SHE is SCIENCE: Sergey Tokarev and STEM is FEM conduct an educational art project in Ukraine

The charitable educational initiative STEM is FEM has launched an art project SHE is SCIENCE. The project aims with help of modern art to discard the stereotype of science being boring, difficult and “only for chosen”, as well as that it is “not a woman’s business.” The founder of Gen IT and the initiator of STEM is FEM Sergey Tokarev tells us the details of the project.

‘Science, like art, is a fascinating, always relevant and gender-neutral field. And women have made a huge contribution to science as we know it today. However, their names are unfortunately not known to the general public. That is why the figures of Ukrainian female scientists will become the central theme of this project,’ said Sergey Tokarev.

The first part of the project will be an art exhibition of contemporary Ukrainian illustrators under the leadership of Sergiy Maidukov. The exposition will consist of 12 portraits of Ukrainian women scientists, and it will be accompanied by an information stand. It is planned to show the exhibition throughout Ukraine. The pre-premiere exhibition will take place in Kyiv in early March.

‘In the age of visual communication, in the era of Instagram, an art exhibition is the best way to attract young people to the world of science,’ says Sergey Tokarev. ‘Apart from that, as we have invited the portrait heroines to the exhibition, an opportunity to meet them personally should motivate young visitors to scientific accomplishments.’

The second part is a national competition for the best essay among girls. Participants aged 14 to 21 are invited to choose one of the 12 heroines of the art exhibition and tell in their written work how her activities, achievements and inventions have influenced the development of science and how their work is implemented in today’s world. The main prize of the competition is a scholarship to further study.