Women in Science and Engineering

The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) initiative at the Museum of Science aims to serve as a catalyst of lifelong learning by encouraging girls to fill the STEM pipeline with a focus on equity and inclusion; supporting women in the STEM pipeline by creating a community of professionals through networks, mentoring, and career development; and strengthening a woman’s agency around her own STEM learning to make informed decisions.

The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Committee, founded in 1997, was created by a group of women affiliated with the Museum as trustees, overseers, and donors to suggest and support programs designed specifically for women and girls to learn about STEM at the Museum. The Committee hosts a biannual forum, the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Speaker Series, enabling a diverse audience of interested girls, women, and men to learn about the career path and life experiences of distinguished female STEM professionals, exchange ideas, and build connections.

The WISE Committee continuously strives to find new ways to engage women and girls through a variety of programming led by the Museum. In 2012, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the committee and the Speaker Series’ inception, committee members established the Women in Science and Engineering Endowed (WISE) Innovation Fund. This fund, the first endowment established by a Museum affinity group, supports innovative and experimental programming to promote the development of women and girls in STEM fields.