“No More Hidden Figures” – Museum hosts presentation by Shaw president, July 18
For immediate release ‐ June 30, 2017
Contact: Emelia Cowans-Taylor, 919.707.9837. Images available upon request
RALEIGH, N.C. — Minorities and women are frequently underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In an effort to help empower the next generation of STEM professionals, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences presents “No More Hidden Figures: STEM Diversity in the 21st Century” — a free presentation by Shaw University President Dr. Tashni Dubroy — Tuesday, July, 18 at 7 p.m. The presentation is held in conjunction with the Museum’s current exhibition, “RACE: Are We So Different?” which explores race and racism in the Unites States through the lens of science, history and lived experiences. For more information, visit www.naturalsciences.org/race
A chemist by discipline, Dubroy is the youngest and third female president of Shaw University and the founder of the Brilliant and Beautiful Foundation (BBF), which supports the aspirations of women in scientific research and scientific enterprise. Adapted from the title of the 2016 major motion picture with the same name, “No More Hidden Figures” suggests that women are virtually invisible in STEM fields. While half of the college educated population in the U.S. are women, only 29 percent secure positions in science and engineering. The movie tells the stories of three African-American women who played a vital role in the NASA space program that sent John Glenn into orbit. Several family members of one of these women, Dorothy Vaughan, will be in attendance for the lecture. Radio One Raleigh’s Karen Clark from Foxy 107/104 will serve as host for the evening.
According to the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the numbers of young girls performing well on standardized tests are increasing compared to 30 years ago when there were 13 boys for every girl who scored above 700 on SAT math exams. Gaps also exist between males and females in areas of STEM in grades K-12 and the gap grows even larger when looking into different factors such as ethnic background and socioeconomic status. Dubroy will speak to these gaps, share the story of her own STEM journey, and provide a valuable framework for young people hoping to pursue STEM fields.
No registration is required for the lecture. For more information, contact Emelia Cowans-Taylor at 919.707.9837 or via email at emelia.cowans@naturalsciences.org.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh (11 and 121 W. Jones St.) is an active research institution that engages visitors of every age and stage of learning in the wonders of science and the natural world, drawing them into the intriguing fields of study that are critical to the future of North Carolina. Hours: Mon.– Sat., 9 a.m. –5 p.m., and Sun., noon–5 p.m. General admission is free. Visit the Museum online at naturalsciences.org. Emlyn Koster, PhD, Museum Director.