She Can Stem (50 Trailblazing Women In Science From Ancient History To Today – Includes Hands-on Activities Exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math)

By (author) Heinecke Liz Lee; Illustrated by Dalton, Kelly Anne
Short description/annotation:
She Can STEM highlights the curiosity, creativity, and perseverance of 50 leading historical and modern physicists, chemists, biologists, and ecologists, pairing each biography with a hands-on project.
 
Description:
Inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators with the stories of 50 groundbreaking women in STEM—each paired with a fun, hands-on experiment that makes science exciting and accessible!

For thousands of years, women have made remarkable contributions to science, technology, engineering, and math. Though many faced barriers because of their gender, they persevered—and today, more women than ever are shaping the future of STEM.

She Can STEM brings these inspiring stories to life by exploring the pivotal moments that sparked these women’s passion for science, the challenges they overcame, and the unique interests that make them extraordinary individuals beyond the lab.

Meet just a few of the brilliant and resilient women featured:

• Dr. Nadya Mason (Physicist): From running track and competing on the U.S. National Gymnastics Team to exploring how electrons move through materials like carbon and graphene.
• Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer (Ecologist): A love for wild strawberries as a child led her to reconnect with her Potawatomi heritage and become a leading plant ecologist and celebrated author.
• Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (Physicist): Once dreaming of baseball stardom and training as a dancer, she now studies the universe through astronomy and theoretical physics.
• Dr. Raychelle Burks (Chemist): Inspired by Agatha Christie and Star Trek, she now develops portable chemical sensors that help solve real-world crimes.
• Dr. Esther Lederberg (Microbiologist): Growing up during the Great Depression, her love of music and literature evolved into a groundbreaking career in biochemistry.

Each biography is thoughtfully paired with a simple, engaging experiment that connects kids directly to the science these women explored—turning curiosity into hands-on discovery.

Whether your child loves science, art, sports, or storytelling, the diverse role models in She Can STEM show that with curiosity, creativity, and determination, anyone can pursue a future in STEM.

Dig into even more incredible science history from The Kitchen Pantry Scientist series with: Physics for Kids, Chemistry for Kids, Biology for Kids, Math for Kids, and Ecology for Kids.

Table of contents:
Introduction
 
Tapputi-Belatikallin b. 1200 BCE
Maria Sibylla Merian b. 1647
Laura Bassi b. 1711
Eunice Newton Foote b. 1819
Fanny Hesse b. 1850
Agnes Pockels b. 1862
Marie Curie b. 1867
Susan La Flesche Picotte b. 1865
Mary Agnes Chase b. 1869
Ynes Mexia b. 1870
Lise Meitner b. 1878
Alice Ball b. 1892
Gerty Cori b. 1896
Katharine Burr Blodgett b. 1989
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin b. 1900
Dora Priaulx Henry b. 1904
Maria Goeppert-Mayer b. 1906
Mary Golda Ross b. 1908
Rachel Carson b. 1907
Chien-Shiung Wu b. 1912
Anna Jane Harrison b. 1912
Ruby Payne-Scott b. 1912
Rosalind Franklin b. 1920
Margaret S. Collins b. 1922
Esther Lederberg b. 1922
Edith Flanigen b. 1929
Tu Youyou b. 1930
June Almeida b. 1930
Sylvia Earle b. 1935
Ada Yonath b. 1939
Wangari Maathai b. 1940
Patricia Bath b. 1942
Christine Darden b. 1942
Margaret Cairns Etter b. 1943
Valerie L. Thomas b. 1943
Jocelyn Bell Burnell b. 1943
Linda Buck b. 194