Women of NASA LaRC

What is "Women of NASA" (WON) all about?

The NASA K-12 Internet Initiative Project - "Women of NASA" (WON) project initiated out at NASA AMES (http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/women/), however, (due to project cut backs) they are no longer scheduling any webchats.

Young women of the ages 12 to 15 are between a mountain peak and an open chasm regarding their own self-confidence. To nurture and encourage their self-confidence and determination, it is valuable for these young women to meet successful role models and have dialogues with them about the confusing issues of women in society.

The Women of NASA interactive project supported this movement by providing as role models outstanding women working in diverse fields at NASA who have succeeded and continue to thrive in math, science, and technology careers. Their two major goals were to: 1) provide as role models women who have succeeded and continue to thrive in a high-tech environment, and 2) provide a resource where teachers have access to information on gender equity in the classroom and materials that provide insight on reducing inequities especially in math and science.

"Women of NASA" (WON) LaRC

The WON LaRC web site allows young girls to learn about women who are succeeding in careers generally dominated by men such as science and math-based fields. Through their contact with these women, young girls and women receive much needed confirmation that society's pressures are real and that the decisions they are forced to make are indeed confusing and difficult. At the same time, these women provide assurance that these obstacles are conquerable. They also are able to give the young girls and women an idea of how their decisions today affect their tomorrow as they provide a link between school and the real-world.

In addition to encouraging more girls to pursue math and science careers, the biographies posted at WON LaRC site illustrate the diversity of women's careers at NASA Langley. Hence, professional (civil service) women with non-science/math related careers may serve as active mentors, especially during special program such as "Black History Month" (January), "Women's History Month" (March), and "Career Month" (March). Therefore, you are all welcome and encouraged to participate.

The Federal Women's Program (FWP) supports recruiting professional (civil service) women from NASA Langley to participate in this web site, thereby, pursuing their mission (under provisions of Presidential Executive Order 11478) to enhance employment and advancement opportunities for women. While promoting the increasing cultural diversity among women throughout the NASA centers nationwide.

Any LaRC civil service women interested in participating, please visit the WON LaRC Requirements section.