Skip to Content

Explore a range of programs, services, and resources designed to fuel the growth of your business.

Menu

The Role of Women and Girls in STEM in Building Maine’s Future

By: Dr. Elisabeth Adkins Marnik 

This week includes the International Day of Women and Girls in STEM. At first glance, it may just seem like another awareness day, but it holds significant importance for our future progress and economic growth.

Stick with me for a moment. First, let’s consider Maine’s key industries. What comes to mind first? Tourism? Fishing? These do play important roles, but what about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)? STEM also critically shapes both Maine’s economy and our future progress, over one-third of Maine’s workforce is employed in a STEM related field.

This has tangible impacts in the state. The life science industry in Maine contributed $ 2.3 billion to the state’s total gross regional product and supported over 9,000 jobs. Between 2018-2023 life sciences jobs grew by 31%. Other STEM related jobs, like information technology and composite and advanced materials, grew by just over 50%. This trend is also true at the national level where 67% of USA jobs and 69% of our economy is supported by STEM. 

Therefore, STEM is critical to both Maine and the nation’s economic future. But we have a problem. The USA is falling behind in STEM education scores compared to other leading countries, raising concerns we will soon face a shortage of workers equipped for STEM fields. 

Maine is already seeing decreases in the number of our working-age population and this is projected to continue between now and 2030. Key factors in this decline include the large number of individuals aging out of the workforce, shrinking K-12 enrollment, and challenges recruiting and retaining young workers in these fields. Reports also warn Maine that we are behind other states in growing a STEM workforce.

Combined, this data highlights that we need more people working in STEM fields – not less. But women, who make up almost half of the USA workforce, only hold about 28% of STEM jobs. Increasing women’s ability and interest to pursue STEM is an important way to help us increase our STEM workforce capacity. Furthermore, research shows that innovation increases when unique perspectives are included. Building diverse teams will lead to increased creativity and more economic growth.

Celebrating STEM in Maine

Celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in STEM is one way to highlight the critical contributions women make to STEM and increase awareness of STEM as a career. For example, in 2020 two female scientists, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, won the Nobel prize in Chemistry for their work on a technology known as CRISPR/cas9. The work of these women has revolutionized science and enabled us to answer questions we couldn’t before. It can even be used in humans to treat some genetic diseases like sickle cell anemia. 

CRISPR technology is now regularly used in labs across the country, including here in Maine. In my work at MDI Biological Laboratory (MDIBL) I have used CRISPR hundreds of times for experiments and science outreach. Dr. Emily Spaulding, a researcher at MDIBL, also uses CRISPR to edit the DNA of C. elegans (a microscopic roundworm) to study neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and ALS. Our work wouldn’t be possible in its current form without the foundation laid by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier. 

Recognizing the International Day of Women and Girls in STEM helps girls realize there is a place in STEM for them. Awareness alone isn’t enough though. Other key steps include exposing children to STEM early through hands of science, providing more female STEM role models, creating supportive workplaces and fostering community involvement in emphasizing the potential of STEM careers. 

Ultimately, all humans can pursue STEM if they want to. It just takes curiosity, hard work and excitement to pursue the unknown. The more we provide examples and role models from all walks of life, the more we can grow a strong and talented STEM workforce that can meet the demands of tomorrow. Ensuring women and girls know they have a place in STEM will always be critical to this mission.

About Dr. Elisabeth Adkins Marnik

Dr. Elisabeth Adkins Marnik has a PhD in genetics and immunology from Tufts University & The Jackson Laboratory where she studied the role of CD4 T cells in the immune system and autoimmune disease. She then joined the MDI Biological Laboratory where she received an NIH postdoctoral fellowship to study how stem cells maintain the ability to become any needed cell type. During these training experiences, she discovered a passion for science education and communication. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Liz began to use her immunology expertise to educate the public by starting Science Whiz Liz. This experience has solidified her dedication to helping individuals access science information they can understand so that they can make informed decisions. This desire spurred a recent career switch where she left her university faculty position teaching microbiology and biochemistry to return to The MDI Biological Laboratory to spearhead science education and outreach programming. She is also a contributing writer for organizations including ASBMB Today, Those Nerdy Girls and The Global Autoimmune Institute. Outside of science, Liz is a wife, mother of two, runner, hiker, and an avid reader.