17-Year-Old Girls Breaking Barriers In Science

February 19, 2021

Dasia Taylor, inspiration, Maryam Tsegaye, multicultural, representation

Science is a male-dominated field, but these two 17-year-old girls are breaking barriers with their research and innovative way of explaining complicated theories.

(Source: The Gazette)

17-year-old Dasia Taylor created color-changing sutures to detect infection. After receiving a suture kit for Christmas, she wanted to make sutures more effective. Dasia began developing sutures that would change colors when a patient’s pH levels alter, indicating an infection.

She entered this research into the 80th annual Regeneron Science Talent Search and was named top 300 out of 1,760 students. Taylor told the Gazette, “Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, just go with it. I stand by the idea that I stumbled into STEM by way of intellectual curiosity. Be curious because that will afford you so many opportunities.”

Dasia is an excellent example for little girls globally. In March 2020, she entered her project into the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium as the only black student. Dasia hopes that her color-changing sutures will be used in developing countries to save more lives by treating infections early with antibiotics.

Her research is on track to receive $25,000 as one of the 40 finalists while competing for a $250,000 grand prize in March as a Regeneron Science Talent Scholar.

(Source: The Globe and Mail)

Similar to Dasia, making scientific breakthroughs is 17-year-old Maryam Tsegaye. Maryam recently won the Breakthrough Junior Challenge for her youtube video as she simplified the concept of quantum tunneling.

Quantum tunneling is when electrons can ‘tunnel’ through barriers they typically wouldn’t be able to due to physics. Maryam simplified the process by comparing it to her brother using cheat codes in video games.

Watch Maryam brilliantly explain quantum tunneling in the video below:

As the winner, Maryam will receive a $250,000 college scholarship. Not only did Maryam create history with her video explaining such a complicated scientific theory. Out of 5600 entries, Maryam was selected as the winner, being the first Canadian to win Breakout Junior Challenge. Now that’s girl power!

Maryam told The Globe and Mail, “I did not see a figure in science who looked like me or made me feel represented until I watched Hidden Figures in Grade 8 or Grade 9.” Representation matters! It was an integral part of Maryam’s success, seeing that she too could make scientific history.

Maryam ends her video with great advice, stating, “maybe the quantum world is telling us that, when faced with an obstacle, there’s a small chance we can defy expectations and breach barriers.”

We agree with Maryam and Dasia that intellectual curiosity leads to Opportunities. Opportunities where you too can defy expectations and breach barriers.

All of Zoe’s curlfriends are cute and intelligent. Just like Dasia and Maryam, Zoe encourages girls worldwide to be the change and defy barriers.