Throughout history, women have played pivotal roles in STEM, making groundbreaking discoveries in science, mathematics, and technology despite facing significant obstacles and limited recognition. Trailblazers like Marie Curie, Ada Lovelace, Katherine Johnson, and Rosalind Franklin have shaped scientific disciplines, paving the way for future generations of female scientists and engineers.
This Women's History Month, UH Energy celebrates several outstanding students who are shaping the future of energy and innovation at THE ENERGY UNIVERSITY® and beyond.
Following in the footsteps of the women who came before her, Afriaa Nasir has been thriving in the energy field since earning her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UH in May 2022. She is now working as an Applications Engineer at Tobisha International.
While at UH, she was heavily involved with the Energy Coalition (EC), where she served twice as Vice Chair - Business Competition, Symposium, and Community Outreach, and later as Vice Chair - Corporate Relations. In the later role, she organized and co-hosted a podcast series, Coogs Energizing the Energy Transition, partnering with UH Energy and The Green Insider.
Along with EC, she was actively involved with UH’ s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Afriaa credits her experience in SWE with providing her with valuable skills, mentorship, and community: things you can't just get in a classroom, especially as a woman student in STEM.
“The history of women in STEM has been one of shared hope. Hope to close the gap in representation in the industry. Hope to normalize seeing women in leadership and C-suite roles. Hope that a young girl will choose engineering or any other STEM major in a heartbeat,” said Afriaa. “The University of Houston has provided a platform where I have personally felt the unwavering support of my female professors and supervisors.”
Prachi Garella, a PhD student in Theoretical High Energy Physics is also making her
mark in the energy sector.
As President of UH’s Women in Physics Society (WiPS) chapter, and co-host of The Knowmads
Podcast, she explores topics across science, physics, philosophy, psychology, society,
and culture. Women’s history month is a particularly special time to her because it
gives her the opportunity to reflect on the strides that women have made in STEM,
paving the way for her today.
“Despite facing adversity and numerous other obstacles, women have consistently demonstrated that their talent, determination, courage, and resilience cannot be subdued,” said Prachi.
Today, women in STEM fields comprise just 29.2 % of the workforce according to the Global Gender Gap Report, but Prachi doesn’t let that discourage her. Instead, she uses their stories and accomplishments as an inspiration to her journey.
“When societal norms restricted women's roles to the confines of the home, Marie Curie, a pioneering physicist, not only discovered radioactivity but also received not one, but two Nobel Prizes,” said Prachi. “I believe that women who shatter these obstacles are the freedom fighters that today's women should admire and emulate.”
As a dedicated PhD student specializing in seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production, and Treasurer of WiPS, Navmi Naik is passionate about sustainable energy and plans to use her experience to drive impactful research and business initiatives.
Navmi is optimistic about the future of women in energy and credits her organization for being a positive influence on students like her.
“As one of only two women in my PhD class of 22 individuals, I've keenly felt the need for greater gender representation and support for women in STEM.” said Navmi. Student organizations like WiPS play a crucial role in highlighting and addressing this issue, working towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in the field.
Standing on the shoulders of the trailblazing women in STEM who came before them, these UH students are advancing their organizations' missions and paving the way for future generations of women leaders in energy, driving positive change along the way.