Few people sit down to a table at a café. They talk about the CERN LHC (Large Hadron Collider), the discovery of the Higgs Boson, the Standard model and how great it is that the LHC will reopen for experiments. Clearly, this group has interest and knowledge in science.

The radio plays some music in the background. Then the music stops, and the radio host introduces the National Women’s History Month subject.
“Do you know when National Women’s History Month is celebrated?” asks the radio host.
“March,” answers the group in one voice. They have a great time, and they are not shy to express their knowledge out loud.

The radio host is preparing to ask a more challenging question. The group is ready, always welcoming a challenge.
“Could you name two American women scientists?” asks the radio host.
“Marie Curie,” answers someone. “No, Polish-born French scientist,” says someone else. Then … silence. Complete silence. None of them could name one American woman scientist.

This is common. Polls say that few people can name one famous woman scientist. National Women’s History Month creates awareness and highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.
I hope this awareness will fuel our curiosity to better understand the contributions of women throughout history and their fascinating stories.