STEM fields are for women, too

COEUR d’ALENE — Tiny organisms wiggled in drops of water carefully placed on slides beneath microscope lenses Tuesday morning, giving local high school girls a peek into the weird and wonderful world of microbiology.

"Looking at this makes me want to be one of those people who looks at certain stuff and the tiny little things you have to use a microscope for," said Lake City High School freshman Hannah Prock, who plans to pursue a career as a general surgeon.

"You could think, ‘Oh I’m just going to stay at home and be a housewife,’" she said. "No. You can do way more than that."

The Women in Math and Science program is celebrating its 10th anniversary of encouraging young ladies to enter science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) occupations to promote a balance in fields historically dominated by men.

The two-day program began Tuesday and continues today at North Idaho College and University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene, where female students from North Idaho high schools are participating in hands-on education about water filtration, monitoring human health, Lake Coeur d'Alene's food web and more.

"Women nowadays have more of an opportunity to do things,” said Venture High School junior Trinity Houk. "This is super fun. It opened opportunities to try something new to see if you like it or lot. It’s really interesting."

Julie Van Middlesworth, who teaches environmental science and geology at NIC, has been in her field for 20 years. When she began her career journey, she had a mentor who encouraged her to pursue geochemistry, which examines Earth's chemical composition, rocks and minerals.

"I think that was a really good decision," she said. "He is actually the reason I’m in Idaho."

She said the support she received from mentors along the way made a huge difference for her. Now, as a woman in a science field, she is paying it forward to the next generation of female scientists.

"I think we need to be mindful about how we present all fields to all people," Van Middlesworth said. "Women are 50 percent of the population and it should be equal, but I think in any field, a variety of people helps that field move forward."

LCHS freshman Amya Campbell said she isn't necessarily planning to go into a science or math field, but she appreciated the chance to participate in the program.

"It’s definitely a good learning experience,” she said. "I think it’s definitely nice to expand your knowledge."

Women in Math and Science is organized by the UI College of Science. Associate Dean Mark Nielsen said that while the college doesn't have hard data about the long-term results of this program, he does know of students who have participated and have asked to come back as volunteers or have pursued their higher education at UI.

"We want students to go on to college, but more importantly, we want these young women to think about STEM fields," he said. "Young women go to college at a higher rate than men do, but they're not choosing STEM majors at as high of a rate, so we'd like to work on that."

Cultural pressures and the work-life balance of raising children have been obstacles for women who want to pursue math and science occupations.

"Some fields were not friendly to women's issues and concerns for a long time," Nielsen said. "It was legitimately hard to manage a family and even do the preparation for a STEM field."

But things are changing, thanks in part to programs like Women in Math and Science that inspire an interest in these studies among females at a young age.

"We’ve got serious problems that the world needs to address, everything from environmental issues to feeding the population," Nielsen said. "We can't afford to have talent sitting on the sidelines."