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The Tech Celebrates Women’s History Month 2026
March 1, 2026
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Women’s History Month is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. It honors those who fought for gender equity in the past while acknowledging the women who continue to break barriers today. In celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on March 8, The Tech Interactive is spotlighting four remarkable women and their innovative work in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math).
Cecilia Glaisher
Cecilia Glaisher was a Victorian-era photographer, illustrator, and printmaker whose work made important contributions to science and natural history in the mid-19th century. Though not formally trained as a scientist and often labeled an amateur, her work played a meaningful role in scientific research during the 1850s.
Glaisher is best known for her detailed illustrations of snow crystals, producing 151 schematic drawings based on direct observation through magnifying lenses. Created before the advent of photomicrography, these illustrations helped scientists classify snow crystal forms and are still regarded as some of the most accurate depictions of their time. Glaisher also produced early photographic images of ferns using techniques such as salt prints and photogenic drawing, contributing to an ambitious effort to document British ferns for scientific study.
Working in an era when women were excluded from universities and scientific societies, Glaisher’s contributions were often published under her husband’s name or left uncredited, making her work especially important to recognize today.
Create your own snowflake design this month in one of our rotating pop up activities on the lower level!
Natsai Audrey Chieza
Natsai Audrey Chieza is a biodesigner who founded a biomaterial research and development studio, Faber Futures, which creates biologically inspired materials. After studying Architecture and completing a master’s degree in materials futures, she became interested in stem cells and the sustainability of synthetic biology.
Chieza helped redefine the fashion industry by introducing bacteria as a new way to dye textiles. She received international recognition for her work, including the 2024 London Design Innovation Medal, a nomination for the Dezeen Awards Bentley Lighthouse Award, and the 2019 INDEX Award, often called the Nobel Prize of design. She also serves on Fondation USM’s Future Lab advisory panel and the World Economic Forum’s Global Futures Council on Synthetic Biology, advocating for the integration of design, culture, and biotechnology in policy development.
Listen to her TED Talk here.
Dana Bolles
Dana Bolles is an American spaceflight engineer and advocate for disability inclusion in STEM. She also volunteers as an advocate for women and members of the LGBTQ community. Bolles has worked at NASA Headquarters since 1995 and is now working in the Science Mission Directorate’s Science Engagement and Partnerships Division. As External Information Technology Lead, she oversees the day-to-day operations of science.nasa.gov and is helping implement a major web modernization initiative. Her primary focus is collaborating with the science community to modernize NASA’s digital platforms to better serve the public. She also serves as an ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s IF/THEN initiative.
Relying on assistive equipment for independence since the age of two, Dana Bolles was inspired to pursue engineering and a career focused on space from an early age. As a professional with a visible disability, Dana is committed to breaking stigma and encouraging others to believe in themselves without being limited by outside expectations.
Watch her NASA STEM Stars video here.
Sidney Collin
Trained as a biomedical engineer, Sidney Collin is passionate about using technology to improve lives and reshape healthcare. After seeing a veteran with Parkinson’s disease struggle to walk, Collin invented NexStride, a device that clips onto a walker or cane and uses visual and auditory cues to improve mobility. As the co-founder and President of De Oro Devices, Collin continues to grow the company alongside an exceptional team. Her company has raised $4.3 million from investors, including AARP.
Collin is especially driven to move ideas from the research world into real people’s hands through simple, intuitive technology, and she believes collaboration among innovators is essential. This year, she was recognized for her work developing the NexStride device as one of our 2025-26 Tech for Global Good Laureates.