This exhibition was part of Otago Museum’s Full STE(a)M Ahead project, which ran from 01 February 2020 until 30 June 2021 and was designed to help more females of all ages to see the range of opportunities made possible through engagement with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM).

It was undertaken in partnership with the Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies and the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, and made possible by support from MBIE’s Unlocking Curious Minds fund.

On this page, you will see images of 100 women and girls from Otago and Southland who have inspired their communities to engage with the science, technology, engineering, and maths that exist all around us.

By clicking on an image, you will be able to read 100 of the person’s own words, describing what has been most unexpected or surprising about their own engagement with STEM.

This collection of images and experiences challenges outdated beliefs by demonstrating that women and girls absolutely belong in STEM, that there is no single “right” way to engage with STEM, and that their passion and achievements can inspire us all.