#diversityinstem

I’ve been dying to post Pauline Acalin’s new Hidden Figures Lego t-shirt for a while now, but we were waiting till we had something extra special to go with it...

The design celebrates the previously hidden (or ignored) contributions of Dorothy Vaughn, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson and many more women like them to the early days of our space program. And now each tee sold will help support today’s women of color in STEM! 

If you don’t already know about VanguardSTEM, you need to check them out. Founded by Jedidah Isler, astrophysicist and trailblazer extraordinaire, Vanguard STEM is a monthly live chat web-series with a rotating panel of women of color in STEM discussing everything from research to advice to current events. The goal of the community is: “to create conversations between emerging and established women of color in STEM, where we can celebrate and affirm our identities and STEM interests in a safe space.”

VanguardSTEM recently formed the SeRCH Foundation (STEM en Route to CHange) non-profit: 

We are dedicated to using science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as a tool for social justice. We focus on the representation, cultivation and amplification of the voices and experiences of persons of color and other marginalized bodies as they navigate and make impacts on the STEM environment and culture. We use an intersectional framework to engage the overlapping identities and discrimination that marginalized communities face without minimizing any aspect of their humanity.

Half the proceeds for all Hidden Figures t-shirts sold will be donated the SeRCH Foundation. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL...

Make a donation directly to SeRCH between now and next Wednesday (September 6th) and you could win one of these shirts! Just tweet, FB message, or email us a copy/screenshot of your receipt and we’ll enter you in the drawing. We will announce TWO winners on the blog at the end of next week. 

Sorry, not sorry for the epic post, but here’s to Pauline and Jedidah for “Women Crushing-it Wednesday.” Go help both of them continue to crush it and continue to celebrate and support women in STEM!

Pride Month 2017 started yesterday so we’d thought we’d reshare our tribute to the LGBTQIA community. This design came out of the Orlando club bombings almost a year ago, but is a reminder that we all live under one sun. Light comes in a spectrum of wavelengths and humans come in a spectrum of identities, all of which are valid. 

Here are a few designs we’ve posted before to help you show your pride this month (and every month really):  

Safe Space sweatshirt

Space Queer tee

Space Lesbian tees

Rainbow candle

Love artwork

And remember, our “One Sun” solar spectrum design is available via Redbubble with half our proceeds going to the Ali Forney Center here in NYC. You can also see various version of the design in action out in the wild here. 

Be good to each other. 

- Summer

CORRECTION 1/28/2017: The photo above is not Katherine Johnson, but rather Annie Easley who was hired as a computer in 1955 at Lewis Research Center (now NASA Glenn Research Center) in Cleveland, Ohio. Thanks to Yawaridi Southerland-Pollack for calling our attention to this via Facebook. We apologize for perpetuating this error and we are thankful to have yet another hidden figure brought to our attention. We have brought this to the attention of the designer. 

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In honor of Hidden Figures being nominated for two Oscars yesterday, here’s a reminder of the amazing fall collection from Slow Factory all about “Women Who Inspire” and featuring Katherine Johnson herself (Taraji P. Henson’s character in the film). 

From the Slow Factory website: 

Born August 26, 1918, Katherine Johnson is an American physicist, space scientist, and mathematician. She made fundamental contributions to the United States' aeronautics and space programs with the early application of digital electronic computers at NASA. Known for accuracy in computerized celestial navigation, her technical leadership work at NASA spanned decades where she calculated the trajectories, launch windows and emergency back-up return paths for many flights from Project Mercury including the early NASA missions of John Glenn, Alan Shepard, the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the Moon and continued work through the Space Shuttle program and on early plans for the Mission to Mars.

The Katherine Johnson scarf is currently sold out, but there’s a chance of a restock so watch this space...!*

As for Hidden Figures, it was nominated for Best Picture and for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughan). This film is so so important because it highlights the vital work done by women at the start of the space program who were left out of the history books due to the color of their skin. If you haven’t seen the film yet, get thee to a movie theater. FYI, the film is based on the book (of the same name) by Margot Lee Shetterly which is a fantastic read. There’s even a young readers version as well. 

Go watch, read, and share the story of these amazing women!

- Summer

Space exploration has always represented humanity’s determination to overcome limitations through innovation. The recognition of Michaela Benthaus as the First Wheelchair User In Space marks a historic shift in how accessibility is viewed within one of the world’s most demanding scientific fields. This achievement signals that inclusive thinking is no longer optional—it is essential to progress.

For decades, participation in space missions was shaped by rigid physical requirements that excluded many capable individuals. Advances in adaptive technology, aerospace design, and mission planning have gradually reshaped these assumptions. The success of the First Wheelchair User In Space demonstrates how engineering solutions can accommodate diverse abilities while preserving safety and operational excellence.

From a broader industry perspective, this milestone mirrors trends seen across global business ecosystems. Research shows that organizations prioritizing inclusion are more innovative and adaptable. With nearly 15% of the global population living with disabilities, accessibility-driven solutions open doors to untapped talent and underserved markets. The aerospace sector’s progress highlights how innovations developed for extreme environments often influence industries such as healthcare, mobility, and advanced manufacturing.

The visibility of the First Wheelchair User In Space also carries a powerful message about representation. Seeing diversity reflected at the highest levels of innovation challenges outdated perceptions and inspires future professionals to pursue careers once thought inaccessible. For entrepreneurs and leaders, this reinforces the importance of evaluating potential based on capability and creativity rather than physical constraints.

Beyond its symbolic importance, this milestone establishes a new benchmark for inclusive leadership and technological advancement. It demonstrates that removing barriers strengthens systems and drives sustainable growth. The story of the First Wheelchair User In Space serves as a reminder that progress is most meaningful when it includes everyone.

This summer marks the 50th anniversary of STEP (Stevens Technical Enrichment Program) at Stevens Institute of Technology. The STEP program was implemented by former Stevens President, Jess Davis, to address the underrepresentation of minorities and lower-income students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). An article announcing the STEP program in the Summer 1968 issue of the Stevens Indicator describes the two main purposes of this new program: “First, to stimulate interest in various areas of study with the hope of creating a desire for higher education, especially in the field of science and engineering. Second, to improve the students’ skills in English and Mathematics to enable them to take advantage of the higher education opportunities available to them.”

The STEP program recruits students from high schools in the Hoboken, Jersey City, and NYC area. It’s a pre-college program with students taking summer courses in STEM fields to increase their opportunities and interest in science fields that are not always considered an option by students from underrepresented minority groups.

The first summer of STEP was in June 1968 which was written about in the New York Times on June 30, 1968. That first summer had recruited 32 students from nearby high schools who were recommended for their strong aptitude in math and science. One student named Trevor from Evander Childs High School in the Bronx was quoted as saying “It seems like a lot of fun so far.” He then added that he always got good grades in math, “but I know it’s going to be a lot more work than fun.”

Many students like Trevor were given more exposure to science and engineering fields during high school through the STEP program at Stevens. Not all STEP students ended up in STEM fields, but the students that did go on to study at Stevens boasted of one of the highest graduation rates. Back in the spring of 2008 when the program was celebrating their 40th anniversary the Stevens Indicator stated that “STEP students, in fact, have a slightly higher graduation rate, at 76 percent, than the Stevens’ overall 75 percent graduation rate.”  

The STEP program has been a great success at Stevens and continues to reach a wider population of underrepresented student populations in the nearby area. The STEP program has helped play a big part in our increased diversity which plays an essential role in the campus culture and has also helped students build confidence and motivation in demanding STEM fields.