Socials and Science: How The Online Community of Women in Science Contributes To Growth
BY KAYLEE HEROTH
Imagine you click on Instagram, ready to sit down and scroll. What would be the first thing to pop up? Would it be a fun “Get Ready With Me” video, the latest about your favorite sports team, or a post on science? That last one might have caught you off guard. Not many people immediately associate science with social media, but when you take a closer look, the online community can have a monumental effect on women in science.
Even though women make up just under half of the world’s population, they only make up a little over 30% of the STEM workforce. Yet, many women in the world are aiming to change this statistic through social media. These content creators are inspiring the next generation of women in science through posts about their daily work life, education, job opportunities, and more.
Chloe Kirk working in a lab. Chloe Kirk
Recently, I had the chance to speak with Chloe Kirk, a patent law clerk who helps scientists document their inventions and acquire patents. Additionally, she has a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology, degrees in molecular biology and legal studies, and experience in cancer biology as well as neurodegenerative diseases research. She’s almost done it all, but she doesn’t keep everything to herself.
On her Instagram account, @chloe.the.scientist, nearly 95 thousand people follow her journey through science. One of Chloe’s main goals with her account is to show others how science isn’t always what it seems. “You can do science and combine science with really any of your other interests,” Chloe said. “[There are] so many other jobs out there for you beyond working at the bench for the rest of your life.”
Chloe began using Instagram to document her time in graduate school, inspired by other women who were working towards goals similar to hers, making these goals seem more achievable. When asked about what she appreciates about social media, Chloe spoke about the community found there. “We all know the ups, the downs, the struggles,” she explained, “and it’s just a really great community of people that are always there to support you.” Chloe still has friends today that she met during her early social media days.
The world of women in science presents many struggles, but the online community has the opportunity to break these stigmas, an idea that Chloe emphasized. Sometimes scientists may lock their information in a box when only specific professionals have the key, but Chloe believes that social media can help. “You need to be breaking down those walls instead of building them up,” she said, “And we should be using what the 21st century has provided us: social media, and to be able to break down those walls better.”
Science is such a broad term that covers hundreds of career paths around the world. Fantastic women in science like Chloe on social media prove that you can be successful in a variety of science careers.
Women in science are the future, and coming together as a community can make everyone stronger. So, the next time you need a little inspiration or motivation, look up women in science on your favorite social media platform. I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed with what you find.
