Michelle Conner and Mary Kate MacLean earned a Bachelors of Science in Physics Spring 2016. As they prepared to say goodbye they took a moment to look back on how they got to Wright State and to offer some insight to future women in physics.
MacLean, always a “science kid” as she remembers, has a father who is an engineer that used to quiz her on physics concepts at theme parks. She used to go to the library to check out Bill Nye the Science Guy and Magic School Bus VHS tapes.
Conner got into physics after having an inspiring teacher, “My high school physics teacher, Charles Darling. I had him my last semester of high school. I really liked his class.”
Though MacLean and Conner do not have many classes together they both realize they do not see many female faces around the physics lab. “I have noticed that I am only one of two or three (women) max in any of the upper level classes,” but Conner has noticed a change. “As they added more students every year the amount of women has grown over last couple of years.”
Conner and MacLean will be continuing their education after graduation with plans near and far.
Conner will be attending graduate school for Electrical Engineering at Wright State and her senior project is building and programing a vibrating sample magnetometer in conjuction with a 600 lb. electromagnet.
MacLean works at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base’s Research Laboratory on the Sensors Directorate and will be attending University of Michigan's Ph.D. program in Applied Physics.
“I would say the challenge of physics is more intellectual than social and if you have the drive don’t let being a woman stop you … or being a man either!” said MacLean.
