International Day of Women and Girls in Science. A gender gap persists in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world. Women have made tremendous progress increasing their participation in the science and engineering fields. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science inspires all women that they can be the scientist that changes the world.

Whose your favorite female scientist? In Anoka County, the women making our communities a safer and better place to live, work and play includes:

• Caitlin Barale Potter (Outreach Coordinator, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Res.)
• Beth Carreno (Communications Coordinator, Rice Creek Watershed Dist.)
• Justine Dauphinais (Water Quality Coordinator, Coon Creek Watershed Dist.)
• Dawn Doening (Information & Education Coordinator, Coon Creek Watershed Dist.)
• Kate Drewery (Hydrologist, Anoka area, MN Department of Natural Resources)
• Melinda “Mindy” Erickson (Hydrologist, US Geological Survey – MN)
• Kaci Fisher (Environmental Compliance, Hakanson Anderson Inc.)
• Lisa Gilliland (Supervisor, Wargo Nature Center – Anoka Co. Parks)
• Jessi Gurr (President, Iceberg Web Design)
• Diane Hankee (Engineer, City of Lino Lakes)
• Rebecca Haug (Water Resources Manager, City of Blaine)
• Kathryn Jones (Project Manager, HDR, Inc)
• Jean Keeley (Engineer, City of Blaine)
• Sarah Lloyd (Engineer, Bolton & Menk)
• Joan McKearnan (Science Instructor, Anoka-Ramsey Community College)
• Lauren Sampedro (Water Resources Specialist, Rice Creek Watershed Dist.)
• Carley Schmidt (Environmental Health Specialist, Anoka County)
• Laura Schmidt (Hazardous Waste Specialist, Anoka County)
• Colleen Sinclair (Recycling Coordinator, City of Coon Rapids)
• Carrie Taylor (Nature Restoration Specialist, Anoka Conservation Dist.)
• Amy Ulbricht (Commercial Waste Specialist, Anoka County)
• Laurel Woodruff (Research Geologist, US Geological Survey – MN)
• Becky Wozney (Wetland Specialist, Anoka Conservation Dist.)

Check out the Women’s Environmental Network for information on local events for women scientists.