Trends
In the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field women are currently underrepresented. When looking at bachelor’s degrees awarded in the STEM field women earn less than half in all fields (Engineering By The Numbers). The best percentage was 44.3% in Environmental engineering and the lowest at 9.4% in computer engineering (Engineering By The Numbers). This disparity of women in engineering is not because they lack talent or drive to succeed rather because they do not believe they have the talent to succeed (Hidden Hurdle for Women in Science). Developing a more welcoming and accepting culture correlates to the success of a company’s employees, and not women conforming to current culture. In 1970 women only earned 11% of doctorate degrees, but the acceptance of women in the work environment has improved; in 2010 the number of women earning doctorates has increased to 40% (Hidden Hurdle for Women in Science).
Even though the percentage of women earning degrees has increased, only 25% of the faculty at universities are female (Engineering By The Numbers). For more women to believe that they are able enough to continue in their discipline, that percentage must increase. (Engineering By The Numbers). Even though the number of women involved in teaching academia has increased it will not be enough until it becomes equal.
Lynn is rare in her field because she is one of the 16% female professors that are tenure-track in the United States (Engineering By The Numbers). Since there are so few women on the tenure-track, Lynn’s presence and example-setting will have one of the largest influences on other up-and-coming engineers taking her classes. By being that role model and showing her students they can make it too, Lynn provides the atmosphere that could help them succeed.
Percentage of Women Tenured/Tenure-Track by Discipline © ASEE 2011
One form of technology Lynn has created so far is called nanotransfer printing, which is a technique of patterning onto organic materials to give them electrical characteristics (Video: ‘Plastic Electronics’). This would mean plastics that could be used with electrical applications, and this is significant because unlike current electrical appliances, plastics are light weight and flexible (Video: ‘Plastic Electronics’). This technique would mean drastic improvements on the quality of life and our lives as a society (Video: ‘Plastic Electronics’). Through employing her technique tinted windows could be created that could harness solar energy (Video: ‘Plastic Electronics’). Her invention could also change the color of wallpaper which could help people relax with soothing color, adjust for entertaining, or even accommodate for people that are sensitive or reactive to certain color schemes (Video: ‘Plastic Electronics’). Nanotransfer printing could lead to the development of sensors that test the purity of water by changing colors when contaminants are present (Video: ‘Plastic Electronics’). Healthcare could even be improved with plastic patches that could monitor and administer medication when appropriate (Video: ‘Plastic Electronics’). Her discovery of this technique uniquely expands the usability of electronics in many more aspects of life.
