What role does pop culture play in inspiring girls in STEM?

[Frank W. Baker]

 
Young people are exposed to too few positive female role models in science, Sai Pathmanathan, a science education consultant, writes in this opinion piece. She observes that many students love science and asks why more do not choose it as a career, reflecting also on the interactions in her life that might have started her on a path to science. "For those without access to such science capital, perhaps over a period of time, encountering a broader range of attainable role models -- including a stronger representation of female scientists -- could make a difference to future career aspirations," she writes