Back to the future
Women representing a variety of STEM fields met face-to-face with students at a recent event.
The American Heart Association hosted a special science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, education program for a select group of female youths Oct. 1 at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
The students are part of the association’s Sweetheart initiative to foster future heart health advocates. The program offers educational and social programs for the girls during the school year.
Women representing a variety of STEM fields met face-to-face with participants in small groups before coming together in a general session. Panelists fielded questions from attendees and described their personal experiences in the sciences, both in school and as they established their careers.
OMRF scientist Courtney Griffin served as host for the event. Griffin has spent her career manipulating DNA, the encyclopedia of genetic information that is inside of each of our cells. In the lab, she edits DNA of laboratory mice so that she can understand the development and function of blood vessels in these animals. The American Heart Association has funded her research for more than 20 years.
Other speakers were OMRF physician-scientist Dr. Eliza Chakravarty; OMRF statistical geneticist Courtney Montgomery; Angela Robinson, senior business manager at The Boeing Co.; and Usha Turner, director of Environmental Affairs at OGE Energy Corp.
“This STEM event is exciting for me because it unifies the strengths of AHA and OMRF in promoting science and math career options to young women,” Griffin said. “I might not have considered becoming a scientist if I hadn’t met an influential female scientific role model when I was a teenager. I hope I can similarly inspire young women to consider science as a rewarding and creative career option.”
American Heart Association Executive Director Debbie Hite Stewart agrees.
“The girls were eager to know what it’s like to work in maledominated fields and how STEM leaders are able to juggle family life, along with such demanding careers,” she said. “The event really seemed to provide an opportunity for the students to think about their futures and what direction they may want to go as they near high school graduation.”