‘Largest Collection’ of Female Statues honor STEM Trailblazers Debuting at the Smithsonian During Women’s History Month
Women’s History Month has been at the center of attention at the Smithsonian Museum. Debuting its new #IfThenSheCan- The Exhibit, on the Today show, – The Exhibit celebrates over 100 women that have made huge impacts in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields of study.
Located in Washington, D.C., The Exhibit has 120 life-size, 3D-printed statues scattered around the Smithsonian Gardens of female trailblazers. This has now become the “largest collection of statues of women ever assembled,” according to a release from the museum.
With each statue paired to a QR code for those visiting The Exhibit to read and learn about each woman featured. The statues have been previously displayed in Dallas, and a handful of them appeared in New York’s Central Park Zoo.
The IF/THEN initiative is designed by Lyda Hill Philanthropies to activate a culture shift among young girls to open their eyes to STEM careers. But some may ask, “why the color orange?”
Ellen Stofan, undersecretary for science and research at the Smithsonian Institution, said she hopes this will inspire girls to say they can. “It was to make them look like everybody and nobody, right? Because these are diverse women, they’re from all different backgrounds [and] they have every skin tone under the sun,” Stofan said.
“I want these statues of women who are doing things now to really inspire girls to say, I can do that. I can be the one who’s going to solve climate change. I’m going to invent a cure for the next pandemic,” Stofan said.
Those featured include Jessica Esquivel, one of only 150 Black women with a doctorate in physics in the country, and Karina Popovich, a college student who produced over 82,000 pieces of 3D-printed personal protective equipment for health care workers in the early days of the pandemic. Rae Wynn-Grant, a wildlife ecologist and National Geographic explorer working to save endangered species is also featured.
As her statue was unveiled for the first time during The Today Show, Wynn-Grant said that sharing the experience with her young daughter drove home the magnitude of her contributions.
“The depth of the honor is shocking,”
Wyyn-Grant
“The depth of the honor is shocking,” Wynn-Grant told the outlet. “In the best way possible, it’s the deepest honor. It’s beyond money or fame. There is this symbolism and reverence that is indescribable.”
“In the work that I do as a scientist studying wild animals and trying to keep them from going extinct, I spend a lot of time away from home,” she added. “Every time I have to say goodbye, it’s hard to leave and in a lot of ways, the statue and her being able to see it is an indicator that what I’m doing is important, a service to the world and I’m being recognized for it. It’s evidence that she can remember.”
The #IfThenSheCan exhibit made its debut to the public on March 5 and will conclude on March 27.
“Starting March 7, select statues will spread out to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum along the National Mall through the end of the month,” the institution said.
“An array of other #WomensFuturesMonth in-person and virtual events throughout the month will bring to life inspirational stories of women making a difference in their fields,” they added.
