Miz Wiz divulges science secrets

Krista Tschetter

Krista Tschetter

With Women’s History Month well underway, there have already been several arts events held in “celebration of womanhood,” including a folk singer, and storyteller.

But when Jane Curry gives her one-woman performance on Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m., she will shed some light on women’s contributions to science as well.

Curry, a self-proclaimed “recovering academic with a knack for provoking both thought and laughter,” will present “Miz Wizard’s Science Secrets” at the South Dakota Art Museum at 7 p.m., according to a press release.

In her presentation, Curry will portray Miz Wizard Barbara Knight. She will discuss topics of 19th century science , engineering, invention and math.

She will also give demonstration of physical and chemical principles, and focus on women who have overcome obstacles in their careers as scientists.

She will discuss prominent female scientists, including Maria Goeppert Mayer, Lise Meitner, Chien-Shiung Wu, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, Rosalyn Yalow, Gerty Cori, Rita Levi Montalcini, Maria Mitchell, Grace Murray Hopper and Rachel Carson. She focuses especially on the impact of feminist science and academic science in the 1960s.

Curry, who is originally from Speedway, Ind., has been performing nationally and internationally since 1981, sometimes independently and sometimes as part of the Minnesota Chautauqua Program.

Past shows have included “Samantha Rastles the Woman Question,” “Samantha Rastles the Woman Question,” “Just Say Know: Educating Females for the 21st Century” and “Nice Girls Don’t Sweat.”

Curry has formerly taught at Lafayette College and worked as an independent scholar.

Her published works have included “The River’s in My Blood: Riverboat Pilots Tell Their Stories,” and “Marietta Holley.”

The event is sponsored by SDSU’s Quest for Equity Fund, the SDSU Women’s Studies Program and the South Dakota Art Museum.

It is free and open to the public.

#1.887219:1188105918.jpg:mizwiz.jpg:?Miz Wizard? Jane Curry will present her one-woman show at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, at the South Dakota Art Museum. The presentation, held as part of SDSUs Women?s History Month festivities, will discuss prominent women scientists and include several demonstrations of physical and chemical principles.:courtesy photo