Professors Encourage Young Women in STEM at Inaugural Event

The Young Women in Biology (YWIB) organization launched its first New Jersey chapter by holding an inaugural event at Saint Peter’s University in the newly renovated STEM Engagement Center, located in Pope Hall. The event was organized by Jeannette Wilmanski, Ph.D. ’00, assistant professor in the biology department, and a group of young women from McNair Academic High School, Union City High School and Plainfield High School discussed the gender gap and other issues affecting women pursuing careers in STEM fields. The students heard from keynote speaker Katherine Herbert, Ph.D., from the STEM Engagement Center. They also participated in several hands-on activities including lab workshops with WeiDong Zhu, Ph.D., assistant professor and chair of the biology department, Christian Traba, Ph.D., assistant professor in the chemistry department, John Ruppert, assistant professor in the biology department, Daniel Fried, Ph.D., assistant professor in the chemistry department, and Lauren Morse from Liberty Science Center. This event was supported by the SURGE grant.