Women’s history has come a long way since the 1970s when it was virtually an unknown topic in the public eye. It was in 1978 when the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission decided to address the status of women and initiated a “Women’s History Week” celebration. The week of March 8 was the focal point for this celebration which also included an International Women’s Day. A year later in 1979 this ideal spread quickly to other organizations and school districts who initiated similar celebrations.

The year of 1987 was when the National Women’s History Project petitioned Congress to expand the national celebration to the entire month of March. Congress passed a law making March Women’s History month, thus making the year of 1987 when Women’s History month was first born. Each year a new theme is presented and this year’s theme is “Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.”

This years’ theme recognizes women who have made great strides in a field where women are still underrepresented. The field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is better known as STEM. Eighteen women are being honored for their extraordinary work in the fields of medicine, robotics, computer programming, atmospheric chemistry, architecture, and primatology. Not only does their work accomplishments vary, they, too, come from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Some of the 2013 Honorees are

• * Marlyn Barrett (1954) - K-12 STEM Educator
• * Patricia Era Bath (1942) - Ophthalmologist and Inventor
• * Katharine Burr Blodgett (1898–1979) - Physicist and Inventor
• * Dian Fossey (1932–1985) -Primatologist and Naturalist
• * Helen Greiner (1967) - Mechanical Engineer and Roboticist
• * Grace Murray Hopper (1906–1992) Computer Scientist

(Read about more of the honorees at http://www.nwhp.org/whm/honorees2012.php)

This years’ theme and recognition of these honorees should encourage women and young girls alike to explore their dreams and interest in the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) so that one day women will be more represented than unrepresented.

To help DoDEA celebrate Women’s History Month, join us on Intersect and share a story about a special women in in your life; maybe it is someone here at DoDEA, in or supporting the military or a special woman who has been your role model!

Brig. Gen. Burcham’s passion for STEM is Breaking Ground and Paving the Way in the Field of Engineering

March is National Women’s History month, a time to celebrate and honor the contributions women have made throughout time. After considering over 100 ideas and suggestions sent in by supporters, the National Women’s History Project selected “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics” as the theme for this year’s celebration. Learn more

March is Women’s History Month

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of women whose... Learn more.