Inspiration and Experiences of Female Scientists

The speaker, often introduced as the inspiration for Ellie Arroway in the movie 'Contact', explains that the character is a blend of traits from various female scientists Carl Sagan knew. She recounts attending a meeting in Washington with 80 female PhDs from diverse STEM fields, highlighting the rarity of such gatherings. Many of these women shared similar backgrounds, such as losing their fathers young and being competitive, due to the lack of women's sports teams. The speaker identifies herself as a typical example of these women, feeling a strong connection to their shared experiences.

Who is Ellie Arroway in the movie 'Contact' inspired by?

• A fictional character with no real-life inspiration

• An amalgamation of traits from various female scientists

• A male scientist

• A single female scientist

What was the speaker's initial reaction upon entering the meeting in Washington?

• She was uncomfortable and left immediately

• She was expecting a room full of men

• She was surprised to see so many female PhDs

• She felt out of place among so many women

What common experience did many women at the meeting share?

• They were all from the same university

• They had lost their fathers at a young age

• They all had a background in sports

• They had all published a book

How did the speaker feel about her own traits compared to the other women?

• She felt she was very prototypical

• She felt superior to them

• She felt she had nothing in common

• She felt unique and different

What was a common trait among the women at the meeting besides losing their fathers?

• They were all competitive

• They were all artists

• They were all from the same city

• They all disliked sports