When you think about careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM), who do you picture? In addition to Einstein, do you see Marie Curie, Katherine Johnson or Maya Lin? How about our own CIHS Alum and Best Buy CEO Corie Barry?

In Cambridge-Isanti Schools, students have the opportunity to take a deep dive into STEAM and hands-on learning in elementary school. Our C-I STEAM School inspires young students to innovate, problem-solve and persist. Check out this C-I Spotlight on STEAM learning.

March is Women’s History Month and it is a good time to shine a light on some of the countless notable women throughout history who have made significant contributions to STEM fields. We hope their stories can inspire young girls interested in pursuing careers in these areas. 

• Ada Lovelace: Known as the world's first computer programmer, Lovelace wrote the first algorithm in the mid-1800s. She was among the first to document the idea that a machine could manipulate symbols in accordance with rules and create computations.

• Marie Curie: A physicist and chemist, Curie is famous for her pioneering work in the field of radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the first person to win two Nobel Prizes in different sciences.

• Rosalind Franklin: A biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer, Franklin's work was critical to the discovery of the structure of DNA. Though she died before the Nobel Prize was awarded for this discovery, her contributions were essential to the research.

• Katherine Johnson: A mathematician and computer scientist, Johnson worked for NASA and was instrumental in calculating trajectories for the first manned space flights. Her story was popularized in the movie "Hidden Figures."

• Grace Hopper: A computer scientist and naval officer, Hopper was a pioneer in computer programming and is credited with developing the first compiler, which translated high-level programming languages into machine code. She earned the rank of rear admiral in the Navy; at the age of 79—she retired as the oldest serving officer in the U.S. armed forces.

• Mae Jemison: An astronaut, physician, and engineer, Jemison was the first Black woman to travel in space. She has also worked as a professor and science communicator.

• Maya Lin: An American architect and artist, Lin is designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. She has also designed numerous other public works, including the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama.

• Sally Ride: An astronaut and physicist, Ride was the first American woman to travel in space. After her career as an astronaut, she worked as a professor of physics and a science communicator.

There are many talented and influential female architects, scientists, mathematicians and more throughout history. Their work inspires future generations toward careers in the STEM fields. How many of our Bluejackets might join this list in the future?

Learn more about C-I STEAM School, now accepting students in grade K-5 for next fall. Email  mziebarth@c-ischools.org or call 763-552-8800 for more information.