February 11 is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. But for women who work in , every day is a day for science! News-O-Matic talked to two scientists. Let’s discover their stories!
Alina Shimizu-Jozi
Alina Shimizu-Jozi is a student researcher at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. She studies computer science and
— or biotechnology. Her days are busy with school and work.
“Right now, I'm working on a computer model to disease outbreaks,” Shimizu-Jozi said. The model shows a sickness spreading between pretend people. Scientists can look for actions that will “make the least amount of people sick.” This work can help when real diseases spread through real people.
“The tasks change week-to-week, which is something I love about the job!” Shimizu-Jozi said. Some weeks may have a lot of reading. Others are all about or writing papers.
Shimizu-Jozi didn’t always plan to be a scientist. She wanted to be a reporter. Then, she took a class on artificial intelligence (A.I.) in high school. “We had female guest speakers come to talk about their research and jobs,” Shimizu-Jozi remembered. “I guess that's what made me realize there was so much more to the field.”
“I had never heard of what a career could look like for a woman in science beyond being a doctor or science teacher,” the researcher shared. “I didn't ever consider it.”
Now, Shimizu-Jozi’s science journey is well on its way. “One thing I love about science is its ability to explain things,” she said. “I like to know where things come from and how they work. Whether it's what happens to the air we breathe or why plants are green, science can tell me the answer.”
“Science can't explain everything,” Shimizu-Jozi added. “But it tries its hardest to. And I think there is still a lot more to learn!”
Christine Eiseman
Christine Eiseman got into science in the 1960s — when there were even fewer female scientists. Eiseman became a
. She worked in a lab and was a high school chemistry teacher. The expert from West Chester, Pennsylvania, said she was drawn to science by the hands-on, active learning.
As a teacher, Eiseman planned and led lessons and lab experiments. One project had her class measure vitamin C in different fruit juices. The fun, fruity work squeezed excitement out of her students!
Eiseman said she fell in love with chemistry because “we encounter and use chemicals every day.” Chemicals are a major part of life. They are in the soaps we use and the food we eat. For Eiseman, chemistry isn't just a subject. It's a lens through which we can understand and appreciate the world.
Updated February 7, 2024, 5:02 P.M. (ET)
By Madeleine Skinner
