SISTER

A selfie of the author wearing glasses and a scarf with her hair blowing in the wind.

Letting Go of Perfectionism During a Pandemic

Maybe if I am perfect, I will finally convince everyone that I deserve my place in academia.

Showing off my 3D Printed Crown inspired by Queen Ramona from Black Panther on the set of our educational show, MLAB. 2018

Black women in STEM are doing the work. Why do we refuse to support them?

It matters if the STEM organizations you’re supporting are Black-led or not. Here’s why.

The author is sitting on a rock looking out at a redrocks and a sunset.

A Framework for Coping with Loss in Graduate School

There were no how-to articles or university guidelines for dealing with such a catastrophic loss, and I found myself irrationally wondering if I was doing something wrong.

Mitra holds her hand up to her mouth like a megaphone. She's in a crowd and wearing a Sunrise shirt that says "good jobs and a livable future."

Why young people in STEM should mobilize for a Green New Deal

I never thought I’d have to choose between doing my schoolwork and fighting for a livable future.

The author outside of Rep. James Langevin's office in Congress, holding up her advocacy day materials.

Bringing Your Interdisciplinary Background and Identity to Science Advocacy

In many of my roles as a food systems scholar and public servant, I noticed my uniqueness in these spaces.

The author is speaking at a podium outside with a sign in front of it that says "Science = Justice." There's a large banner behind her that says "March for Science New York City." Someone is holding an umbrella over her head.

Science Advocacy: Going Virtual for Earth Day 50

Three years since the first March for Science, the importance of science and evidence-based policies still cannot be understated.

Illustration of two people doing the "shhh" motion back to back, and a columned brick academic building appears upside down as their reflection.

Life After Title IX

You’re told when you file a Title IX that you are making academia safer. That is a lie.

The author poses in a lab next to a small shelf of fungus specimens.

Sexism shapes the way we think about supervisors in STEM

There is an expectation for female supervisors to be extra caring, sensitive, and nice.

Line drawing of the six women featured in the article. Black lines on a light pink background.

Six Must-Watch TED Talks by Women STEM Leaders

Six leaders share their visions for what equity in STEM could look like.

A woman wearing a hardhat, safety gloves, and Juno Jones shoes poses confidently among wood boards at a construction site.

How a new footwear startup is normalizing women in hazardous fields

Being “seen” in the workplace can feel like a lot of different things.

What does this year’s Women’s March mean to you?

I’ve decided that the Women’s March is both monumental and imperfect, important and complicated.

Women scientists form a human pride flag, forming 6 rows of rainbow stripes on the bow of a boat with their different colored clothing. The people are smiling, some with their arms triumphantly up. There is wavy grey water in the background.

Why We Formed a Human Pride Flag in Antarctica

I wanted to be open about my sexuality. I wanted to be an advocate for inclusion. Having a pride flag was a key part of that message.

A peek at the yellow cover of the zine, "In Their Footseps" and a peek at interior pages, including hand-drawn line illustrations and hand-written text.

In Their Footsteps: How I fell in love with zines for science communication

As somebody who had struggled to express myself creatively before, I wanted to experiment with this medium both for science communication and for myself.

A macro photo of an ant queen. She is dark red with wings. She is sitting on a blade of grass, preparing to take flight.

Insects can’t be virgins and you should stop calling them that

Why I will not put the word “virgin” on my ants.

An illustration of a colorful board-game path winding through various words and phrases like mental health, build a network, get advice.

What I Wish I Knew as a First-Generation Biology Student

The culmination of my four years at university left me with one piece of paper, and I felt robbed.

The author is standing in front of a building with columns and marble steps with students sitting on them. It looks like an academic campus.

International students should be allowed to share their science, too

Even though almost one-third of all STEM doctorate recipients in the U.S. are international students, their voices are seldom represented.

Selfie of the author wearing sunglasses, a backpack, and athletic clothes with gray mountains and greenery in the background.

In defense of the 9-5: flexible hours aren’t productive hours

This summer, I had the unique opportunity to finish my PhD research in an industry lab. Same me, same project, same advisor, different environment.

Jewel speaks into a microphone with a wood-paneled wall and a sign that says "The Outrage" behind her. She is wearing a shirt that says "unapologetically feminist scientist."

Why I Strike for Climate as a Salt Marsh Ecologist

Our salt marsh isn’t just changing due to climate change, it’s being totally lost.