DeKALB – During Friday’s Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) lecture, special guest Karen Samonds discussed her extensive work with paleontology and experience in science as a woman.
The Women in STEM lectures are meant to give community members a voice and spark inspiration in those who listen. While the lectures focus on women and their experiences in STEM, the lecture series is open to all.
Samonds is a professor in the Biological Sciences department at NIU and a paleontologist whose work has helped fill a 65-million-year gap in Madagascar’s fossil records. Samond’s research focuses primarily on Madagascar and its unique wildlife. Samonds’ lecture centered around her career, and specifically why she chose to focus on Madagascar.
“So, to be honest, I really fell in love. I fell in love with Madagascar,” Samonds said. “I was like, ‘this is where I want to do my research,’ and decided I was going to pursue my career there.”
Samonds later began to discuss the experience of being both a woman in STEM and a mother.
“I’m known as the one who brings her kids into the field,” Samonds said. “I’m grateful for that, and I encourage that.”
Saba Asghar, a first-year computer science and mathematics major, spoke about what stood out to her at the lecture.
“I loved how she talked about her experiences as a young woman trying to figure out what she wanted to do,” Asghar said. “At first, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. She really inspired me by going into college not knowing.”
Brittany Beltran, a second-year masters student studying human anatomical sciences, felt that having Samonds as a speaker for the lecture series was very impactful.
“Being in her program, I’ve already known Dr. Samonds,” Beltran said. “Not a lot of people even know who she is. So it’s open to the public right now and it’s just exciting for her to have other students know you can do all this and then still have a life, a home life.”
The next lecture will be held at 12:30 p.m. on April 21 in the Founders Memorial Library Staff Lounge.
