Hubbard Brook Research Ecologist, Dr. Lindsey Rustad, is featured in an outdoor exhibit at the Smithsonian March 5-27. A statue of Dr. Rustad is among 120 statues of women in STEM fields on display during Women’s History Month as part of the IF/THEN initiative of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Lyda Hill Philanthropies. It is the largest collection of statues of women in the world.
The IF/THEN project is designed to create a culture shift around STEM careers for middle school girls by bringing visibility to high-profile female scientists as role models. Dr. Rustad is a forest ecologist and is the Team Leader at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest for the USDA Forest Service. She speaks frequently on the importance of representation for young women and girls considering careers in STEM. Rustad’s research for decades has been focused on the effects of disturbances in forest ecosystems. She was the principal investigator of the Hubbard Brook Ice Storm Experiment, which explored the immediate and long-term impacts of these extreme weather events on hardwood forests.
Each statue in the IF/THEN exhibit has an associated QR code on a plaque which links to the scientist’s personal story. The statues will be on display at Smithsonian locations in Washington D.C. from March 5 to 27, 2022 to honor and elevate female scientists who have been advancing scientific knowledge for decades. During Women’s History Month, the Smithsonian is hosting many STEM-focused events for visitors of all ages and gender expressions to learn about the possibilities of STEM careers.
Read more about IF/THEN here.
Photo by Tanya E. Flores of the USDA Forest Service