Weather Wednesday: Women in STEM, starting a conversation
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Across the United States the month of March is known as Women's History Month. It is a month to remember the contributions women past and present have made to American history.
Smack in the middle of the month is a day math and science nerds across the country love to celebrate, as well as to start a conversation about women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
March 14th is known across the country as 'pi day' since the date, 3/14 is the same as the first three digits of pi or one of the most well-known numbers in math. It is also the mathematician and scientist Albert Einstein's birthday. March 14th is also known as Dress For STEM Day, a day dedicated to celebrating women working in the STEM career field and acknowledging there is still a lot more to be done.
What started as a decision to wear matching dresses one day on air for a group of female broadcast meteorologists turned into a decades-old event for anyone, not just women, to advocate for increased female representation in STEM fields.
Research has shown that by the time young girls reach middle school age their interest in the STEM field declines rapidly. This is because of the negative stereotype that if girls are interested in science, they are too nerdy and quirky. By the time girls are getting ready for college fewer than 10% of them indicate the intention to major in a STEM-related field. Most of the time women in STEM are often the minority in college courses as well as in the professional workforce. It's known that women make up nearly half the workforce here in the United States, but research shows that only 28% of women are in STEM careers.
By wearing purple for STEM, it is a reminder that STEM careers are an option as well as including women and girls of any age both young and old in STEM activities, and extracurricular groups, and encouraging their interest in these areas.
As a meteorologist and a journalist here at WLNS, I am proud to be a member of the STEM community. I am also proud to be a part of a weather team that is mostly female. Not only that, but we also have a strong female on-air presence from Sheri Jones to Chivon Kloepfer as well as the weekend team and everyone that is behind the scenes.
If you want to support and start the conversation about promoting gender equality in STEM, join this movement by wearing purple, starting conversations and sharing photos on March 14. Participants are encouraged to start discussions about the need for more women in STEM by sharing their photos wearing purple on social media using the hashtag #DressForSTEM.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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