Femme is STEM
Aquarium to host annual event
photo courtesy of North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher will host and celebrate women who work in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) this month, and organizers hope to inspire young women to tackle ongoing issues ranging from ocean pollution to climate change and much more in between.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 28, women representing 23 organizations and agencies will gather at the aquarium for the 2024 Femme in STEM event to showcase what they do in a wide variety of STEM fields.
Research shows that at middle school age, many girls start losing interest in science and other STEM subjects. The presenters at Femme in STEM, an event held annually since 2019, want to change that statistic.
GAIL LEMIEC, the unique experiences coordinator at the aquarium, says she hopes the event not only reaches “tween and teen girls who may see themselves in these fields and make the decision to go into the STEM field” but also helps the general public “understand the impact that women make in all STEM fields and why it is so important for more girls to pursue these fields.”
The Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, National Weather Service, Alcami Corporation, Airlie Gardens, and North Carolina Coastal Reserve are among the organizations participating, as well as various representatives from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, North Carolina State University, Catawba College, and the Young Scientist Academy.
The event will also include a bingo-style scavenger hunt that highlights different women in STEM from the past and present.
Women are significantly underrepresented in STEM careers, and Lemiec says events like Femme in STEM are vital to encourage a new generation of critical thinkers.
“The future of our planet depends on us being able to solve problems and challenges, and with the more diversity we have, the more success we will have,” she says. “We will be much better off if we have a diversity of minds working on these problems.”
The aquarium will also highlight the work they do with STEM fields.
“We are all about saving species at the Aquarium, and the people who are doing that work are in STEM,” Lemiec says. “We hope that everyone who comes is open-minded and will be willing to engage with the exhibitors who love sharing what they do and make it fun.”
With increased visitor awareness, the event has grown over the past five years, and organizers expect this year’s celebration to sell out. Advanced tickets are required and are available for purchase at ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher.
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