Colorful comic book graphics bring to life the story of prominent women in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the colorful new exhibit “Women in Science.”

It is presented now through December in the U-M Museum of Natural History. The goal is to inspire young visitors from every background to see themselves working in STEM fields and changing the world.

Developed by Ann Marie Macara, a fifth-year graduate student in the U-M Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, the exhibit features four women scientists whose work had a major impact in their fields. These women persevered against the odds and are powerful role models who continue to inspire young women to follow in their footsteps in STEM.

Mary Anning represents science, for her discoveries of fossils from the Jurassic period. Annie Easley personifies technology as one of the few African-American computer scientists to work at NASA. Sarah Goode stands for engineering as the first African-American woman to receive a United States patent for her invention of the folding cabinet bed. Wang Zhenyi exemplifies mathematics for her models of astronomical events, including eclipses.

The exhibit was made possible through the support of the U-M Life Sciences Institute; a MAAS Professional Development Award; the Program in Biomedical Science; the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology; the Women in Science and Engineering Program; and Females Engaged in More Math, Engineering and the Sciences.