Bright orange 3D printed sculptures have made their way to NorthPark Center. The group of 120 life-sized statues commemorates the leading women in science, technology, engineering, and math. Drawn from all over the world, #IfThenSheCan recognizes the STEM field should be more accessible to young girls and women. Doctors, women with PhDs, athletes, and even a paleontologist are all featured on the meticulously landscaped lawn in CenterPark Garden at NorthPark.
“There is really no need to wait for someone’s permission,” post-doctoral researcher Beata Edyta Mierzwa says. Sporting blue hair at the time, she says this brimming with prosperity and knowledge. Her likeness lives among #IfThenSheCan, an exhibit that highlights the accomplishments of women, through understanding their careers and roles in society.
Myria Perez, a paleontologist at the Perot Museum in the visible paleo lab, is honored to have been chosen. “We are contemporary people out in the field doing science,” Perez says. Passionate about geology since childhood, Perez hopes to inspire young aspiring scientists. Volunteering since she was twelve, Perez’s career has culminated into something she is proud of.
Paleontology, the study of ancient life, consists of many aspects according to Perez. Her specific duty as a preparator is to unearth fossils as well as work in a lab and conduct field work. Some of her work consists of cleaning fossils including fossils from Northern Alaskan Pachyrhinosaurus. As a woman in the field, she is dedicated to sharing more about paleontology as well as her path with other women. “I feel incredibly honored to be a part of this. It is a culture shift that If/Then is doing. We are changing what scientists look like, and breaking stereotypes, and what science jobs actually look like,” she says.
Rooted in the universal truth, seeing is believing, the exhibition shares the reality of women working in STEM. Using the form of 3D statues, If/Then refutes the notion that statues are reserved for men as evidenced throughout history. According to a study from former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios, less than half a dozen statues of women exist in the top ten cities, ranging from western cities such as Los Angeles and Phoenix to New York, and Philadelphia.
The monumental exhibition exists to inform and inspire as well as create an interactive space for the viewer. With scannable QR codes, and online resources, the exhibition is accessible in person and online.
The aforementioned molecular biologist Beata Edyta Mierzwa, Ph.D. is an artist and scientist. Mierzwa hopes to intertwine the two through tangible art and conversation. An advocate for accessibility, Mierzwa aspires to share science with the world through artistic illustrations and fashion. Through the juxtaposition of art and science, Mierzwa’s work bridges a gap between the liberal arts and the STEM field and allows many to understand her research. She examines how cells divide and interact on a microscopic level.
Outside of her full-time position, she participates in outreach and challenges preconceived notions of what scientists should look like. In an artistic manner, she consistently changes her hair color from blue to purple, to show her passion and excitement for molecular biology and art. It represents her outlook on life, one that is both playful and serious.
Illustrating her career through intricate and captivating designs on clothes, Mierzwa captures her audience in a mesmerizing way. “I love engaging with students about science in this way,” she says, adding that being represented in the exhibition is an exceptional opportunity. “Seeing it in person was really inspiring. I just loved seeing in person the diversity of women scientists, and how well they communicated this.” – By Kit Freeman