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Women in STEM: Working to Bridge the Gap
It's no surprise that women are underrepresented in the world of STEM. Whether it's internal stigma or external barriers, here at Rose-Hulman, we are working to create an even playing field for women looking to get into the industry.
Dr. Kimberly Henthorn is the Department Head of Chemical Engineering and Associate Professor here at Rose-Hulman. She specializes in particle technology and two-phase microfluidic systems, and is currently conducting research with students on the science and engineering of chocolate production.
A member of Rose-Hulman’s first coed freshman class, Dr. Henthorn is not only an alumna, but a born and raised Indianan, as well as an advisor for the campus’ Delta Delta Delta sorority chapter.
Dr. Henthorn joins our student hosts Isaac and Reese chat about coming to a predominantly male school, how she has seen the field change with more female representation, highlights the positive progress over the past years, and offers a number of resources for girls interested in the STEM field.
Episode Quotes:
The impact of female voice in the STEM field
09:00: I think as engineers, sometimes people think all we care about is the math and the science, but there's a lot more to it than just that. If all we did was math and science, then that would be pretty awful. We have a lot of other things that we need to take into consideration. There's going to be environmental impacts and societal impacts, you know, in the field of biochemistry or even biomedical engineering. If you're designing a device that can suit all body shapes, women's bodies are different than men's bodies. And so, if you don't have that female voice on the design team, those kinds of differences might not be recognized. And so, by having more females in these various areas, we as a society have gotten a lot better in designing processes that can better suit the needs of the population.
Fearless in STEM, embracing opportunities at Rose-Hulman
24:41: Don't be intimidated by people who tell you that you can't do it because you can. And if you feel like you don't have that nurturing environment to study STEM, come to Rose-Hulman because we will take care of you and make you feel welcome.
Empowering voices for women in STEM
12:02: I've never been afraid to be different; I've been different my whole life. So, I don't mind being the first at something. Somebody has got to be the first. That's what I tell my daughters. I want to instill in them that they shouldn't let someone tell them that they can't do something or scare them into thinking they can't do it just because they're different. You just got to do it. I believe representation in STEM, with a lot of women around to send that message, is going to be important to growing that women demographic in STEM.
Show Links:
- Rose Power Camp
- Project SELECT | Rose-Hulman
- National Academy of Engineering
- EngineerGirl
- Physics Girl - YouTube
- Girls Who Code
- ChickTech
Guest Profile:
- Kimberly H. Henthorn | Rose-Hulman
- Kimberly Henthorn | LinkedIn
View all episodes
By Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyIt's no surprise that women are underrepresented in the world of STEM. Whether it's internal stigma or external barriers, here at Rose-Hulman, we are working to create an even playing field for women looking to get into the industry.
Dr. Kimberly Henthorn is the Department Head of Chemical Engineering and Associate Professor here at Rose-Hulman. She specializes in particle technology and two-phase microfluidic systems, and is currently conducting research with students on the science and engineering of chocolate production.
A member of Rose-Hulman’s first coed freshman class, Dr. Henthorn is not only an alumna, but a born and raised Indianan, as well as an advisor for the campus’ Delta Delta Delta sorority chapter.
Dr. Henthorn joins our student hosts Isaac and Reese chat about coming to a predominantly male school, how she has seen the field change with more female representation, highlights the positive progress over the past years, and offers a number of resources for girls interested in the STEM field.
Episode Quotes:
The impact of female voice in the STEM field
09:00: I think as engineers, sometimes people think all we care about is the math and the science, but there's a lot more to it than just that. If all we did was math and science, then that would be pretty awful. We have a lot of other things that we need to take into consideration. There's going to be environmental impacts and societal impacts, you know, in the field of biochemistry or even biomedical engineering. If you're designing a device that can suit all body shapes, women's bodies are different than men's bodies. And so, if you don't have that female voice on the design team, those kinds of differences might not be recognized. And so, by having more females in these various areas, we as a society have gotten a lot better in designing processes that can better suit the needs of the population.
Fearless in STEM, embracing opportunities at Rose-Hulman
24:41: Don't be intimidated by people who tell you that you can't do it because you can. And if you feel like you don't have that nurturing environment to study STEM, come to Rose-Hulman because we will take care of you and make you feel welcome.
Empowering voices for women in STEM
12:02: I've never been afraid to be different; I've been different my whole life. So, I don't mind being the first at something. Somebody has got to be the first. That's what I tell my daughters. I want to instill in them that they shouldn't let someone tell them that they can't do something or scare them into thinking they can't do it just because they're different. You just got to do it. I believe representation in STEM, with a lot of women around to send that message, is going to be important to growing that women demographic in STEM.
Show Links:
- Rose Power Camp
- Project SELECT | Rose-Hulman
- National Academy of Engineering
- EngineerGirl
- Physics Girl - YouTube
- Girls Who Code
- ChickTech
Guest Profile:
- Kimberly H. Henthorn | Rose-Hulman
- Kimberly Henthorn | LinkedIn