By Sydney Williams
The impact of female scientists throughout history has altered the way we understand and interact with the universe. Marie Curie pioneered research in radioactivity and Sara Seager discovered 715 planets beyond our solar system. American physicist and astronaut Sally Ride did more than become the first American woman in outer space. Her legacy, Sally Ride Science, was founded in 2001. Three years after her death in 2012, her for-profit company joined in partnership with UC San Diego, where Ride had been a professor of physics for 20 years. Today, Sally Ride Science at UCSD carries on Ride’s legacy with innovative programs to promote diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as a nonprofit organization. It encourages all students, and especially girls from underrepresented communities, to become scientifically literate and consider careers in STEM.
The nonprofit has driven countless youth towards investing in their own futures and educating themselves in STEM, a field in constantly growing demand. We had the opportunity to speak with Sally Ride Science senior writer and editor, Margaret King, to bring you an inside perspective on this organization.
Each Sally Ride Science Festival featured a keynote speech by a woman astronaut. Ride is shown talking to girls at a 2009 festival. Sally Ride Science photo.
What was your inspiration in becoming a team member at Sally Ride Science?
I was a newspaper editor before joining Sally Ride Science in 2009. After working with journalists, who tend to be cynical, I was surprised by how idealistic the Sally Ride Science staff was and how devoted everyone was to Sally’s mission of inspiring students in STEM. I soon recognized that Sally had a quiet charisma. She was a low-key person, but she conveyed a powerful sense of the importance of what we were doing. Even now, as Sally Ride Science celebrates its 20th anniversary, I feel a strong commitment to Sally’s mission and to keeping her legacy alive.
What programs does Sally Ride Science offer?
These programs, overseen by UC San Diego Extension, include the summer Junior Academy, free STEM workshops with local library branches, professional development courses for educators, and community events, including the annual Women in Leadership panel discussion. (This year it’s a virtual event on May 20.)
Sally Ride Science Junior Academy is a summer program that was launched in 2016, after Sally Ride Science became part of UC San Diego. The academy offers dozens of STEAM (STEM plus arts) workshops for elementary, middle school, and high school students. Topics range from Astrobiology to Marine Biodiversity and from Python Programming to Website Design. Nearly 1,500 students have taken part, many of them on scholarships. Because of the pandemic, this year’s academy, from July 12 to August 6, 2021, will be online.
Girls work on an engineering project at the 2018 Sally Ride Science Junior Academy. The summer program was launched after Sally Ride Science became part of UC San Diego. Margaret King photo.
Can you tell us about how the organization facilitates the engagement of girls in astroscience?
After she became the first American woman in space in 1983, Sally quickly realized that her example was a powerful tool to get girls excited about space exploration and science in general. Later, she and her life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, became increasingly concerned about the lack of women in science and engineering careers. They did some research and found that girls have as much ability and interest in science as boys do, but girls tend to drift away from science in late elementary school and middle school. This happens in part because girls don’t see people who look like them in science careers, and they don’t think they belong in science. Trying to narrow the gender gap in STEM fields, Sally and Tam joined with three friends to start a science education company.
Since its founding 20 years ago, Sally Ride Science has worked to inspire young people in STEM fields in part by showing them real women and men of all backgrounds doing meaningful work in STEM fields. During Sally’s lifetime, the company did this with Sally Ride Science Festivals around the country where girls could hear a keynote speech from a female astronaut. The company also published a Cool Careers in STEM book series and offered training for teachers on how to incorporate diverse role models into their science instruction. Today, as a nonprofit based at UC San Diego, Sally Ride Science continues to inspire students with programs that incorporate diverse STEM role models.
What message do you want to share with young girls and women who have a passion for science?
We have made progress in diversifying STEM studies and careers, but girls and women still face serious obstacles. Girls can be discouraged by negative stereotypes of scientists and by the unconscious biases of parents and teachers. Women pursuing STEM studies and careers often encounter condescension or even harassment. If you are a girl or woman with a passion for science, look for role models who can inspire you and mentors who can support you as you navigate these obstacles to realize your dream.
The staff of Sally Ride Science clowns around in a 2011 photo taken for Ride’s 60th birthday. At center in the light-colored cardigan is Tam O’Shaughnessy, Sally Ride Science cofounder. Sally Ride Science photo.
Women, girls, and people of color are too often left in the shadows when it comes to furthering their education in STEM. Sally Ride Science exists to help close the gap of opportunities and information available to underrepresented and underprivileged populations. This organization - Sally Ride Science - accepts donations and support from the community to continue their efforts to positively impact the lives of future generations. You can join their fight, register your kids for a life changing program, and donate today.