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"In GIS, work experience is critically important. There is so much knowledge gained through the trial and error of finding or creating data and devising analyses that is not learned through the designed scenarios and scrubbed data offered in textbooks. I encourage anyone interested in GIS to search for internships, volunteer work, and summer research programs; anything that would garner real-world experience." Read more from Emily on her profile here.

"I had a very engaging chemistry teacher, Kevin Brown, in high school who inspired my choice to major in chemistry in college. He made chemistry fun through hands on experiments that we could easily relate to our everyday lives. While I attribute my time at Assumption High School in Mr. Brown's chemistry classes to what first inspired to work in STEM, my research experience in college is what first ignited me my interest in scientific research." Read more from Melanie on her profile here.

"Working at Argonne National Laboratory as a staff scientist provides me the opportunity to apply my knowledge in chemistry to solve challenging problems in the interest of meeting the needs of the Department of Energy’s national security mission. It is very gratifying to work in teams that advance the U.S. capability to perform nuclear forensics, knowing that the end result contributes to the ultimate goal of keeping our nation safe." Read more from Jennifer on her profile here.

"As you are taking STEM courses, realize that you are learning more than just the topic material. You’re learning how to define and solve problems, and how to use mathematical tools. These abilities will make you particularly desirable as an employee—whether or not you end up working in the field you are studying now." Read more from Marie on her profile here.

"As an environmental scientist, I love getting my hands wet, literally. Every day is different—some days I get to go out and collect water or critters in a stream, and other days I am analyzing samples or doing an experiment in the lab. Not only is my work fun, but I also feel that it is important." Read more from Teresa on her profile here.

"I always tell high schoolers and college students to find something that excites you; for you will spend more of your waking hours at your job then you will outside of it. It should be everyone’s goal to find a career such that when you wake up and the morning you are looking forward to going into to work." Read more from Julie on her profile here.

"I also think giving working scientists and engineers the time and opportunity to get out and be involved in schools and science fairs would be very influential. It can’t be just teachers that spark and inspire, but in collaboration with career scientists and engineers from diverse fields, a student can get a better picture of how fulfilling these careers can be." Read more from Pamela on her profile here.

"I firmly believe that what I do, what my colleagues do, and what Argonne National Laboratory does, contributes in an invaluable and permanent way to the national good. Our basic sciences and engineering discoveries are often eventually translated into advances for our citizens in energy security, national security, information technology, and health." Read more from Kathleen on her profile here.

"All children are curious, and capturing and nurturing this curiosity as they go through school in math and science courses is very important. Often the connection between what we learn in classrooms and how it applies in the real world is not clear to students. Providing rich, meaningful experiences—examples in the classroom, field trips or hand-­‐on research-­‐-­‐can make math and science lessons more relevant to student’s lives and thus make a huge difference in keeping students interested in STEM." Read more from Michelle on her profile here.

"I love working in my field, studying the underlying economic drivers of electricity markets and translating that into energy models. The electric power industry has seen tremendous changes in the past decade, and working on a team whose job it is to incorporate this information into models that forecast supply and demand curves is challenging and exciting." Read more from Carrie on her profile here.

"The most important advice I have for young women interested in any field of STEM is to find an internship, whether at a National Laboratory, academia or industry. The best way to learn about a field is to work with experts in that field." Read more from Deanna on her profile here.

"What excites me the most about my work at Argonne is the people: world class scientists and engineers working together to gain fundamental knowledge and pushing forward new applied technologies." Read more from Giselle on her profile here.

"Working in with different science domains means that there is never a dull moment. My technical abilities and creativity are consistently challenged by their evolving requirements, pushing to create new solutions that take us to the next level." Read more from Kerstin on her profile here.

"I think first and foremost, we need to expose more women and girls to the prospect of careers in STEM at a young age. The earlier these groups realize that they can have a part in these fields, the more likely they are to ultimately chose to go to college in a STEM related path. Additionally, they need to see and meet older and younger female scientists. Getting the chance to see other females in these positions solidifies these career goals as possible." Read more from Erin on her profile here.

"Role models, role models and more role models. They will change the stereotypes that surround women’s perceived interests and what is “appropriate” for a woman – there should be more role models readily available that offer young people (women and other underrepresented groups) an opportunity to see themselves in STEM professions." Read more from Cristina on her profile here.

"I started my career solving puzzles, an activity I enjoyed early in life! I enjoy the creative process (brainstorming, identifying alternative approaches and outcomes, establishing boundaries for a problem, and utilizing analytic and systems techniques useful in approaching problems, professional and personal."

"We need to change the vision that people have of scientists. Too often, when we ask younger children if they know a famous scientist, they refer to Albert Einstein, and envision an older man with a crazy hairstyle. Taking science classes in school should be considered as "cool and desirable" as being on the football team, and we can only change this perception by continuously disseminating and explaining what we can achieve with science and who is behind it." Read more about Rebecca on her profile here.

"Do it because you love it and you can’t imagine doing anything else. Don’t let anyone bully you, stick to it and don’t give up when it gets hard." Read more from Ashfia on her profile here.

"It is not always clear how what we learn at school as science relates to problems in the world in which we live. Programs which provide girls with a hands-on discovery experience and an understanding of how what they learn can be used to address new problems and to devise creative solutions is important for demonstrating why STEM matters and for inspiring the next-generation of STEM professionals." Read more from Karena on her profile here.

"I get to work with people who are passionate about making our world cleaner, safer and more sustainable. The DOE mission is also well aligned with my research interests. As a microbiologist, I studied bacteria that can live in very toxic environments. Figuring out how they are able to live in such harsh places and potentially using that knowledge to help clean up the environment was like solving a mystery. So, in a way, I got to be a microbial sleuth!" Read more from Tina on her profile here.

"Energy is one of the biggest challenges in the world. To have a part in supporting a better future for generations to come is what this job is all about for me. My job as CIO is the kind of job you could do in many fields and organizations. But supporting the renewable energy mission is motivating and exciting for me." Read more from Jill on her profile here.

"I feel STEM education should be made more engaging and connected to everyday life in order to attract girls and young women. Since family and teachers play such an important role in the early development of academic interests, they play a vital role in shaping future generations of innovators, regardless of gender, and both play vital roles in encouraging girls to explore STEM topics." Read more from Ritimukta on her profile here.

"I am surrounded by smart people from all disciplines: physicists, engineers, mathematicians and computer scientists all working together to solve some of the world's most challenging technical problems. It is exhilarating and rewarding." Read more from Robin on her profile here.

"Treat all feedback as opportunities. Find the place where you fit in, personally. Research is fun, because there are always new things to do, but it is highly competitive: so choose a level of contribution at which you can be the strongest contributor around. If this means that you are a technician in the lab, that is something to be proud of: a good technician can be very difficult to find." Read more from Sarah on her profile here.

" It is very exciting for me to see talented diverse teams of scientists and engineers, assembled from both the National Laboratories and Universities, tackle great scientific and technical challenges to create the new tools that enable us to push the boundaries of our scientific knowledge." Read more from Young-Kee on her profile here.