WiSTEM Wednesdays
Check here on a roughly weekly basis for a WiSTEM Wednesday! What is WiSTEM Wednesday, you ask? We will be spotlighting a woman in science (or technology, engineering, or math) or posting an interesting fact, making you a more intelligent individual. As we get more funding, we will expand this idea and hand out these sorts of facts along with a small treat at the flagpoles or another central location on the WMU campus.
First WISTEM Wednesday!
4.15.2015 DID YOU KNOW?When told men do better on math tests, women did worse on a math test than a control group of women who were told nothing. Here's an inspiring fact: when told before the test about women pioneers in math and science, women tended to score even higher than the control group of women who were told nothing! There you have it! It's all in your heads, ladies. Just focus on your work and remember the greats before you who have paved the way; but, make your own mark in the STEM fields.
|
4.29.2015
This week's WiSTEM Wednesday is about Hypatia of Alexandria. She was an influential figure in her time and suffered an untimely death because of an unfortunate political circumstance. Click this link to learn more about her and what she did for math and astronomy.
|
5.13.2015Happy summer everyone! This week's WiSTEM Wednesday is about the wonderful Mildred Dresselhaus. Sound unfamiliar? Maybe you've heard of something she was ultimately responsible for: Buckyballs. She was known as the "queen of carbon science", pioneered her way through the scientific field and also advocated for women to pursue careers in STEM fields.
|
Above entry edited after Mildred's death on 2.20.2017
8.19.2015This week's WiSTEM Wednesday is related to astronomy. The Perseids were in full swing last week with a convenient new moon on 14 August. The ideal dark conditions provided by the new moon made for beautiful astrophotography and naked eye viewing.
What are the Perseids? Any meteor shower is usually named after the radiant, the point from which the meteors appear to come, plus the suffix "-ids". In this instance, the Perseids appear to originate from the constellation Perseus. The next regularly periodic meteor shower this year will be the Orionids in late October. |
9.2.2015Can mental disorders be prevented by something as simple as taking a fish oil pill? In a study conducted by Professor Paul Amminger from the University of Melbourne in Australia, participants at risk of developing psychosis or schizophrenia were monitored and administered omega-3 supplements. The study found only two of the 41 participants developed psychotic disorders. Years later, all participants were assessed and only 4 had developed signs of a psychotic disorder since the study. Omega-3 fatty acids may provide a substantial contribution to mental health among all the other well-known benefits.
|
9.16.2015This week's entry is about sleep. Did you know that you may be shifting your circadian rhythm whenever you drink coffee? Not only coffee but all the widely available products with caffeine as the main ingredient, e.g. 5-hour Energy, Monster, and Amp, can cause some serious circadian issues. The most common issue, and a no-brainer, is sleep deprivation or trouble falling and staying asleep.
Before this study was conducted, it had never been scientifically established that caffeine disrupts human circadian timing. Now there is proof that caffeine puts drinkers at a significant time delay in the circadian melatonin rhythm. Caffeine's not the only thing that can set you back on your circadian rhythm; light can too. The wavelength of light that falls in the blue area of the visible spectrum is the most culpable for keeping people up late past bedtimes. If you need to check that one email before going to bed or play that game until you can't keep your eyes open anymore, check out this screen dimmer app so you don't mess up your natural circadian rhythm. Sleep is important! |
9.23.2015A new desalination process could be the cheaper and more efficient way to get potable water. A team of researchers at Alexandria University in Egypt use "pervaporation" to remove salt and filter impurities from sea water. This revolution could mean serious implications for areas that lack fresh or accessible drinking water.
|
10.14.2015This week's showcase: Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer. She was an integral part of computing and formulated an algorithm that is considered by most to be the first computer program in the world. Read this article to learn more about this pioneer in mathematics and programming.
|
11.11.2015In honor of Veterans Day, this WiSTEM Wednesday spotlights Grace Hopper. Grace was a computer programmer and rear admiral in the US Navy. She served by programming on a Mark I computer and helped develop a compiler which later birthed the computer language known as COBOL. She was called to duty once again at age 60 and helped standardize communication between computer languages.
|
1.13.2016Sarah Frances Whiting is the subject of today's WiSTEM Wednesday. An American physicist and astronomer, she graduated from the first university for women in the US at the time (Ingham University in 1865) and went on to teach at her alma mater. Later, she taught at Wellesley College in Massachusetts and became an advocate for women in science. Whiting started teaching astronomy and soon inspired young minds, like Annie Jump Cannon, to become involved in and passionate about science.
|
1.27.2016Do you know your women in science yet? Do you know who Rosalind Franklin was? Maybe you've heard of Watson and Crick. Check Rosalind's biography to learn more about her and check your knowledge.
|
2.10.2016In honor of Black History Month, this WiSTEM Wednesday is dedicated to Martha Euphemia Lofton Haynes, the first black woman to earn a PhD in mathematics. She went on to teach math and English at various schools while vehemently advocating for poor students and more integral schools.
|
2.24.2016In continuing honor of Black History Month, this WiSTEM Wednesday goes out to Katherine Johnson. Attending high school by the age of 13 because of her brilliance and drive, Katherine was destined for many great things; Katherine graduated from West Virginia State College with highest honors, was soon after hired by NACA (now NASA), and provided trajectory analysis for America's first human space flight in 1961. She received credit for her contributions, something uncommon for that time. Much later in life and more recently Katherine was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
|
3.2.2016Lydia Villa-Komaroff is an inspiring figure in the field of molecular biology. She originally pursued chemistry in university but after being blatantly informed "women do not belong in chemistry", she changed her major to biology. After graduating from Goucher College, she earned her PhD in cell biology from MIT in 1975.
She proceeded to conduct research and author publications of her research, one of which was showcased by PBS. She has received many awards acknowledging her heritage and accomplishments. |
3.16.2016NASA's Annie Easley is this week's spotlight. Annie was hired by NASA as a "human computer" and when technology replaced these "human computers", she easily transitioned to a computer programmer. She developed code that would be used for battery technology for early hybrid vehicles.
Annie had a holistic approach to her work; coworkers reported she had a zest for life and headed things like the Ski Club and she advocated for Equal Employment Opportunity. She was a hard worker who would not be shut down by interpersonal conflicts and instead would "work around" these conflicts. She was noted for her kindness, determination, and generosity. |
4.13.2016Sally Ride was the first American woman in space on the Challenger shuttle in 1983. After her iconic spaceflight, Sally returned to Earth and became a physics professor at the University of California, San Diego. She continued shaping young minds and promoting science education and in 2001 created Sally Ride Science, a nonprofit designed to inspire young women and girls with educational programs and products. In 2012, the world lost a wonderfully inspiring pioneer to a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
|
4.20.2016Dr. Ellen Ochoa is the first Hispanic director of NASA's Johnson Space Center and its second female director. She's an astronaut who has flown in space four times and has been recognized with NASA's highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal.
She became the world's first Hispanic astronaut in 1991. |
4.27.2016The first female president of Harvey Mudd College is Maria Klawe, a renowned computer scientist and advocate for diversity in STEM fields. She has contributed significantly to advancements in mathematics and computer science and has lectured and spoken at numerous colleges and conferences across the US and Canada. She is ranked 17 on Fortune's 2014 list of World's 50 Greatest Leaders.
|