At the UN’s 5th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly, planetary scientist Nathalie Cabrol stressed that women “want to see the development of a culture of commitment to protecting vulnerable people at all levels of science.” Cabrol recognized that mitigating bias and improving equity are complex issues, but the way forward can be summarized in a few words ― “nurture, support, empower and protect women at all stages of education and career". Studies confirm that nurturing a sense of belonging and creating a supportive community within school and workplace settings empowers women to thrive in their careers. Women STEM students who feel welcomed achieve better academic outcomes, and women employees who are recognized as valuable contributors to their organization are more likely to sustain their STEM careers.

Research confirms that women mentors are critical for uplifting other women in their careers, providing professional support and serving as superstar role models. NASA astrophysicist Elisa Quintana was a self-described, disinterested C student in math and physics at her local community college. That changed when she transferred to UC San Diego and the first American woman in space, Sally Ride, became her academic adviser. Another role model for many as the first Black woman in space, Mae Jemison, revealed that as a young girl her only accessible inspiration was the 1960s fictional TV character, Lieutenant Uhura, who aboard the Starship Enterprise boldly reached for the stars where no Black woman had gone before.