Last week the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute hosted the Fifth Annual Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Fair in Washington, D.C. A theme of the bipartisan event is encouraging more participation in science and technology fields from women at all career stages, a topic near and dear to my heart.

The fair has both nonprofit and private sector partners in attendance that give science demos, offer information on programs they have to promote women in STEAM fields, as well as provide examples of careers available to those interested in pursuing a science-based education. I was there with L’Oreal USA to discuss their grants program for early career women scientists which has funded my research in the past as well as to give science demonstrations with my infrared camera.

Also supporting the fair was the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, including Caucus Co-Chairs Representative Susan Brooks and Representative Lois Frankel and Caucus Vice-Chairs Representative Mimi Walters and Representative Brenda Lawrence. I got a chance to sit down with Representative Lois Frankel before the event to get her advice on how we can increase the participation of women in science-related fields.