January 17, 2024

Sarah Nguyen

11th Grade

Fountain Valley High School

Working as a research associate for Imperial College, physicist Dr. Jessica Wade studies the use of polymers as semiconductors, focusing on chiral organic semiconductors. Despite Wade’s impressive work as a physicist, she also advocates for the diversity of women in STEM and has been awarded the 2019 UK Wikimedian of the Year and the British Empire Medal for her contributions and efforts. 

After meeting distinguished American climatologist Kim Cobb at a science event, Wade had searched her up to learn more since she had been impressed with Cobb’s work. However, her efforts were met in vain as Wade soon realized that Cobb had no profile on Wikipedia. Shocked, she took matters into her own hands, thus writing her first Wikipedia page in 2017. 

Since that first page, Wade has now written over 1,750 Wikipedia pages, shedding light on undocumented and ignored female scientists whose accomplishments have been overlooked. 

However, not everybody appreciated Wade’s activism, as several of her Wikipedia entries were deleted. In the case of Clarice Phelps, a young African-American Nuclear chemist who was involved with the discovery of a chemical element, Wade’s Wikipedia article on Phelps had been deleted. Frustrated, Wade battled alongside other activists to have Phelp’s page restored and succeeded.  

Wade’s influence from her Wikipedia activities can be seen as Wade partnered with the organization 500 Women Scientists to further promote inclusivity and accessibility. This organization has what is called a “Wiki Wolfpack” where they host Wikipedia Edit-A-Thons to ensure that female scientists are not left unnoticed. They have created and edited over 3,000 pages. 

Offline, Wade continues to campaign for the inclusion of women in STEM subjects. She has presented TED talks, coordinated events, and published children’s books. In 2015, Wade won an activity in the program I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here! where she received £500. She utilized her prize money to coordinate Greenlight for Girls, an international organization that dedicates itself to inspiring girls of all ages to pursue STEM, as well as a day at Imperial’s College Department of Physics where the girls partook in numerous activities and heard from inspirational female speakers. 

Wade works hard to preserve women in STEM and close the gender gap. Despite women making up only 34% of the STEM workforce, she continues to fight for her beliefs, pushing boundaries and expanding the field. Whether it be through her growing number of Wikipedia articles online or her offline activism.