Community members gathered to watch Picture a Scientist and participate in a post-film “reel talk” panel discussion as part of Women’s Month. This award-winning documentary, screened at the Lyric Theatre March 5, explores the gender inequities and pervasive challenges — ranging from overt harassment to subtle biases — that women in science face every day.

About the Film
    Picture a Scientist traces its roots to the late 1990s when groundbreaking studies first revealed the stark gender disparities in STEM. Through the personal journeys of trailblazing researchers like Nancy Hopkins, Raychelle Burks, Jane Willenbring, and others, the film exposes how harassment, discrimination, and systemic and insidious bias have long hindered progress. The narratives in the film inspire the viewer to consider questions like:

  • How do we strengthen a culture where those benefiting from a corrupt system take action against policies, procedures, and actions that harm others?

  • How do systemic inequities — such as limited lab space, unequal pay, and the stigma around taking family leave — affect career progression?

  • Why is concrete data so crucial for proving and addressing these disparities?

  • What role does representation play in inspiring the next generation of scientists?

These women’s powerful stories are a call to reimagine a scientific community that is more diverse, equitable, and just.

Panel Highlights
    Led by Carrie Kroehler, associate director of the Center for Communicating Science, our panel featured inspiring voices from Virginia Tech, including:

  • Phyllis Newbill – Associate director of the Center for Educational Networks and Impacts, who shared her journey from leaving the traditional scientific pipeline to discovering that her challenges in science echoed her female counterparts.

  • Kim Lester – Director of pre-college engineering programs, who detailed her extensive work with outreach initiatives that foster young, underrepresented voices in STEM.

  • Vanessa Diaz – Assistant professor in psychology and co-director of the Girls Launch! project, which facilitates graduate students to serve as female role models in science for kindergarteners.

  • Rachel Reid – Research assistant professor in geosciences and organizer for the WInGS seminar series, advocating for widening inclusivity in the (geo)sciences.

  • Amber Wendler – a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biological Sciences, who shared her commitment to supporting students of color and queer/non-binary students in STEM through student organizations, authorship, and film-making.

  • Thiviya Karuppasamy – Undergraduate research assistant in public health and microbiology, who added fresh perspectives on the challenges faced by emerging scientists.

    The panelists discussed their personal barriers, the importance of mentorship, and the critical role of data in exposing systemic inequities. They emphasized that the challenges depicted in the film are part of a broader social system — one that demands our continuous advocacy and action.

A Timeline of Change and a Crossroads Ahead
    Over the past two decades, milestones — from the 1999 MIT study on women in science to initiatives like Girls Who Code, Laboratoria, and NASA’s first all-female spacewalk — have proven that progress is possible. However, while 2020, the year the film was released, marked a high point of hope and achievement, recent shifts in policies and leadership cast uncertainty over the future of these transformative programs, a member of the audience pointed out.

Looking Ahead                                                                                      

    “If you believe that passion and ability for science is evenly distributed among the sexes, then if you don’t have women, you have lost half of the best people,” states Hopkins in the film. “Can we really afford to lose those top scientists?”

    Panelists expressed hope that the insights from Picture a Scientist inspire action. Mentoring young scientists, participating in community outreach, and supporting organizations that champion equity in STEM were among the approaches the panelists suggested to help build a future where every scientist thrives.

    The screening of Picture a Scientist was sponsored by AdvanceVT, Center for Communicating Science, Women’s Center, Center for Educational Networks and Impacts, College of Science, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Psychology Department, Geosciences Department, Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED), and Widening Inclusivity in the (Geo)Sciences (WInGS).

    For more information on upcoming events and initiatives, visit our events page.

By Erin Smith, Center for Communicating Science project coordinator