IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2007 - 37

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competition and the younger girls had a
chance to say their fond farewells to
Sarah and Maddie.
Diya remembers, "My opinion about
engineering was affected when I saw
Sarah and Maddie working for the team.
They are both so independent, and such
an inspiration when one sees what a vital
part of the team they are. They have really shown me what a large role women
can and do play in science."
If you are interested in sponsoring or
mentoring a local F.I.R.S.T team, visit
www.usfirst.org. To sponsor or work with
the Boston University Academy team,
visit www.burobotics.org.
-Gary Garber

A Place for Us
Museum exhibits bring women's
achievements to life

In downtown Attleboro, Massachusetts, a
bus full of tourists makes a stop in front
of an old mill building. As tourists
browse through the quaint shops and
view the beautiful brick buildings and
stone bridges, they are surprised to find
that the old mill building in front of
them is the home to the Women at Work
Museum, a place dedicated to honoring
the achievements of women throughout
history and around the world.
Since opening on 18 October 2003,
with the support of hundreds of collaborators, the museum has launched six
major exhibits and presented more than
40 free programs open to the public.
Exhibits showcase national and international programs that support achievement.
Full participation in most endeavors
in the 21st century requires at least a
basic knowledge of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
For businesses today, being able to compete in the global economy is increasingly driven by innovation and invention,
which is often made possible by advances
in technology. The museum fosters the
attitudes and behaviors necessary to support STEM literacy education and raises

Page 37

the awareness of families, educators,
businesses, and public policy makers
about the significant role STEM skills
play in expanding career opportunities
for individuals and sustaining a robust
national economy.

History Beyond the Books

conjunction with area schools and the
American Legion, the Reach for the Stars
program was presented and featured
Grace Corrigan, Challenger crew member Christa McAuliffe's mother; Lucy
Young, naval jet pilot; and Dr. Karen
Panetta, IEEE Women in Engineering
committee chair. In April, the Clara Barton Tea was a great success with those
who enjoy history and meeting Civil War
enactors.`

Paintings, paper illustrations, quilts,
photographs, and other creative endeavors reinforce the themes of each exhibit.
Living history presentations and performing artists bring to life the women
Changes in Time and Space
honored in the museum and interactive
Other successful endeavors include the
activities engage visitors of all ages in
"Defining Decades" exhibit, launched on
exploring issues of interest. Girls and
4 November 2006, a series of discussions
boys, as well as women and men, particiabout defining moments in history and
pate and produce a variety of innovative
how decades and eras are defined by the
and creative representations of what they
actions of individuals, organizations, and
learn at the museum including stories,
nations.
self-portraits, designs for dream museIn 2007, programs such as "Black
ums, mathematical origami, and plans
Holes and Exploding Stars" involved
for future travel in space.
youth and adults in exploring the imporWhile the women featured in the
tance of space science and using computmuseum may not be listed in history
ers to link to telescopes in space.
books, this in no way diminishes their
Presented by the Smithsonian Astrophysreal role in history, their commitment to
ical Observatory and the MIT Kavli Instiintellectual challenges, and their contritute for Astrophysics and Space
butions to the community in which they
Research, the program is an example of
lived and worked.
the level of collaboration that has made
For instance, the "Women Who Fly"
outstanding programming possible at
exhibit, on display from November 2005
the museum.
to October 2006, featured pilots, astroCollaboration is the cornerstone of
nauts, artists, dancers, and aththe museum's success. Workletes such as Marla Runyan.
ing among organizations
Legally blind in both eyes,
with mutual goals such as
Since 1993,
U.S. Olympian Runyan is
the Women's Memorial
the museum has
a middle distance runFoundation and IEEE,
launched six
ner and often speaks to
the museum develops
major exhibits and exciting and engaging
youth encouraging
them to "Believe in
programs that inform,
40 free
yourself, and show others
entertain, and inspire
programs.
what you can do. Only you
while maximizing its limitcan find your potential." At
ed resources.
the 2000 Summer Olympics in
November 2007 saw the openSydney, Australia, she proved to be the
ing of the exhibit "Initiating and Sustaineighth-fastest 1,500-meter female runner
ing Change," which presents a historical
in the world. Along with other women in
and futuristic perspective of individuals
the exhibit, Runyan illustrated the power
and organizations that have, and will,
of determination and courage and
initiate and sustain change. International
inspired people of all ages who visited the
and national issues are explored and conMuseum.
nected to local and state initiatives.
Events are held monthly and
Along with chambers of commerce,
designed to appeal to a variety of interschools, government officials, and culests. For example, on 13 June 2006, in
tural organizations, I look forward to the

WINTER 2007/2008

IEEE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

http://www.usfirst.org http://www.burobotics.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2007