The world lost one of its most iconic scientists and conservationists, Dr. Jane Goodall, on October 1, 2025. Known internationally for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees and her tireless advocacy for environmental stewardship, Goodall was also a transformative change leader whose work continues to inspire generations today. Her legacy resonates deeply with NCWIT’s mission to empower young people, particularly those underrepresented in technology, to lead change in their fields and communities. In a 2020 NCWIT Conversations for Change event, NCWIT Research Scientist Brad McLain spoke with Dr. Goodall about her Roots & Shoots program and the power of young people to drive global transformation. “Roots and Shoots is about listening to the voices of young people,” she explained. “It is empowering them to take action. We’re training young people who can be leaders - leaders in academia and leaders in all of the different walks of life.”

This large printable poster (24″x36″) provides information about various paths students can take to get to a career in computing. The poster includes specific steps to follow beginning in high school, college, university, and military service pathways that lead to various jobs. A career in computing can offer wide-ranging jobs, high pay, and interesting work! Counselors, When discussing post-graduate plans with your students, you can refer to the NCWITC4C Intersecting Pathways Poster as a resource!

Cultures and practices have an indisputable influence on the workplaces people choose and their willingness to stay. A research-backed approach to intentionally building an organization’s culture enables employees to innovate and do their best work while employers see new dimensions of creativity that positively impact their bottom lines. NCWIT offers research, data, and strategic approaches that can help companies of all sizes thrive. The meeting explores the psychological, emotional, and cultural dimensions of communication, leading to actionable strategies to create an environment where truth can be spoken and heard.

The STEM world is shifting fast, and women are playing an increasingly vital role, even though they remain underrepresented in many fields. Access to education, scholarships, mentorship, and leadership opportunities still lags behind, creating significant barriers to entry and advancement. However, understanding the scope of the problems and learning about the resources that can help to break down these barriers can be key steps in working toward a more inclusive and innovative future. Women's representation in STEM fields has improved over the past decade, but there's still a long way to go. Of the women who do choose to pursue a degree in a STEM-related field, the most popular choices are the biological sciences, engineering, computer science, and math. Bioscience degrees are by far the most common: Women actually earn nearly 60% of all degrees awarded in this field. Meanwhile, the number of women pursuing a computer science degree has been falling precipitously, dropping nearly 80% in the first decade of this century. And of those who do complete their degree and get a job in technology, more than half end up leaving the field; not only is computer science not attracting women, but it can't keep them, either. Mathematics and engineering have similar problems. More than 40% of math majors are women, but few of them go into high-paying STEM jobs; most end up teaching math instead. And women only make up around 20% of engineering majors, but that's still higher than the 11% who actually get jobs as engineers. Surveys have shown that while some women just lose interest in engineering as a career, many cite issues with the workplace culture in this field as a factor in their departure.

Dr. Misty D. Freeman reflects on her journey into advocacy, and offers advice for those just beginning: » If you had asked me in 2013 what my path would look like a decade later, I would not have predicted that “advocacy and policy in technology” would be part of the answer. At the time, I was buried in my dissertation, experimenting with how to merge my love for technology with my deep concern for marginalized communities. Specifically, I wanted to ensure people with disabilities could access the web equitably. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t policy in the formal sense. But it planted a seed. Technology isn’t just about tools; it’s about who gets to use them and who gets left behind.«

When the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889, the names of 72 of France’s greatest scholars were inscribed on the tower’s first floor in golden capital letters. More than 130 years later, Paris authorities are seeking to right a historic wrong by adding the names of 72 illustrious women.

Astronomer Dr. Julianne Dalcanton has spent her career trying to understand the mysteries of space, while helping make room for others who want to join in this journey. Dr. Shruti Shrestha interviews Dr. Dalcanton for AWIS Magazine. When we look up to the stars, we think the night sky is for everyone. Astronomer Dr. Julianne Dalcanton believes this to be true and has spent her career trying to understand the mysteries of space, while helping make room for others who want to join in this journey. Dr. Dalcanton focuses her research on galaxy formation and evolution with an emphasis on stars, gas, and their interactions. She also explores the extremes of galaxy formation. Early in her career, when analyzing data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to find unusually broad, faint galaxies, she accidentally discovered a comet, Comet C/1999 F2, later named Comet Dalcanton in recognition of her identification. Comet Dalcanton orbits close to the Sun approximately every 136,000 years, in contrast to Halley’s Comet, which returns every 76 years.

The story behind a recent STEM bootcamp in rural Alabama reveals the profound impact of dedicated educators and the power of community, showcasing how a school counselor can be a pivotal change leader in expanding access to computing and STEM education. Kim Crumbley, an Alabama school counselor and an NCWIT Counselors for Computing (C4C) champion, initiated the idea after experiencing a heartbreaking event: A student from a challenging home environment was found salvaging old science materials from the school dumpster, retrieving items to be able to continue engaging in the science and tech that she loved during school hours. This moment spurred Kim to action, realizing that while a nearby summer STEM camp existed, the most vulnerable students in their high-poverty county simply couldn’t access it due to financial and transportation barriers. This firsthand insight is precisely why school counselors are uniquely positioned to identify students’ unique challenges and champion solutions.

When it comes to role models for women in technology, few have had more impact than Stephanie “Steve” Shirley. Not only was she one of the first to prove that women could thrive in computing, she was also decades ahead of her time in championing remote and flexible work. Shirley passed away on August 9, 2025, at age 91, but her story reminds us why NCWIT’s mission, to broaden participation in computing and unlock innovation through diversity, matters so deeply. Born Vera Buchthal in Dortmund, Germany, in 1933, she fled Nazi persecution at age 5 and landed in England, where she was raised by foster parents. Gifted at mathematics, she began her career as a mathematical clerk before discovering the emerging field of software programming. But even as her skills grew, opportunities for women remained limited, so she forged her own path.

Pursuing an academic postdoc or a job in industry after your PhD depends on your interests and career goals. AWIS member Dr. Isabel Lam describes both options to help with your decision.