On May 15, 2021, Lyda Hill Philanthropies IF/THEN Initiative will present #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit at Dallas’ NorthPark Center. #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit is a monumental exhibit of the most women statues ever in one location. This first-of-its-kind, life-sized statue exhibit will feature more than 120 AAAS IF/THEN® Ambassadors hailing from more than 40 states. It is free to the public and it will run through October 2021.
Representing women in STEM
COVID-19 postponed the exhibit’s initial start date of May 2020. IF/THEN pivoted to launch the IF/THEN Collection. This collection is the largest, free digital resource with thousands of photos and videos of contemporary women in STEM. It significantly increased imagery stock representing women in STEM worldwide. In August 2020, IF/THEN curated a #IfThenSheCan pop-up exhibit. That exhibit debuted at WCS’s Central Park Zoo in New York City to great fanfare.
“Our unwavering commitment to see this exhibit open emanates from the deep belief that ‘IF she can see it, THEN she can be it,” said Nicole Small, CEO of Lyda Hill Philanthropies and co-founder of the IF/THEN Initiative. “As we emerge from the pandemic and contemplate the future, we want to showcase what is possible for young girls in the field of STEM by providing a diverse and powerful representation of women thriving in STEM careers.”
Celebrating STEM role models
#IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit celebrates the contributions of more than 120 AAAS IF/THEN Ambassadors, contemporary female STEM professionals and role models from a variety of industries including entertainment, fashion, sports, business and academia. From Jessica Esquivel, particle physicist, who is one of 150 Black women with a PhD in physics in the country, to Kay Savage, who uses math, coding, and mixed methods research to gain a deeper understanding of Spotify listening behavior, to Karina Popovich, who produced over 82,000 pieces of 3D-printed PPE for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the exhibit will truly amaze and inspire all.
#IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit features interactive elements, including audio and video of each Ambassador’s personal story. The AAAS IF/THEN Ambassadors participated in individual, full-body scans at Dallas’ Perot Museum of Nature and Science in October 2019. Unique technology called the Twinstant Mobile Full Body 3D Scanner printed each woman’s full-length silhouette into a life-sized statue.
Inspiring the next generation
Former Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios commissioned the study that inspired the largest scale 3D printing project of its kind. Rios’ study looked at publicly accessible statues in the top ten U.S. cities, plus Washington D.C. and San Francisco. She concluded that less than half a dozen statues of real American women exist outdoors in main parks or downtowns. The exhibit will be located in the shopping center’s 1.4-acre CenterPark Garden.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this groundbreaking installation aimed at raising awareness and inspiring young girls everywhere to consider pursuing careers in STEM,” said Nancy A. Nasher, owner of NorthPark Center. “Because of our steadfast commitment to bringing world-class art and important, educational and cultural experiences to the public, NorthPark Center is honored to showcase this transformative initiative to our millions of visitors.”
About IF/THEN
IF/THEN is part of Lyda Hill Philanthropies’ commitment to fund game-changing advancements in science and nature. IF/THEN seeks to further advance women in STEM by empowering current innovators and inspiring the next generation of pioneers. Rooted in a firm belief that there is no better time to highlight positive and successful female professional role models, IF/THEN is designed to activate a culture shift among young girls to open their eyes to STEM careers by: (1) funding and elevating women in STEM as role models, (2) convening cross-sector partners in entertainment, fashion, sports, business, and academia to illuminate the importance of STEM everywhere, and (3) inspiring girls with better portrayals of women in STEM through media and learning experiences to pique their interest in STEM careers. To learn more, visit www.ifthenshecan.org or follow IF/THEN on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About Lyda Hill Philanthropies
Lyda Hill Philanthropies encompasses the charitable giving of founder Lyda Hill and includes her foundation and personal philanthropy. As one of its priorities, Lyda Hill Philanthropies funds transformational advances in science and nature. To learn more, please visit https://www.lydahillphilanthropies.org/.
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