Women In STEM And Their Impact

The fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) have been profoundly shaped by the groundbreaking contributions of countless women. While historically underrepresented, women have consistently pushed the boundaries of knowledge, inventing, discovering, and innovating to benefit humanity. Their importance in STEM is multifaceted, driving innovation, diversifying perspectives, and inspiring future generations.

The Make48 Women in STEM competition, taking place this July at the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) in Kansas City, Missouri, is a direct testament to the importance of fostering female talent in these critical fields. This event will bring together all-female teams from across the nation for a 48-hour invent-a-thon. They will be challenged to design and build a working prototype, create a sales sheet, produce a marketing video, and pitch their idea to a panel of judges.

Girl teams and tool techs prototyping at Make48 | Wichita 2022

This competition is more than just a contest; it's a powerful platform that:

Empowers Competitors: It provides a supportive and encouraging atmosphere for women to showcase their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, building confidence in their STEM abilities.

Fosters Collaboration and Creativity: The fast-paced, collaborative nature of Make48 promotes teamwork, communication, and innovative thinking – essential skills in any STEM career.

Bridges the STEM Gap: By featuring all-female teams and providing access to expert tool technicians and high-tech equipment, Make48 directly addresses the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields and highlights their capabilities.

Increases Representation: The competition will be filmed for Season 9 of the Make48 docuseries, further amplifying the message of female empowerment in STEM and showcasing inspiring role models to a wider audience.

Important Women in STEM and Their Impact

Here are just a few examples of women who have left an indelible mark on STEM.

Marie Curie (1867-1934)

• 

  Maria Curie | photo courtesy of Wix

  
  

  A pioneering physicist and chemist, Curie conducted revolutionary research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person and only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win the Nobel Prize in two different scientific fields (Physics and Chemistry). Her discoveries of polonium and radium laid the foundation for modern nuclear physics and cancer treatment.

Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)

• 

  Ada Lovelace | photo courtesy of https://findingada.com

  
  

  Often considered the world's first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace was a mathematician who recognized the potential of Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine to go beyond mere calculations. She wrote what is now considered the first algorithm intended to be carried out by a machine, foreseeing the broader applications of computing.

Mae Jemison (1956-Present)

• 

  Mae Jemison | photo courtesy of StarTalk

  
  

  An American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut, Jemison became the first African American woman to travel into space in 1992. Her diverse background exemplifies the interdisciplinary nature of modern STEM fields.

  
  

Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) 

• 

  Katherine Johnson | photo courtesy of NPR

  
  

  A brilliant mathematician at NASA, Johnson's calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the success of the first U.S. manned spaceflights, including John Glenn's orbit of Earth and the Apollo 11 moon landing. Her exceptional accuracy and problem-solving skills were vital to the space race.

  
  

Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958)

Rosalind Franklin | photo courtesy of Nova/PBS

A British chemist and X-ray crystallographer, Franklin's work was crucial to understanding the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. Her meticulous X-ray diffraction images of DNA were instrumental in the discovery of the DNA double helix.

Grace Hopper (1906-1992)

Grace Hopper | photo courtesy of Britannica

 An American computer scientist and U.S. Navy Rear Admiral, Hopper was a pioneer in computer programming. She developed the first compiler for a computer programming language and was instrumental in the development of COBOL, one of the first high-level programming languages.

Just as Marie Curie illuminated the world with her understanding of radioactivity and Katherine Johnson charted the paths to the moon, the participants in the Make48 Women in STEM competition are poised to bring their unique ideas to life. This event actively contributes to a future where innovation knows no gender, and where the ingenuity of women is celebrated and empowered to shape the world for the better. If you want to get involved with Make48, please visit https://www.make48.com/2025-kcai-women-in-stem