NASA-themed Lego set for women makes its launch
In a world where toys and media often fall short in showcasing the contributions of women in science and engineering, Maia Weinstock, deputy editor of MIT News, set out to change that. Inspired by her love for space and NASA, and her desire to highlight the historic contributions women have made to space exploration, Weinstock embarked on a unique project: creating miniature Lego figurines of trailblazing women in the field.
Weinstock's creations, which include figures of Katherine Johnson, Sally Ride, Mae Jemison, and others, have garnered widespread acclaim. Her figurine of oceanographer Sylvia Earle was unveiled at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, while primatologist Jane Goodall herself praised Weinstock's depiction of her.
The Women of NASA set, submitted to Lego Ideas, a platform for proposing new Lego concepts, has been selected to become an official Lego set. This set, which also includes related NASA-themed elements, aims to encourage more young girls to pursue STEM fields and acknowledges the critical roles women played in NASA's history.
The Women of NASA LEGO set emerged from a fan-driven design contest via LEGO Ideas. When a project reaches a certain threshold of support, LEGO reviews it for official production. After a public voting period, Weinstock's Women of NASA set underwent an official Lego review and was approved for release.
The set, which includes figures of Margaret Hamilton, Mae Jemison, Katherine Johnson, Sally Ride, and Nancy Grace Roman, celebrates these pioneering women and their historic contributions to the U.S. space program. E.A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics Maria T. Zuber, the first woman to lead a NASA planetary mission, supports the Women of NASA set.
Weinstock's goal in creating the Lego figurines is to get the public to recognize the history of women in the STEM fields and to normalize and make plain that women are expected to be in these fields. She has also created figurines for celebrated scientists and engineers such as Stephen Hawking, Jane Goodall, Sylvia Earle, and several MIT faculty members.
The success of the Women of NASA set demonstrates the power of co-creation in product development. It serves as a testament to the impact that fans can have in bringing historically important figures to wider audiences, and in inspiring future generations to pursue careers in science and engineering.
- Maia Weinstock, a deputy editor of MIT News, created Lego figurines of trailblazing women in science and engineering to showcase their contributions, especially in space exploration.
- Weinstock's figurines, which include Katherine Johnson, Sally Ride, Mae Jemison, Sylvia Earle, and others, have received widespread recognition.
- The Women of NASA set, a fan-driven design submitted to Lego Ideas, has been approved for official production.
- The Women of NASA LEGO set, which includes figures of Margaret Hamilton, Mae Jemison, Katherine Johnson, Sally Ride, and Nancy Grace Roman, aims to inspire young girls to pursue STEM fields.
- E.A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics Maria T. Zuber, the first woman to lead a NASA planetary mission, supports the Women of NASA set.
- Weinstock's goal in creating the Lego figurines is to normalize the presence of women in STEM fields and to highlight their historical contributions.
- In addition to the Women of NASA set, Weinstock has also created Lego figurines for scientists and engineers such as Stephen Hawking, Jane Goodall, and several MIT faculty members.
- The success of the Women of NASA set demonstrates the power of co-creation in product development and its potential to bring historically important figures to wider audiences.
- The Women of NASA set serves as an example of how fans can contribute to product development and inspire future generations in science, health, and wellness, as well as women's health and lifestyle fields.
- The Women of NASA set, along with Weinstock's other Lego creations, is a valuable addition to science and space-and-astronomy education and self-development.
