ACTON: Who do you see when you picture a scientist? Do you see a stranger in a lab coat, or perhaps a family member, a friend, or a neighbor down the street? Do you see yourself when you picture a scientist? Discovery Museum’s newest exhibit, Picture Yourself: Women in STEAM, features portraits of local female scientists painted by local female artists, with panels that describe each scientist’s work, hobbies, backgrounds, and childhood interests. Displayed throughout the Museum, together the portraits depict a range of ethnicities, backgrounds, research areas, professions, interests, and childhood memories. Each scientist portrayed in the exhibit has completed the Discovery Museum Science & Engineering Communication Fellowship program, which trains local scientists and engineers to effectively communicate to the public about their work and research, culminating in a Meet the Scientists event at the Museum on a free-admission Friday night.

EVENT 1: September 29 from 6pm-7:30pm, presented Virtually via Zoom
Registration required: https://26033.blackbaudhosting.com/26033/Picture-Yourself-A-Virtual-Celebration-of-Women-in-STEAM or https://bit.ly/3DZFhVd

Listen in as a group of local scientists and artists talk about their work, research, and interests, and be inspired as you learn why they find science and art cool and exciting. They’ll answer your questions as they share what it’s like to be a scientist and artist. Your registration confirmation will include a short survey to provide your questions for the artists and scientists in advance—including whether you or your child would like to ask a question live during the event. This live, virtual event is for children, ages 7+ years, and their caregivers to enjoy together.

Featuring:
 

• Professor Piali Sengupta – Sensory Neuroscientist, Professor of Biology, Brandeis University
• Professor Maureen Ritchey – Cognitive Neuroscientist, Assistant Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, Boston College
• Dr. Suanna Selby Crowley – Geoarcheologist, Founder, HeadFort Consulting
• Ellice Patterson, M.S. – Biologist, Founder/Artistic and Executive Director, Abilities Dance; Executive Director, BalletRox
• Katie Runde – Contemporary realist painter, Bristol, Vermont

EVENT 2: October 2, 1pm–3pm, in person at 177 Main Street, Acton, MA
To attend: This event is during public hours at the Museum. Advanced reservations are required to visit the Museum and can be made 10 days in advance at www.discoveryacton.org.

Visit each of 6 portraits installed around the Museum and meet the local scientists and artists who are represented in the exhibit or who created these amazing works of art. Learn about their work, research, and interests, and discover why they find science and art cool and exciting. They’ll answer your questions as they share what it’s like to be a scientist or artist.

Featuring:
 

• Professor Bulbul Chakraborty – Condensed Matter Theorist, Professor of Physics, Brandeis University (Pictured)
• Professor Maureen Ritchey – Cognitive Neuroscientist, Assistant Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, Boston College
• Dr. Suanna Selby Crowley – Geoarcheologist, Founder, HeadFort Consulting
• Ellice Patterson, M.S. – Biologist, Founder/Artistic and Executive Director, Abilities Dance; Executive Director, BalletRox
• Wing Na Wong – Photorealist painter, Danbury, Connecticut

The exhibit is made possible in part by an IF/THEN® Gender Equity Grant, a program created through a partnership between the Association of Science and Technology Centers and IF/THEN®, an initiative of Lyda Hill Philanthropies. This is the second round of the grant program designed to support U.S.-based ASTC member museums as they embark on projects to increase the representation of women and gender minorities in STEM across museum content.

To learn more about the exhibit, visit https://www.discoveryacton.org/exhibit/picture-yourself-women-steam.