpian claims that stereotypes about the kinds of people with the innate talent to succeed in
STEM fields begin to be applied at a much younger age than previously thought. Why might this be the case?
3. How did Cimpian and his team test the idea that stereotypes regarding who might be “good” in STEM fields might begin
during childhood? Be specific with your answer, citing details from the experiments conducted by his team.
4. In a different investigation by Sapna Cheryan, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Washington, older
girls were shown to be even less likely to associate their own gender with “brilliance,” even though they were likely to get good
grades in school. What do you think might account for the difference between academic ability and self-image in this case?
5. What does the article offer as good ways of helping girls become more confident as a way of influencing their academic and
career choices?
6. Cimpian cautions that it is “important not to fall into the trap of always assuming it is the girls who need to change.” What does
Cimpian mean by this? What does he suggest might be a good alternative? Do you agree with his reasoning? Please explain.