3D statues of women in STEM in the Haupt Garden of the Smithsonian Castle

Women's Futures Month

March 2022
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Calling all citizen scientists, do-gooders, plant lovers, activists, advocates, dreamers, and creators! Join us in March 2022, when the Smithsonian shakes up Women’s History Month with a new Women’s Futures Month: a forward-looking celebration of the power of women and girls in STEM to shape a better world.

From March 5 to 27, the Arts + Industries Building’s FUTURES exhibition, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, and Smithsonian Gardens will partner to host the Smithsonian debut of #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit, the largest collection of statues of women ever assembled together, to be installed on and around the National Mall. The 120 life-size 3D-printed statues are of a diverse coalition of contemporary women STEM innovators and role models leading a variety of fields, from protecting wildlife, discovering galaxies, building YouTube’s platform, to trying to cure cancer.

IF/THEN® is an initiative of the Lyda Hill Philanthropies designed to activate a culture shift among young girls to open their eyes to STEM careers. From tagging sharks, searching for extraterrestrial life, fighting superbugs, to choreographing robots, these STEM innovators were selected through a rigorous process with a commitment to inspire the next generation. Lyda Hill Philanthropies partnered with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to select and manage the AAAS IF/THEN® Ambassadors program: engaging high-profile role models to inspire middle school girls.  

Kicking off a month-long Women’s Futures Month festival, #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit will be unveiled to the public March 5 with a weekend of exciting programs at the Arts + Industries Building (AIB) that will invite visitors of all ages and gender expressions to dream big and see themselves as scientists-in-the-making. Visitors can meet the women scientists and inventors behind the statues who are changing the world during a free Work It! FUTURES Career Day on March 5, and enjoy inspiring activities for future-makers of all ages during a Spark the FUTURES: Science Family Day March 6.

During opening weekend, visitors will be able to explore all 120 statues placed in AIB, the Smithsonian Castle, and the adjacent Enid A. Haupt Garden. Starting March 7, select statues will spread out to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum along the National Mall through March 27.

An array of other #WomensFuturesMonth in-person and virtual events throughout the month will bring to life inspirational stories of women making a difference in their fields. 

This program is made possible by the generous support of Lyda Hill Philanthropies and the IF/THEN® initiative. Rooted in a firm belief that there is no better time to highlight positive and successful female professional role models, IF/THEN® seeks to further advance women in (STEM) by empowering current innovators and inspiring the next generation of pioneers.