{"id":82160,"date":"2026-02-11T10:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T15:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?p=82160"},"modified":"2026-02-16T13:54:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T18:54:13","slug":"11-women-to-watch-in-science-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/11-women-to-watch-in-science-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Saving Nature: 11 Women to Watch in Science"},"content":{"rendered":"    <div id=\"tse-hero-container\">\n        \n        <div id=\"tse-slots-layer\">\n            <div class=\"tse-slot slot-left slot-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"\"><\/div>\n            <div class=\"tse-slot slot-left slot-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"\"><\/div>\n            <div class=\"tse-slot slot-left slot-3\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"\"><\/div>\n            \n            <div class=\"tse-slot slot-right slot-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"\"><\/div>\n            <div class=\"tse-slot slot-right slot-5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"\"><\/div>\n            <div class=\"tse-slot slot-right slot-6\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"tse-hero-text\">\n            <h1 class=\"tse-main-title\">\n                <span class=\"tse-reveal-block\">Saving Nature:<\/span>\n                <span class=\"tse-reveal-block\"><span class=\"tse-nowrap\">11 Women<\/span> to Watch<\/span>\n                <span class=\"tse-reveal-block\">in Science<\/span>\n            <\/h1>\n            \n            <p class=\"tse-subhead\">\n                These women are using their hard-earned knowledge to protect our planet already ravaged by brutal storms, epic floods and intense wildfires.\n            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <style>\n        \/* 1. 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Fade In\n                slot.classList.add('active');\n            }, 2500); \/\/ 2.5s matches CSS transition\n        }\n\n        \/\/ Run cycle every 4s\n        \/\/ Only run if screen is wide enough (save resources on mobile)\n        if (window.innerWidth > 768) {\n            setInterval(swapOneImage, 4000);\n        }\n    });\n    <\/script>\n    \n\n\n\n<style>.page-header { display: none; } <\/style>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Letter from the Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We live in a time when words like &#8220;women,&#8221; &#8220;gender&#8221; and &#8220;diversity&#8221; are <a href=\"https:\/\/pen.org\/banned-words-list\/\">banned<\/a> or restricted in federal research grants, particularly at agencies like the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet that has not stopped trailblazing women from searching for urgent, innovative, science-based solutions to the human-caused &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/350.org\/science\/\">climate crisis<\/a>&#8221; (another phrase that&#8217;s been banned, along with &#8220;global warming&#8221; and &#8220;emissions&#8221;).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These scientists are working to safeguard the safety of our water, air and soil. They&#8217;re seeking the smartest ways we can transition to clean energy. They&#8217;re pushing their limits to stop deforestation and curb greenhouse gas emissions. And they&#8217;re doing it within a system that \u2013 on top of the banned words and the Trump administration&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/newsreleases\/epa-launches-biggest-deregulatory-action-us-history\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rollback<\/a> of environmental protections \u2014 has long discriminated against them. Research <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/newsreleases\/epa-launches-biggest-deregulatory-action-us-history\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">confirms<\/a> that women in science are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsb.stanford.edu\/insights\/whats-behind-pay-gap-stem-jobs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">paid<\/a> less, given fewer <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7432663\/%23:~:text=Moreover,%2520an%2520almost%2520intractable%2520salary,STEMM%2520need%2520to%2520be%2520recognized.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">leadership<\/a> roles, and receive far less <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41586-022-04966-w\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recognition<\/a> than their male peers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We can help with that last problem.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At The Story Exchange, we have long elevated women&#8217;s voices and achievements. Today, we are thrilled to spotlight these women scientists &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/know-a-trailblazing-woman-scientist-nominate-her-for-our-cutting-edge-women-in-science-list\/\">nominated by peers<\/a> &#8212; who are working tirelessly on our behalf. Their efforts alone will, of course, not be enough to save our natural world. We need thousands of committed scientists (and business and industries) like them. But their stories, dedication and perseverance can surely inspire others to try to do the same \u2013 and maybe just give the Earth a fighting chance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-d3feb7b8\">    <style>\n        \/* GRID LAYOUT *\/\n        .tse-grid {\n            display: grid;\n            grid-template-columns: 1fr;\n            gap: 20px;\n            margin: 40px 0;\n        }\n        @media (min-width: 600px) {\n            .tse-grid { grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); }\n        }\n        @media (min-width: 1024px) {\n            .tse-grid { grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); }\n        }\n\n        \/* CARD WRAPPER *\/\n        .tse-card-link {\n            text-decoration: none;\n            color: inherit;\n            display: block;\n            perspective: 1000px; \/* Essential for 3D flip *\/\n        }\n\n        \/* INNER FLIPPER *\/\n        .tse-card-inner {\n            position: relative;\n            width: 100%;\n            transition: 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Needed<\/h3>\n                        <p>At Savor, Kathleen Alexander is using organic chemistry to create fats and cooking oils that won&#039;t damage the planet.<\/p>\n                        <span class=\"tse-view-btn\">View Profile<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n                    <a href=\"\/women-in-science-2026-marianne-cowherd\" class=\"tse-card-link\" target=\"_self\">\n                <div class=\"tse-card-inner\">\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-front\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Marianne-Cowherd.webp\" alt=\"Marianne Cowherd\" \/>\n                        <div class=\"tse-name-scrim\"><\/div> <div class=\"tse-name-text\">Marianne Cowherd<\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-back\">\n                        <h3>Searching for Snow in the Water-Strapped West<\/h3>\n                        <p>Marianne Cowherd, a snow hydrologist, is unpacking the shifting nature of snowfall \u2013 and what it means for water availability.<\/p>\n                        <span class=\"tse-view-btn\">View Profile<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n                    <a href=\"\/women-in-science-2026-liz-dennett\" class=\"tse-card-link\" target=\"_self\">\n                <div class=\"tse-card-inner\">\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-front\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Liz-Dennett.webp\" alt=\"Liz Dennett\" \/>\n                        <div class=\"tse-name-scrim\"><\/div> <div class=\"tse-name-text\">Liz Dennett<\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-back\">\n                        <h3>Inspired by Alaska Upbringing, This Scientist is Exploring the &#039;Edge of Possibility&#039;<\/h3>\n                        <p>Liz Dennett is the founder of Endolith, which uses microbes to extract critical minerals for clean energy.<\/p>\n                        <span class=\"tse-view-btn\">View Profile<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n                    <a href=\"\/women-in-science-2026-cynthia-gerlein-safdi\" class=\"tse-card-link\" target=\"_self\">\n                <div class=\"tse-card-inner\">\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-front\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Cynthia-Gerlein-Safdi.webp\" alt=\"Cynthia Gerlein-Safdi\" \/>\n                        <div class=\"tse-name-scrim\"><\/div> <div class=\"tse-name-text\">Cynthia Gerlein-Safdi<\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-back\">\n                        <h3>From Dew on Plant Leaves to Tropical Rivers, She Follows the Water<\/h3>\n                        <p>At Berkeley, Cynthia Gerlein-Safdi leads research on how climate change disrupts water cycles.<\/p>\n                        <span class=\"tse-view-btn\">View Profile<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n                    <a href=\"\/women-in-science-2026-madeline-walker\" class=\"tse-card-link\" target=\"_self\">\n                <div class=\"tse-card-inner\">\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-front\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Madeline-Walker.webp\" alt=\"Madeline Walker Miller\" \/>\n                        <div class=\"tse-name-scrim\"><\/div> <div class=\"tse-name-text\">Madeline Walker Miller<\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-back\">\n                        <h3>She Turns Textile Waste Into a Climate Solution<\/h3>\n                        <p>In Detroit,Madeline Walker Miller of NexTiles is giving a second life to fabric shreds from fashion, automotive and aircraft companies.<\/p>\n                        <span class=\"tse-view-btn\">View Profile<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n                    <a href=\"\/women-in-science-2026-rebecca-peters\" class=\"tse-card-link\" target=\"_self\">\n                <div class=\"tse-card-inner\">\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-front\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Rebecca-Peters.webp\" alt=\"Rebecca Peters\" \/>\n                        <div class=\"tse-name-scrim\"><\/div> <div class=\"tse-name-text\">Rebecca Peters<\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-back\">\n                        <h3>She Rowed Across Crocodile-Infested Waters \u2013 and Became a Better Leader<\/h3>\n                        <p>Rebecca Peters of NASA&#039;s Goddard Space Flight Center translates science into practical action. Fieldwork is key, she says.<\/p>\n                        <span class=\"tse-view-btn\">View Profile<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n                    <a href=\"\/women-in-science-2026-katherine-siegel\" class=\"tse-card-link\" target=\"_self\">\n                <div class=\"tse-card-inner\">\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-front\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Katherine-Siegel.webp\" alt=\"Katherine Siegel\" \/>\n                        <div class=\"tse-name-scrim\"><\/div> <div class=\"tse-name-text\">Katherine Siegel<\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-back\">\n                        <h3>After Wildfires, This Scientist Reads the Future of the Land<\/h3>\n                        <p>In Yellowstone and beyond, Katherine Siegel blends high-tech data with on-the-ground conversations to help save iconic landscapes.<\/p>\n                        <span class=\"tse-view-btn\">View Profile<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n                    <a href=\"\/women-in-science-2026-ada-smith\" class=\"tse-card-link\" target=\"_self\">\n                <div class=\"tse-card-inner\">\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-front\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Ada-P-Smith.webp\" alt=\"Ada Smith\" \/>\n                        <div class=\"tse-name-scrim\"><\/div> <div class=\"tse-name-text\">Ada Smith<\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-back\">\n                        <h3>Protecting the Earth, One American Rancher at a Time<\/h3>\n                        <p>Rural sociologist Ada Smith helps ranching communities in the West adapt to climate change. The work is more mental than you\u2019d think, she says.<\/p>\n                        <span class=\"tse-view-btn\">View Profile<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n                    <a href=\"\/women-in-science-2026-paige-stanley\" class=\"tse-card-link\" target=\"_self\">\n                <div class=\"tse-card-inner\">\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-front\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Paige-Stanley.webp\" alt=\"Paige Stanley\" \/>\n                        <div class=\"tse-name-scrim\"><\/div> <div class=\"tse-name-text\">Paige Stanley<\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-back\">\n                        <h3>This Scientist Studies Better Grazing Practices \u2013 for Cows, and the Earth<\/h3>\n                        <p>Paige Stanley of Colorado State University studies carbon in the soils and works with ranchers to heal their land.<\/p>\n                        <span class=\"tse-view-btn\">View Profile<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n                    <a href=\"\/women-in-science-2026-sarah-waickowski\" class=\"tse-card-link\" target=\"_self\">\n                <div class=\"tse-card-inner\">\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-front\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sarah-Waickowski-.webp\" alt=\"Sarah Waickowski\" \/>\n                        <div class=\"tse-name-scrim\"><\/div> <div class=\"tse-name-text\">Sarah Waickowski<\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-back\">\n                        <h3>She&#039;s Helping Cities Manage Stormwater Floods<\/h3>\n                        <p>In South Carolina, Sarah Waickowski investigates the use of green streets, rain gardens and permeable pavements to improve water quality and reduce flooding.<\/p>\n                        <span class=\"tse-view-btn\">View Profile<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n                    <a href=\"\/women-in-science-2026-yagmur-yegin\/\" class=\"tse-card-link\" target=\"_self\">\n                <div class=\"tse-card-inner\">\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-front\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Yagmur-Yegin.webp\" alt=\"Yagmur Yegin\" \/>\n                        <div class=\"tse-name-scrim\"><\/div> <div class=\"tse-name-text\">Yagmur Yegin<\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    \n                    <div class=\"tse-card-back\">\n                        <h3>Imagining a World Without Food Waste<\/h3>\n                        <p>Yagmur Yegin&#039;s biodegradable food technology, developed at MIT, could extend shelf life without refrigeration.<\/p>\n                        <span class=\"tse-view-btn\">View Profile<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/a>\n            <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These women are using their hard-earned knowledge to protect our planet already ravaged by brutal storms, epic floods and intense wildfires.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":82265,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"autoblue_enabled":true,"autoblue_custom_message":"In honor of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we present our list of 11 Women to Watch in Science. Prepare to be inspired! #womeninscience","autoblue_shares":[{"did":"did:plc:l2n6ydtigm3gtra4vb4rfl7f","date":"2026-02-11T15:00:56+00:00","uri":"at:\/\/did:plc:l2n6ydtigm3gtra4vb4rfl7f\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3melqltx3g52w","response":"{\"uri\":\"at:\/\/did:plc:l2n6ydtigm3gtra4vb4rfl7f\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3melqltx3g52w\",\"cid\":\"bafyreihsohh6n6dep7mlmvksmebecrigxtgj75h5gnlbnnlw4kbuwyi62e\",\"commit\":{\"cid\":\"bafyreieiqi3nyl6427ae6pagbq2drfp5crtn5mouupc6vexm36ikjxglvm\",\"rev\":\"3melqltxk2v2w\"},\"validationStatus\":\"valid\"}"}],"autoblue_post_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[187],"tags":[20278,20194,19479],"class_list":["post-82160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-climate-change","tag-diversity-and-inclusion","tag-women-in-science"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.3 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ 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Her most recent book is \u201cStart a Successful Business.\u201d She has also written about the rewards and challenges of entrepreneurship for Inc., Entrepreneur and BusinessWeek, among others. She has been interviewed on MSNBC, Fox, CNBC, CBS and NPR. Colleen has a master\u2019s in journalism from Northwestern University. 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