Hurricane Katrina, Fungi and Feminism: One Woman’s Story

Joan W. Bennett, Distinguished Professor of Plant Biology and Pathology at Rutgers University and founder of the Office for the Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics recently spoke at Bay Path’s Women in STEM Speaker Series… 

As a young girl, Joan Bennett’s love and curiosity for our living world was encouraged by her parents. From her days as a Girl Scout to trips with her family, her curiosity was drawn to the scientific— asking what, how and why. Taking classes in the sciences, her gender put in her in the minority. She remembered a physics class where she was the only girl, only to be soon joined by another young woman. There was some relief, but Bennett quickly points out: “I never felt pushed to the corners or not accepted.” It turns out that in her career trajectory as a scientist she was a natural in the lab or in the classroom. Her work defined her, aided by some key mentors.

While participating in a summer research program at Cornell University as an undergraduate, she was introduced to the world of plant genetics. She met a key mentor who encouraged her to go on to graduate school and continue what she started that summer. Once in graduate school, she switched her focus from green plant cytogenetics to fungal molecular biology. Fungi can be either single cell or very complex multicellular organisms that play a critical role in our ecosystems. In time, this was to become her life research. Fascinated by the power of fungi as genetic models along the way, Bennett also was challenged by a much larger question: how to encourage young women to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) AND how the system must help women balance the demands of work and family in order to remain as researchers and educators in their respective fields. Click here to view the rest of the story…