WiSTEM Welcomes Professor from University of Chicago

Upper School students in the WiSTEM (Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) club and their faculty advisor, Science teacher Leslie Webster, welcomed Professor Maureen Coleman from University of Chicago to campus last week for a discussion.

“Dr. Coleman is a female-identifying person in a male-dominated STEM field, so having her come to speak was a great opportunity for the club,” Webster said. “The number of women who get degrees in biology is actually fairly representative of the population, but the number of professors is significantly lower. She shared information about how she got interested in science as a career, the path she took to becoming a professional biologist and what kinds of work she does.”

Professor Coleman’s focus is on microbial evolution, ecology and biogeochemistry. She explained, “My research addresses the how and why of microbial biodiversity: how this remarkable biodiversity is created and maintained and why it is important for adaptation and ecosystem function. In particular, I am interested in the dynamics and ecosystem consequences of fine-scale biodiversity—the diversity within natural populations and among close relatives.”

The students were fascinated by her explanations of her work studying microbial samples throughout Lake Michigan and also her honesty on the struggles she’s faced in her career. “I'm so grateful to have a world-class university so close to campus, filled with professionals willing to pay it forward to the next generation,” Webster shared when thinking about the success of this visit. “It was great to see someone the students can identify with explaining new research into the microorganisms of the Great Lakes and how it changes with the depth of the lake, the seasons and even as the years pass.”

Click here for photos.