STEM in the Liberal Arts Program

Students in Bryn Mawr’s STEMLA program got the opportunity to take part in four “mentor circles” with members of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Association of Women in Science (AWIS-PHL).

The last of the circles took place earlier this semester. Bryn Mawr students Jownira Sultana '26, Sarabjit Dhillon '26, and Leila Byerly '25 were joined by AWIS mentors Amy Ott, an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Drexel University College of Medicine; Emily Black, visiting assistant professor of neuroscience at Haverford College; and Sharon Willis, co-founder of Integral Molecular.

"Energy Afterlives" include obvious environmental impacts, like acid rain, mining waste, and climate change.

But some of these afterlives are less obvious: our sensory experience of the world is also an "Energy Afterlife." Our soundscapes are forever humming with motors, our skin is encased in petro-fibers, our smellscapes are artificial. In our Soundscape project, our students have attempted to visualize how human energy systems impact the sounds we hear every day.

"One of the key focuses of the program is to help students understand the breadth of career options available to them, says Skirkanich, who is the STEMLA faculty director. “We like to use the lantern metaphor—the paths are there but we need to illuminate them for students. We try to understand how students’ interest in science has developed and how we can help them build upon that. It’s a journey we want to take together with our students.”

"On Wednesday, October 26, fellows in the STEM in the Liberal Arts (STEMLA) Program showcased their work at a display and digital exhibit unveiling in Park Atrium.  

For the unveiling, fellows put together a physical display case of photos, geological specimens, 3D-printed items, and diagrams related to the courses and field trips they took that summer, as well as a digital exhibit that they had created. The physical display also included paintings students made using iron oxides collected from their trip to an acid mine remediation site."

“The STEMLA Program uplifts each fellow’s personal interest in STEM as a valuable driver of success that allows them to grow and thrive in their chosen field,” says Skirkanich. “The program also provides mentorship, research opportunities, and a supportive STEM community experience that empowers each fellow to forge their own pathway through a STEM major at Bryn Mawr, and beyond.”