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Watervliet, NY
Girls from a small school district in upstate New York were exposed to fascinating careers through their participation in the Women in Science after-school program. With limited resources, such as computers and other research tools, this program provided girls will access to something more useful than equipment: real women scientists. Women, many from rural areas in upstate New York, who are now professionals in STEM fields visited the classroom to demonstrate the possibilities that lie ahead for the students. A few of the visiting scientists were even selected as favorite women in STEM.
Click on the scientists' names below to hear their stories.
| Florence Nightengale |
(1820-1910). A pioneer in nursing. Florence pushed for hospital reform to reduce the number of deaths caused by unclean conditions. |
| Elizabeth Blackwell |
(1821-1910). The first woman to earn a medical degree. Blackwell was rejected from 29 medicals schools before being accepted to Geneva Medical School, where she graduated at the top of her class. |
| Ruth Wakefield |
(1903-1977). The inventor of the chocolate-chip cookie. Ruth worked as a dietician and food lecturer before opening the Toll House Restaurant where she created her famous cookie recipe. |
| Sally Ride |
(b.1951). The first American woman in space. Sally didn’t always want to be an astronaut; she also considered becoming a professional tennis player. |
| Elaine Woermann |
A fingerprint analyst for the New York State criminal justice system. She enjoys helping police find crime suspects. |
| Kari Murad |
A microbiology professor at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. Kari researched the possibility of a universal blood-type that all patients could use for blood transfusions. |
| Michel Hardaker |
A veterinarian who runs her own veterinary hospital in Albany, NY. Michel mainly works with small animals or, as she calls them, “pocket pets.” The most difficult part of her job is sharing the sadness felt by someone who has lost a pet. |
| Maria LaTour |
An analytic chemist at General Electric. Maria studied fashion design in college, but it was her chemistry class that interested her the most. |
| Rebecca Keller |
A cardiac physiologist at Albany Medical College in Albany, NY. Rebecca has a very busy schedule, but is dedicated to researching treatments for heart disease because it is the #1 cause of death among women. |
| Laurie Purcell |
An embalmer and professor at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY. Purcell became interested in mortuary science while living between two funeral homes as a child. |
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Back to: Who Inspires you? |
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