Pathways to STEM Success
- Chemistry
This forensic scientist is taking crime science out of the lab
Kelly Knight uses her past struggles and passion for forensics to inspire her students.
- Math
Lack of diversity in his field has troubled this mathematician
As a kid, Edray Goins didn’t like math. But he fell in love with the subject in college and is now training the next generation of minority mathematicians.
- Space
Before working on spacecraft, this engineer overcame self-doubt
Tiera Fletcher once dreamed of working on spacecraft. Gaining confidence helped her become an engineer who designs vehicles for moon or Mars travel.
- Earth
Desert trails and microbial life excite this soil scientist
To help her desert community, Lydia Jennings focuses her research on how mining affects soil microbes.
- Health & Medicine
This scientist wants to know how racial discrimination gets ‘under the skin’
Racism could have derailed Leticia Márquez-Magaña’s path to science. Now she studies the biological impact of stress faced by underrepresented groups.
- Earth
Weight lifting is this planetary scientist’s pastime
Beck Strauss uses magnetic fields to explore the makeup of Earth and other planets.
By Bryn Nelson - Earth
An accident didn’t stop this geologist from doing field work
Anita Marshall works to make it easier for other people with physical disabilities to pursue a research career.
- Animals
How an encounter with this odd-looking bird inspired a career
Kevin Burgio overcame many hardships to become a scientist. Now he studies how animals like the Carolina parakeet and Tasmanian tiger went extinct.
By Bryn Nelson - Brain
Curiosity drives this neuroscientist and artist
Christine Liu studies the brain on nicotine — and used Instagram to bring together women doing incredible science.
- Climate
This scientist wants to motivate you to fight climate change
Getting lost in science fiction helps Shahzeen Attari reimagine what our future could look like.