In STEM, women are not just participants: they play roles as leaders, innovators and catalysts for change.
They have been leveraging their tech skills to drive social transformation. In this article, I will explore ways in which women are utilizing technology to address critical issues and make an impact in their own communities.
The intersection of technology and social change is incredibly powerful. Technology has opened up avenues to reach people on a scale and women are harnessing this potential to create change in various ways. From developing applications that promote well being to utilizing data science for tackling inequalities, women stand at the forefront of this movement.
An example is Joy Buolamwini, a computer scientist and digital activist. She founded the Algorithmic Justice League—an organization dedicated to challenging bias within decision making software. Buolamwinis groundbreaking work has shed light on the gender biases in facial recognition technology leading to significant changes in how these technologies are developed and utilized.
Dr. Sue Black, a computer scientist, employed technology to preserve Bletchley Park—the historic site where the UKs code breaking efforts during World War II took place. She initiated a social media campaign that brought attention to the significance of the site and the important contributions made by women, which ultimately resulted in its preservation.
In the field of healthcare technology, Elizabeth Asai, a graduate from Harvard University, co-founded 3Derm – a teledermatology company that enables patients to receive dermatology diagnoses from the comfort of their homes. This technological advancement is particularly beneficial for individuals residing in areas with little to no access to healthcare services.
These instances are only a glimpse into the picture. Women worldwide are utilizing their expertise to develop solutions for some of society's pressing issues. They are demonstrating that technology is not about creating startups or inventing cutting edge devices: it is also about leveraging these tools to create tangible improvements in people's lives.