HerCatalyst: Empowering Young Women to Lead in STEM

HerCatalyst: Empowering Young Women to Lead in STEM

By: Ceyda Oz, Ila Hatwal, and Neil Joshi

In a rapidly modernizing world, having diverse voices in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is becoming more urgent than ever. Specifically, the inclusion of women in STEM is critical to developing more innovative and sustainable solutions to the global challenges that are faced today.

We are the founders of HerCatalyst, a youth-led organization on a mission to close the gender gap in stem Our work focuses on providing accessible, professional opportunities to young women and girls interested in STEM.

Through conferences and networking events, we aim to build a world where all students, regardless of background, have the support to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple but powerful:

To serve as a catalyst to empower women and girls to follow their spark in STEM by providing accessible, professional opportunities that serve as direct pathways to connect with like-minded peers, mentors, and experts across diverse STEM fields.

We work to foster early growth and equitable access to STEM education, building a global community where women can thrive and lead in science, technology, engineering, and math—becoming the trailblazers of our world.

Our Story

Our passion for STEM was sparked at an early age. From a young age, all three of us loved the natural world, which would eventually lead us to explore scientific techniques and the phenomena that intrigued us. Through basic experiments, nonfiction books, and adventurous engineering ideas, we began to explore this love for STEM,

“Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist, and then we beat it out of them. A few trickle through the system with their wonder and enthusiasm for science intact.”

― Carl Sagan, American astronomer and planetary scientist

We were fortunate to attend an elementary school that encouraged hands-on learning—through science fairs, Maker Faire events, and arts and culture nights. These experiences helped us blend creativity with curiosity and opened our eyes to the joy of discovery.

Notably, we were curious about the world of independent research, and participating in science fairs since fifth grade kept that with us throughout our journey to high school.

Looking back, our opportunities to connect with various mentors, starting with Arizona State University professors in environmental research from as early as our first project, was essential to keep our “wonder and enthusiasm for science intact”.

However, as we entered high school and looked for ways to go further, we noticed a gap: many of our peers lacked the resources and encouragement to turn their ideas into reality. We saw bright, curious students hesitate because they didn’t feel like they belonged in the spaces they were passionate about. It is not that they lacked potential, but they lacked the support to develop their ideas.

We met Mrs. Rachna Nath through our biotech classes and science fair projects. Her commitment to innovation and helping students dream big made her the perfect mentor to reach out to to start an ambitious project like this. Soon, we reached out to her to start HerCatalyst. She never hesitated to encourage our driven goals and help us find concrete and sustainable plans to achieve them.

Alongside our mentor, Mrs. Rachna Nath, we launched HerCatalyst and hosted our first ever conference, centered around women in innovation. The day was filled with dynamic discussions, insightful lessons, and inspiring conversations with speakers and panelists whose journeys in innovation are truly captivating and inspiring.

Looking Ahead: Public Health Conference 2025

This summer, we are thrilled to launch the 2025 HerCatalyst Public Health Conference, a global virtual event designed to engage high school and middle school students in meaningful conversations about public health, equity, and innovation.

The half-day event, taking place on Saturday, July 26th, will bring together public health professionals and students from around the world. Highlights include:

• A keynote from leading public health experts
• A research symposium
• Panels and speaker sessions
• Networking opportunities with mentors and STEM professionals

Our goal is to provide an accessible, inclusive, and empowering space for students to connect with both experts and peers, allowing them to see themselves in these fields in the future. If you would like to join, we encourage you to go to our website and register, and share this opportunity with others.

Why This Matters

“You can’t be what you can’t see.”

— Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund

Representation is powerful. Sometimes, all it takes is seeing one person who looks like you to succeed to ignite a dream. We are excited to share our story with Mahabahu and its readers because we believe the challenges girls face in STEM are not limited to one country or culture. They are global.

Our goal is to grow HerCatalyst and build a worldwide network of passionate individuals committed to gender equity, innovation, and access.

Join the Movement

If you care about science, health, technology, or inclusion, we invite you to be part of our journey. Visit hercatalyst.org to learn more about our mission, upcoming events, and how you can get involved.

Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn (@hercatalyst, @Ila Hatwal, @Ceyda Oz, @Neil Joshi) to stay up to date with opportunities, stories, and our growing community of changemakers.

10-07-2025

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