Speakers encourage women to join math, science fields

Thursday at the Celebrating Women in Math and Science Fields event at the Havre High School auditorium, keynote speaker Leslie Ruyle and Master of Ceremonies Jayne Morrow, as well as several other woman from across the area, talked about their experiences in science, technology, engineering and math fields.

"We are here to highlight and recognize outstanding women currently filling leadership roles in the area of math and science, as well as to inspire and encourage our young folks to seek and research their own possibilities in the area of math and science," HPS Special Education Director Karla Geda said.

The event was hosted by Havre Public Schools, Montana State University-Northern and Montana State University, she said.

Morrow, MSU Research and Economic Development assistant vice president, said that she wanted everyone to take a moment to consider the teachers and mentors, parents, friends and champions who have helped mold them into who they are and how they view the world.

She added that, as women in math and science fields, they have a responsibility for holding one another up and supporting each other's findings and discoveries, as well as responsibility for helping one another along on each other's journeys.

Some moments are pure joy and others are pure frustration, she said, but that is part of the adventure as a person journeys into STEM.

She said one of the most influential women in STEM was Marie Curie, a Polish and French-naturalized physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.

"Marie Curie truly understood what it is to be a scientist and what it means in terms of devotion," Morrow said. "Scientist and engineers devote their lives to inquiry and creativity, we strive to challenge each other to seek out answers to questions we have about the work and we drive to make the world a better place for everyone."

Curie's legacy is recognized around the world not only for her scientific discoveries but for also overcoming several of the gender barriers of her time, Morrow said. She added that Curie was the first woman to receive a doctorate in the entire country of France, was the first woman to be hired as a professor at the University of Paris and was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize as well as being the first person to win the Nobel Prize twice.

"The passion and desire for learning that comes from our teachers our educators and our mentors, they put hope in our hearts and fuel our brains with knowledge," Morrow said. "They challenge us to embark on a path of discovery and they hold us accountable to live up to our full potential. Teachers and mentors build lasting relationships with us, they pick us up when we fall, they support us when we struggle and they inspire us to learn in innovative ways and challenge our own thinking and perceptions."

Morrow shared a quote from Curie: "You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think can be most useful."

Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University Assistant Professor Ruyle said that her life has been an amazing adventure, but is unsure how she was able to get where she is, coming from where she was. She said that she learned a lot through the years, starting her life in Colorado working on her family's turkey farm, to being a top scientist and traveling the world for research and conservation work.

"Don't let your worries about the unknown hold you back. Do your research, make your plan and dare to live your dreams," she said. "Value what makes you different ... embrace those differences; those are your superpowers. You have experience unlike anyone else and that is valuable. Your future is all about what you dream and how you use your grit and your superpowers to make it happen."

Ruyle said she has had many opportunities to work with amazing scientists and other people. She added that the Peace Corps was a huge opportunity for her to grow. Once she began teaching at Texas A&M she also began to take students with her on scientific studies all around the world. She also helps entrepreneurs in third world countries who have businesses geared toward conservation and benefiting the communities.

What she is doing now is working on putting science and policy together to solve issues across the world, she said.

"Money and fear was always my biggest worry and what held me back," Ruyle said. "I wanted to study abroad in college, but I couldn't quite raise enough money, I also wanted to travel, but I was really afraid to do it by myself. But I learned that neither of those things really needed to hold me back, I just needed to be a little bit more creative and more assertive. I encourage you to take advantage of every moment and every opportunity."

NRCS Civil Engineering Technician Faith Hill, Maryse Bourgault of Northern Agricultural Research Center, NARC Research Scientist Peggy Lamb and Northern Associate Professor Terri Hildebrand led a panel discussion at the event.

Hildebrand said that there are some big challenges that face the country and the world in the future, such as the changing political and social world and climate change. She added that, looking forward, the world is going to need forward thinking people in the STEM fields.

Bourgault said that, no matter what people do, there will always be parts of life that are problems, whether they are big science questions or sexual harassment. She said that it is important that people understand what is the appropriate reaction to these problems and that takes wisdom.

Hill said that she, herself, doesn't think she is very innovative, but being innovative doesn't always have to be having big ideas. At times, something that may seem easy or common-sense to one person may appear to be innovative to another.

Lamb said that people run into struggles every day, at work, at home, but they are something that helps a person grow stronger. People need to remain motivated in pursuing their goals as also continue to work toward something.

At the event, Morrow also recognized 14 of Havre Public School's female math and science teachers for their hard work and commitment to their students.

VMware, a software company that spent 10 days working with HPS to work with teachers and administration on how to utilize technology, also sent a special message for the event. Several of the company's female directors and team leaders encouraged students to pursue their dreams and not limit themselves according to what society expects of them.

Ruyle said that people need to remain strong within themselves and take opportunities wherever they can find them. Women need to remain strong and confident, as well as work with everyone for a better future.

"There is no perfect place. It's what you make of it," Ruyle said. "Friends and relationships are golden, surround yourself with people who you admire. True friends are for life, no matter the last time you spoke to them. Be positive, be fearless and be confident. Men have known this for years. It's our turn."