Despite progress made to narrow gender gaps in education, women remain crucially underrepresented in STEM fields. By 2021, globally, women only accounted for 35% of STEM graduates and 31.5% of researchers — a figure that has barely increased over the past 10 years. This persistent gender gap not only reflects a failure to reach global gender equality commitments, but it also limits our collective ability to tackle one of the greatest challenges of our time - climate change. With 2024 being the hottest year on record and the climate crisis escalating, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach. People with diverse experiences are needed to raise awareness of climate impacts and create innovative solutions to these challenges. This means including women in research and recognizing women’s knowledge in climate action. As detailed in the UN Women’s report, “Feminist Climate Justice: A Framework for Action,” to address gender inequalities and climate change, systemic transformation is needed. We must start by recognizing and removing structural barriers, such as women’s unequal access to information and education, and reshaping gendered social norms and prejudices that can obstruct women’s ability to enter and advance within these careers. Perceptions of gender stereotypes in these fields have been identified in children as young as six, partially explaining why only 15% of young women choose STEM courses as compared to 35% of men.

Megan O’Meara, M.D., head of early-stage development at Pfizer Oncology, is deeply committed to scientific innovation, mentorship, and breaking barriers for the next generation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) industries. In this conversation, Megan shares her journey in oncology, leadership philosophy, and vision of a world where people with cancer live better and longer lives. She has always been curious about science. Her grandfather was a pediatrician, and as a child he read books to her about the history of medicine. In high school, she worked in cancer research labs, and that gave her exposure to the field from an early age. By the time she was in college, there were exciting advancements happening, including broader use of tumor profiling and targeted therapies. She felt there was a huge opportunity to transform cancer treatment, and she knew she wanted to be part of it. She pursued her medical degree and later went into academic research before transitioning to industry, where she felt she might have the broadest impact on the greatest number of people. Women make up less than 30% of the global STEM workforce. Being a woman in a historically male-dominated field can come with unique challenges and opportunities. As an industry, there’s still a long way to go.

The 2025 Lab Manager Leadership Summit is an exclusive event for laboratory leaders and decision-makers across clinical, forensic, environmental, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and life science fields. The Summit offers interactive sessions, hands-on workshops, and insightful presentations designed to elevate your leadership skills. Discover the latest advancements from technology and service providers showcasing innovative lab solutions, connect with industry peers, gain actionable insights, and bring transformative ideas back to your organization. Don’t miss this chance to drive your lab forward with confidence and vision!

In our current, fast-evolving world, the job market has become highly competitive, and artificial intelligence (AI) has become a game changer. AI informs how we work and, at the same time, revolutionizes how we find work. From optimizing a résumé and searching for a job to applying for the job and preparing for an interview, AI transforms the entire experience into a more efficient process for all individuals, whether recent graduates or seasoned professionals. New AI tools include résumé and cover-letter builders, which analyze job descriptions, pinpoint relevant keywords, and suggest ways to strategically market yourself to align perfectly with a specific job posting. These tools can augment your résumé to beat the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) used by most companies to weed out lesser résumés before passing along stand-out ones to a recruiter. With a wide range of options available, you can understandably feel overwhelmed trying to figure out which tools have a higher chance of success or represent a good investment in time and money. In addition, many of the dozens of résumé builders still perform like copies of one another. However, each of these tools serves as the best fit for a specific function. For example, Enhancv helps you build with an AI assistant. Kickresume generates résumés from scratch, while ResumeNerd adapts your résumé as you browse different jobs. Jobscan, on the other hand, specifically optimizes your résumé for ATS. These examples represent just a few tools available to job seekers. Overall, as you look for the best ones for your purposes, carefully consider factors such as adaptation, ease of navigation, value, customization and comparison features, ATS compatibility, reviews, and discussions provided on online platforms like Trust Pilot, LinkedIn, and Reddit discussions.

This year, Women’s History Month celebrates the resilience and innovation of women engineers who have shaped the world and continue to push boundaries, including SWE’s 75 years of breaking barriers and advancing women in STEM. To honor this milestone, SWE has curated this list of resources from their blog, magazine, and podcast spotlighting a few of the many inspirational stories of women engineers through history, including some who have played a crucial role in SWE’s journey.

Join the Conversation: Help Shape the Future of AI Education! Are you involved in AI education and interested in helping prepare an AI-ready workforce? NSF LEVEL UP AI is bringing together educators, researchers, and professionals to build a shared vision for expanding undergraduate AI education through a series of one-hour virtual roundtable discussions, and we want your voice in the conversation! Topics include: AI knowledge areas and competencies; AI education infrastructure; Expanding access to AI education; Principles and resources for AI education for all. Your input will directly contribute to a national whitepaper on the future of AI education.

Professionals in any field can feel overwhelmed by the challenges of navigating office politics and managing relationships with superiors. ‘Managing Up’ by Melody Wilding offers an indispensable guide to mastering these critical aspects of modern work life. As an acclaimed executive career coach and human behavior professor, Wilding has equipped thousands with the tools to advocate for their needs while commanding respect and authority, regardless of their formal position. This book unveils practical strategies and detailed scripts derived from real-life client experiences and the latest research in trust and persuasion. Wilding outlines ten key conversations essential for professional growth, such as understanding your boss’s motivations, earning respect through communication styles, and setting boundaries effectively. ‘Managing Up’ is packed with transformative insights and time-tested approaches to help professionals of all levels gain more freedom, authority, and confidence in their careers - making it an essential read for anyone looking to navigate and succeed in a world of intricate power dynamics and competitive workplaces.

Artificial intelligence now pops up everywhere, and the demand for skilled AI workers is unlikely to slow down anytime soon. The possibilities for AI seem endless, bound only by our understanding of how to use it and by our imaginations. So how can we keep up, and what are universities doing to prepare students for this brave new world? AI as a scientific discipline goes all the way back to the 1950s, but it has recently exploded because of increased computing power, large data sets, and the desire for automation. Up until recently, computer science departments have generally housed foundational AI research and major academic programs. Because AI now permeates so many disciplines, however, we see universities creating independent AI centers that provide a wide range of academic options. For example, the University of Florida offers its students AI Across the Curriculum, which includes courses in artificial intelligence available in all 16 of its colleges. Their Artificial Intelligence Academic Initiative Center (AI2) oversees academic initiatives related to AI and data science. As the range of degree offerings expands, students can earn a BS, MS, and even a PhD specifically in this field. Some universities offer minors in AI to complement majors in the humanities and in other nonengineering science programs that increasingly incorporate AI for computational data analysis. While most of these programs expect in-person attendance, some universities offer postgraduate degrees online.

From agricultural to aerospace, all engineers are creative problem-solvers who design and build innovative solutions that shape our future. Learn how students' interests connect with different engineering fields online. Around the world, all types of engineers work together every day to help make communities and people healthy, happy and safe! From biomedical to agricultural engineers, all are creative problem solvers innovating solutions that shape our futures. Kids can take a closer look at the types of engineers below to learn what kind of work they do, and explore the featured hands-on activities that showcase each engineering type—for elementary, middle and high school students.

From its humble beginnings in 1950 to the global organization of 47,000 members strong and growing it is today, SWE continues to pave the way for greater gender equity and diversity in the field. They invite you to celebrate our rich history and enjoy the events, videos, stories, and more. Here’s to another 75 years of inspiring and empowering women engineers around the world!