Women across all STEM fields are wearing purple to raise awareness over the underrepresentation of women in STEM. This is the seventh year the Dress for STEM event is taking place in an attempt to celebrate women in STEM from the past and present as well as encourage the next generation of women in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Participants are encouraged to show off their purple attire on social media using the hashtag #DressForSTEM.
"I'm extremely proud to be a woman in STEM and even more honored to be one of the 29%,” meteorologist Star Harvey said in a tweet. “Who else is rocking purple today to help raise awareness about the need for more women in careers of science, technology, engineering, and math?”
The day is shared with national Pi Day, a tribute to the mathematical constant, Pi. The date, March 14, coincides with the first three numbers of the variable pi, 3.14.
“Our goal is to use our collaborative purple attire as a conversation starter about the stark underrepresentation of women in STEM while simultaneously highlighting female STEM role models,” said Dress for STEM organizer, Julia Leopold, a meteorologist, and science communicator. “Again, this year, we want to shine a spotlight on female trailblazers who paved the way for the rest of us, while encouraging the next generation of female scientists to blaze their own trail.”
Research shows that interest in STEM fields declines in middle school for girls due to the lack of representation. Now, women from all STEM fields are inspiring young girls to get involved in this discipline.
“Today I’m wearing purple on @SpectrumNews1WI to bring awareness to the need for more women in STEM,” meteorologist Brooke Brighton said in a tweet. “I instantly fell in love with weather & I look forward to using my position to create an excitement for STEM for future generations of smart & driven young women."
