Women and Girls in Science Celebration 2020

The United Nations declared Feb. 11 as International Women and Girls in Science Day to further achieve gender equality and encourage more female participation in science. The University of Florida hosted special events across campus Feb. 10-19 in celebration.

We celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 15, and invited scientists, organizations and many UF departments to represent ways women and girls could find a path into the sciences. Our guest speaker was Jenny Tung, associate professor of biology at Duke University.

More than 1,200 people attended our day of scientific exploration. From butterflies and ants, to engineering and rockets, to geology and fossils, our galleries and patio were humming with activity all day!

four girls are dressed in field or lab gear

The U.N.’s International Women and Girls in Science Day is intended to further achieve gender equality and encourage more female participation in science. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

three visitors talk to a researcher at a table with a scale and binoculars

More than 1,200 Florida Museum visitors explored science and research as part of the U.N. initiative to change perceptions about representation in STEM fields. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

a woman and a girl look closely at a vial of bright fluid

Women and girls were invited to explore many aspects of science and research. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

two researchers talk to a young girl at a table covered in enlarged photos of ants

Insects were just one of the many topics of exploration at our hands-on day celebrating gender equality in scientific fields. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

two students look on as a young girl works on a circuit board kit

The Society of Women Engineers encouraged visitors to learn how to build a snap circuit. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

two girls in goggles explore objects a researcher is handing them

Many of the activities offered at this event were immersive and hands-on to remove the barriers of unfamiliarity and invite girls to get excited about careers in science. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

a parent watched her child interact with a researcher doing an activity with toothpicks and a cup

Less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women, and events like this create inspiration for girls to envision themselves working in a STEM field. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

Guest speaker

woman at podium speaking to audience — Our guest speaker was Jenny Tung, associate professor of biology at Duke University. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

Jenny Tung is an evolutionary anthropologist and geneticist who is investigating the connection between social experiences and health. She gave a presentation on “The Social Lives of Genomes: Lessons from our Primate Cousins.”

Tung was selected as a 2019 MacArthur Foundation Fellow. The MacArthur Fellowship is an annual cash award given to extraordinarily talented and creative individuals as an investment in their potential. The purpose of the program is to enable recipients to exercise their own creative instincts for the benefit of human society.