Happy Mother’s Day! As our country celebrates the hard work and support of mothers, let’s give a round of applause to the moms at the Department of Energy who inspire their children to excel, innovate and pursue their interests. Check out these stories and advice from our Women @ Energy series to hear more.

Dr. Cynthia Jenks, Research Lead at Ames Lab: “I have a 14-year-old daughter, and I think adults need to be aware of and intervene in the negative peer pressure young women sometimes get. When their friends say ‘Oh, don’t take that class, it’s too hard,’ it’s actively discouraging a girl from challenging herself and pursuing her interests. It’s another way girls get told they can’t or shouldn’t do something.”

Dr. Paula Gant, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oil and Natural Gas: “I see our work as making a real difference, every day. Because of this work, my son’s generation will likely not be familiar with the concept of ‘energy scarcity’ that has framed the thinking of mine and previous generations. Technology — much of it generated by work initiated here at the Department of Energy — has led to abundance in many energy sources, from oil and natural gas to wind and solar electricity, all amplified by gains in energy efficiency across our economy.”

Alina Deshpande, Biomedical Researcher at Los Alamos : “Being a biomedical scientist and having a daughter, my experience has been that while the opportunities for engagement are offered in schools, a significant push must occur inside the child’s family, particularly if a parent is already in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). There is no greater motivation than to see and be encouraged by your parent to explore science and its application. My feeling is that this needs to be a two-way street with schools and families having equal input, starting early in life. A simple approach could be to demonstrate science application in daily life.”

Pam Richmond, Internet Project Manager at Argonne: “Don’t be afraid to do something challenging. Anything can seem hard until you learn how to do it. Dive in and figure it out, step-by-step if necessary. No one was born a computer scientist — he or she worked hard to become one. In technology, professional growth should be a lifelong goal because it changes so quickly. Learning is the most exciting part of my job. … I spend as much time as possible with my husband and daughter, whom I encourage to learn and grow and try new things.”

Lara Leininger, Engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Lab: “Women in STEM are a community. Many of us found ourselves in STEM fields because we had a father, mother or mentor in the field. In the U.S., we are making strides to engage more women, girls and underrepresented groups in STEM by encouraging opportunities for exposure, but we could always do more. As a STEM community, we owe it to each other to reach out, and I would recommend anyone interested in STEM to seek out a mentor.”

Simerjeet Gill, Materials Scientist at Brookhaven National Lab: “I believe exposure to STEM at early age is very important and has a big impact. By exposing young minds to practical science early on, engaging them with projects that directly impact everyday life, and encouraging them to think critically, we can stimulate and engage them. Providing opportunities to meet leading scientists — both male and female — to learn about their work could also be inspirational. … I have newfound hobby, too: my 15-month-old daughter. It is a lot of fun to watch her grow and do new things.”

Share your own story of your mom’s encouragement or how you encourage your own children to pursue science and exploration on Twitter with #WomenInSTEM.