Presentation by Andrea Lucky

Women in Science: Gender Lessons Learned While Studying Ants
by Andrea Lucky, PhD
December 2, 2020 | 11 AM - 12 PM Eastern Time
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Zoom Link: https://msu.zoom.us/j/94610796573
Meeting ID: 946 1079 6573
Passcode: 713354
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About Andrea:
I am a biodiversity scientist and evolutionary biologist. Most of my research focuses on ants: documenting the amazing diversity of native ant communities around the world, and also studying the devastating negative impacts of invasive ants. A different branch of my work focuses on science education. I run programs with community science projects, teachers, museums, and other non-university audiences to make science come alive, helping people see what “doing” science really means.
 
About the talk:
Many women professionals in science have experienced being the sole woman on the project, the field team, editorial board, or panel at a conference. Too often, this underrepresentation of women in visible and prestigious positions is attributed to the lack of women experts. In reality, women may be overlooked, rather than absent. By studying gender dynamics in my own field, Myrmecology (the study of ants), I was able to document the underrepresentation of women and call for specific measures to address barriers to women’s success. What is needed most to achieve gender parity in this field (and others) is active support for a rising generation of women professionals. This starts with the youngest women: girls in elementary school, and extends from college and graduate-level training, through young professionals. I’ll outline concrete recommendations to support the advancement of women in STEM fields.