What is your background in science? At what age did you realise you wanted to pursue science?

I spent my entire childhood dreaming of becoming an astrophysicist when I grew up. As a curious 8 year old, I became mesmerized by the projected cosmos in the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History (the museum from the Night At The Museum movies), and the same museum I was so lucky to conduct research at as in intern in the Astrophysics Department 9 years later.

You recently started First Empower. What is it about? What do you aim to achieve through this social enterprise?

First Empower is a beta company I co-founded this May along with three of my friends dedicated to empowering young girls through STEM. At First Empower, we believe that empowering young girls through an innovative STEM education will enable them to change the world. Our team is led by empowered young women, which means we know first-hand how to connect with young girls. By teaching STEM topics in a creative and visually appealing manner, we show girls that STEM is accessible, fun, and exciting. We want girls to take that same power they feel when they break down a complex science topic and use it to pursue any field they want. We want to show every little girl that STEM is her superpower—and that she’s already got it.

Can you tell us a quote you live by?

Here's two:

Create the things you wish existed.

Do everything the way you do anything.

The first quote acts as my overall life mantra (long term inspo), and the second quote informs the way I go about everyday tasks and assignments that make up my life (short term inspo).

What is one piece of advice you would give to young girls with a passion for science?

Three words: You. Got. It.

I believe wholeheartedly in the fact that passion is the most valuable tool a young girl can have, if she allows it to guide her. Discovering my passion for science as a little girl kept me grounded and motivated to continue to pursue STEM, even when it felt like the whole world was telling me no. Your passion is so, so powerful, and is what sets you apart from everyone else. If you lean into that passion, there's truly nothing you are incapable of accomplishing. You already got it (your awesome science passion), now use it to change the world.

What are your opinions on the underrepresentation of women in STEAM and lack of adequate female role models in the stream?

The lack of womxn role models in STEAM teaches girls that these fields aren't meant for them, or made up of people that look like them, when neither of these narratives are true. It's up to our generation to build companies, products, and services that actively go out of their way to show young girls that the STEM community both wants and needs them. Representation matters, and therefore a core element of every company, product, service, etc must include current womxn STEM innovators and trailblazers. By exposing girls to these role models, we enable girls to dream big, re-envision what is possible, and ultimately change the world with their STEM superpowers.

What struggles did you face as a woman in science and how did you overcome these?

I've had boys tell me that they're smarter than me, I've had teachers invalidate my worth and intelligence by comparing me to other students, and I've had to get used to being the only person in the room with interests like my own. In order to keep showing up as a girl in STEM, I've had to constantly remind myself of my "why," or in other words, my passion. Throughout my years in the STEM community, my passion has always screamed louder than any opinion or arbitrary grade has. My passion has provided me with an unshakeable confidence and genuine belief that regardless of what the world is saying to me, my passion will always be there to cheer me on.

What are the ways, as a community, you believe we can bring more inclusiveness and representation in STEAM?

As girls and young women in STEAM, we have to hype each other up. I strive to be a cheerleader and role model for all my girls in STEM. I know what it feels like to grow up with infinite support, as I always had that from my mom, and now believe that it is part of my duty as a young woman in STEM to be that support system for all other girls in STEM, but especially those that maybe didn't grow up with a support system like I did. Inclusiveness and representation in STEAM isn't just about optics—we genuinely need an inclusive and representative STEM community if we want to create companies, products, and services that benefit people of all races, abilities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds, and all other demographics. By creating a more just STEM community, we set the precedent of what true community looks like, and can build companies, products, and services that will truly change the world.