a campaign to bring immigration and naturalization stories to the surface.
The U.S. at our best is a nation united by the radical idea that we are all created equal. We are descended from people of many races and nationalities — whether our ancestors are Native people who have lived on this continent for thousands of years or descendants of slaves or immigrants who came to the U.S. from other parts of the world. Many of us are also immigrants ourselves. Given our nation’s history, vilifying immigration and targeting immigrants is not only hypocritical, but also cynical fear-mongering.
In science, targeting immigrants is also self-defeating: it stifles scientific collaboration and our ability to make societal progress. Science is best when it is collaborative and draws upon the best ideas from all over the world — from immigrants and non-immigrants alike.
In August 2018, we launched the #MyImmigrationStory social media campaign to share and amplify stories of immigration. You can share your story too using the hashtag and tagging @500womensci on Twitter and Instagram. If you don’t have social media, you can also contribute your story using the form linked below.
500 Women Scientists is taking a stand. We are women, we are immigrants, we are scientists. Hear our stories of immigration and share yours.
Some of our stories
At age 15, my mother immigrated from Mexico to Texas with her mother, a working class woman. #MyImmigrationStory motivates me to stand up for #Dreamers and all immigrants. Read why I believe we must fight for Dreamers. #meetascientist
Loren Sacket
My family came to the US from Ireland in the mid 1800s during the height of the Irish potato famine. The famine led to economic collapse in Ireland, and my family sought a better life in America. #MyImmigrationStory #meetascientist
Ukraine → US in 1990, we escaped an oppressive gov’t to find opportunity and freedom. Dad (PhD mathematician) stocked the corner store shelves at night, mom (engineer) worked in a cafeteria, and we were janitors to make ends meet. Over time, we made it. Our dream is #MyImmigrationStory #meetascientist
Katarzyna Nowak
My family was granted #asylum in the US in the 1980s. Here’s a window into #MyImmigrationStory from long queues & strikes in #Poland to contributing to a free society & (bio-)diverse world in #USA & beyond. Read more here. #meetascientist #PolishAmerican
Amelia Meier
My mom immigrated to the US from France and struggled to find jobs that she could work odd hours and be home with us as kids. Her French influence is one of the things that enabled me to be a conservation biologist in Central Africa #MyImmigrationStory
Paola Diaz
My parents migrated to NY in their teens, each alone w/ empty pockets, no English. I am the first generation born in the states, displaced of an experience of rural farming that belongs in my roots. Now, my work revolves around implementation of just and sustainable food systems.
Maryam Zaringhalam
I am possible because of #ScienceWithoutBorders. My dad left Iran before the revolution to study physics in the states & my mom later came here to pursue medicine.
They met in America, fell in love in America, and had me & my brother in America. #MyImmigrationStory
Lexi Moore Crisp
My family came to the US in the early 1900s from Hungary and Czechoslovakia. My grandfather worked in a coal mine and served in the US Navy to make sure his children would have a better life. #MyImmigrationStory #meetascientist
Amy Hessl
Thank you Richard J Daley, Chicago Mayor & anti-Semite (Chicago 7) for signing my grandmother's birth certificate allowing her to re-immigrate Prague to US w/my infant dad in 1939 fleeing Nazis. Gave rise to 4 scientists in 2 generations with more than 10k citations between us. #MyImmigrationStory
Tanya Dapkey
My g-parents fell in <3 & married in Germany in 1950, she was a US Army nurse, he was a former German Soldier. They had 4 children in the US and 56 years of marriage. #MyImmigrationStory @500womensci #meetascientist
Maria Palamar
I have lived in the US for the last 12 years. I was born in Argentina, where I lived on and off due to my father’s work. I consider myself to be Argentinian, but I am also a US citizen and I have built my career in the US... I’m not an American, but I sometimes wonder when will I stop being an Argentinian. Is there an expiration date? And if there is, who will I be then? Read all of Maria’s story here.
Came to US for #gradschool on F1 visa, postdoc1 on J1 visa & postdoc2 on H1B visa. All positions paid for w/ taxpayers money. 15yrs since first arriving, it's still a struggle to secure next visa so I can return the favor to a country that's given me so much. #MyImmigrationStory
Nora Mitchell
Adopted from South Korea at 9 months old, completed my PhD in Ecology & Evolution, now a postdoc pursuing my dream of researching and teaching people about plants #MyImmigrationStory
Loren Cassin Sackett
My family came to the US from Ireland in the 1800s seeking a better life in America, but faced discrimination. 1800s American media portrayed Irish Americans as being violent criminals & forming gangs, & accused them of voting illegally. #MyImmigrationStory #meetascientist
My mom brought us from Manila to the US to protect our family. First in my family to pursue a #PhD, I contribute to a global research team on climate change & effects. Anthropology shows from a long time perspective, the story of humans is a story of movement. #MyImmigrationStory
My mother came to the US with her family from India. My father came by himself from Pakistan. They both worked hard, from very humble beginnings, for my brother and I to one day receive a good education in America. We are honored to have such privilege. #MyImmigrationStory
#MyImmigrationStory 2009 Poland -> Spain (1yr Erasmus)-> Ukraine (1yr volunteering). 2011 moved to Leeds, UK for a PhD in cancer research, then a short stage in Brussels (EU). Living in London since 2015, office job for a scientific organisation, NC3Rs.
Kelly Ramirez
After WWII my Mexican grandfather told my grandmother "We are Americans" & hid all evidence of our heritage but our name Ramirez. Today, I cling tightly to my American roots, maar vraag me ook af, ben ik Nederlands genoeg? #myimmigrationstory #ScienceWithoutBorders
Monica Malta
I’m a #firstgen grad student from Brazil. #MyImmigrationStory started when I moved from Rio in 2004, single mom & two kids to study at @JohnsHopkinsSPH. Worked night shifts, married, graduated, moved to Canada. Now a proud professor at @UofT. #WomenInScience #WomenInSTEM
Barbara Clabots
My Papi was a researcher and physician who left Spain to practice in Havana, Cuba, in the 1950s, and I’d say the immigration story starts there... #MyImmigrationStory
Susanne Ahmari
Dad left Iran pre-revolution to study EE in US. Mom=Caucasian Southerner. They met at a mixer between her all women's Catholic college/ his tech-focused college. Results=neuroscientist me and EE brother!!! #MyImmigrationStory
Anjali Kumar
My mom came to the US at age 16 on a boat from Ireland, was an au pair and studied chemistry. My dad left an arranged marriage in India for a PhD in biochemistry. They met at Boston U & had 4 first generation American kids. #ScienceWithoutBorders #MyImmigrationStory
Angie Straathof
in 1958 my grandparents immigrated to Canada from The Netherlands to have their own farm; 53 years later, I immigrated from Canada to The Netherlands to do my PhD in soil science #MyImmigrationStory
Madhushree Ghosh
Arrived in America w 2 suitcases & $50. A daughter of refugees (British-divided India), w a PhD/postdoc from UMCP/Hopkins, I’m in oncology diagnostics, write narrative nonfiction (on refugees, women in science & outlier women). #MyImmigrationStory #meetascientist
Cristina Paulino
#MyImmigrationStory: Immigration stories are bigger than the US. My parents immigrated twice from Portugal to Germany to make sure I can study. Their sacrifice paved the way for what I am today. Now I write my own imm story: Germany -> Switzerland -> Netherlands. Let’s see what tomorrow will bring.
My parents left Poland before the fall of communism to escape oppression & pursue a better life. My dad (MS chem. engin.) cleaned dept stores are night and my mom waited tables and raised 2 daughters. Their journey is #MyImmigrationStory
Amanda Stadermann
#MyImmigrationStory My parents moved (with baby me) to the US to find jobs together as planetary scientists, and I'm now pursuing a PhD in planetary science to be a 3rd gen STEM PhD, 2nd gen planetary science woman, 1st gen immigrant.
Robin G.
My grandma immigrated from Guatemala in the 1960s. I can think of no better way to honor her journey than to fulfill my dream and become a marine biologist. #MyImmigrationStory
Steffanie Strathdee
My great-grandparents immigrated from Cyhany, Borschiw, ca. 1900 (which is now Ukraine) to become farmers in Garland, Manitoba. My great-grandma died of appendicitis at age 43 before #penicillin was available & my grandma was raised by her older siblings. #MyImmigrationStory
Susan Tsang
My immediate family and I moved here from Hong Kong when I was 5 bc my dad's job stationed him here. Urban renewal in HK stopped before it got to our neighborhood. This is how it looks still now, but w/ more buses/hotels for mainland tourists. #MyImmigrationStory
Lorena Villanueva
Part of my PhD project will be published in an English-written journal. Just last weekend, I heard my #Mexican grandma's life story and realized I am doing what 2 generations of women have been wanting to do in my family: studying and being free. #MyImmigrationStory
Jennifer Pett-Ridge
Dad hated the rigid class structure in ‘60s era UK. Immigrated and joined the US Army to become a citizen. Luckily didn’t get sent to Vietnam. Never went to college but became an editor at two newspapers. Won design awards. Raised two PhD soil scientists. #MyImmigrationStory
Sonya Legg
I immigrated for science: came to USA as PhD student following adviser from UK, thought I'd be here just a year or 2. Stayed for the scientific job opportunities & still here 27 years later. #MyImmigrationStory
Loren Albert
My great grandmother traveled by herself as a 12 yr old from Italy to SF, CA in 1903. Having only a 6th grade education, she learned English and worked as a seamstress for Levi Strauss jeans. #MyImmigrationStory
2x immigrant. Canada from Serbia (Yugoslavia) in 1988 so my dad could pursue a PhD in Chemistry. 20 years later, I moved to the US for my PhD in #NaturalResources. Filed for US permanent residence yesterday. #MyImmigrationStory
Marjorie MacGregor
In honor of dad on what would have been his 78th birthday #MyImmigrationStory @500womensci from Canada to the US starting in Scotland some generations back. We are scientists. Educators. Citizens of the World. You are missed but live on.
Maria Angela Capello
My Italian grandparents emigrated to Venezuela after WWII, settling in Altagracia de Orituco. My grandfather was a renowned football player. My parents moved to Caracas. I am the 1st university graduate of my family tree. I am in Kuwait since 2006 @500womensci #MyImmigrationStory
Nikki Camlin
My parents immigrated from N. Ireland to Australia during the civil unrest in the 80s. I was the 1st person in my family to graduate from University & I am now a postdoc in the US @JHSPHBMB #MyImmigrationStory #MeetAScientist
#MyImmigrationStory I'm Uruguayan, grew up in Brazil, and a new American. My love of science and @calebsilver led me to NYC, amazing opportunities, and an evolving and rewarding career in conservation at @amnh! #meetascientist @500womensci