(
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 22, 2024) - The Children's Museum of Indianapolis proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Carlotta A. Berry as the Eli Lilly and Company Visiting Scientist.
Dr. Berry, a respected professor, author, and STEM trailblazer, will not only lead STEM programs at the museum but will also serve as an advisor for STEM initiatives designed to inspire the next generation of female scientists.
“The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is thrilled to welcome Dr. Carlotta Berry as our new Visiting Scientist,” said Jennifer Pace Robinson, president and CEO, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “We are confident that her expertise and innovative approaches will inspire young girls and women to believe in themselves and have the confidence to become the scientists and engineers of tomorrow. Through this collaboration with the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, the museum reaffirms its commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive STEM community.”
“We know that exposure to STEM fields at a young age improves education and employment outcomes for young people,” said Charlotte Hawthorne, vice president of the Lilly Foundation, a private tax-exempt organization. “We welcome Dr. Barry and know she will take her impressive background and passion for STEM to make a real difference reaching young people through this role.”
Research consistently underscores the importance of strong female role models for their ability to inspire girls and young women to develop passion for STEM-focused initiatives and projects.
The Children’s Museum and the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation are committed to showcasing successful women in STEM as positive role models. The Visiting Scientist program, made possible through the generous support of the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, seeks to connect young minds with accomplished women making significant contributions to STEM fields.
Program Goals:
- Share insights into the scientist’s career path and research, building understanding of scientific processes.
- Utilize STEM professionals to reach girls and young women through programs, outreach, and exhibits.
- Provide female scientists a platform to influence future museum programs and exhibits.
Dr. Carlotta Berry, an accomplished electrical engineer specializing in controls and robotics, embodies the spirit of the programs and is the Lawrence J. Giacoletto Endowed Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a college earning national rankings for undergraduate engineering education and return on investment. As an advocate for diversifying STEM, Dr. Berry co-founded Black in Engineering and Black in Robotics in her efforts to promote DEIJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice) in STEM.
Her innovative strategies, from robot hip hop slam poetry to Black STEM Romance novels, have reshaped how we perceive and engage with STEM. “I am excited about being a Scientist-in-Residence at The Children’s Museum because I have always loved to share robotics with people of all ages,” says Dr. Berry, visiting scientist, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “A robot is so multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted that I can find a way to connect with people no matter where their interests lie, whether in science, technology, engineering, math or art.”
Dr. Berry’s passion for teaching STEM to children comes from her strong belief that education and STEM-based projects open doors to opportunities for everyone. By increasing access and inclusion in STEM, she hopes to create thought leaders who will contribute diverse perspectives to solving global problems.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is proud to partner with Riley Children’s Health, Old National Bank, Ice Miller LLP, and The Heritage Group.
About The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to igniting joy, wonder, and curiosity by creating powerful learning experiences for children and adults. For more information about The Children’s Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org, follow us on Twitter @TCMIndy, Instagram @childrensmuseum, YouTube.com/IndyTCM, and Facebook.
