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‘Pursue what you want, believe in yourself and push as many boundaries as you can’

According to UNESCO, fewer than 30 percent of the world’s scientists are women. In the United States, women are 28 percent of the workforce in STEM fields, according to AAUW. And, although there is a shortage of skills in most of the technological fields driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, women still account for only 28 percent of engineering graduates and 40 percent of graduates in computer science and informatics, according to the UN.

As the world’s problems increasingly require scientific and technological solutions, that gender gap becomes increasingly problematic.

In honor of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated on Feb. 11, Northern Arizona University asked a variety of woman scientists why they chose their field and what advice they had for women and girls hoping to follow the same path.


Morgan Vigil-Hayes, assistant professor in the School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems

Lisa L.-H. Chien, assistant teaching professor, Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science (Dr. Chien teaches a course about women in astronomy and her work is heavily geared toward recruiting women into astronomy.)

Carol Chambers, professor, School of Forestry

Paloma Rose Davidson, assistant program manager, Department of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences

Denielle Perry, assistant professor, School of Earth and Sustainability

Faith Walker, assistant research professor, School of Forestry

Ying-Chen “Daphne” Chen, assistant professor, School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems

Laura Wasylenki, associate professor, School of Earth and Sustainability

Cristina Thomas, assistant professor, Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science

Ayla Martinez, fifth-year doctoral student in biology, Center for Ecosystem Science and Society

Clare Aslan, director and professor, School of Earth and Sustainability and co-director of the Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes

Melissa Sevigny, science reporter at KNAU and author of three science-focused books

Melanie Colavito, director of policy and communication, Ecological Restoration Institute

Erika Nowak, assistant research professor, School of Earth and Sustainability and Department of Biological Sciences

Jasmine Garani, lecturer, Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science

Diana Calvo, assistant professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental Engineering

Teki Sankey, associate professor, School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems