STEM Demystified – Julia Freer Goldstein (USA)

The STEM Demystified Digital Portal is now live, a new home for real STEM stories made for teachers, educators, and curious young learners. Built to make STEM feel closer, friendlier, and genuinely possible, the portal brings together global role‑model stories, interactive exploration, and classroom‑ready inspiration. It’s a growing resource designed to help children see themselves in STEM, and to give educators an easy way to bring real‑world representation into lessons. Explore the portal at stemdemystified.com.

Welcome to another edition of STEM Demystified, a project to tackle the under-representation of women in STEM. This weekly Newsletter showcases how women are conquering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics worldwide.

Today, I’m thrilled to feature Julia Freer, as STEM role model. Born in the United States and raised in a family with strong STEM roots, Julia’s passion for math and science ignited at a young age. With a BS in General Engineering from Harvey Mudd College and advanced degrees in Materials Science from both Stanford and UC Berkeley, Julia’s academic achievements are only the beginning of her remarkable journey.

As the founder of JLFG Communications, Julia is a professional consultant, writer, and speaker who blends her expertise in materials science with her passion for sustainability. She’s also a published author, recreational athlete, and accomplished musician. Her diverse background, spanning engineering, journalism, and education, makes her a unique force in the STEM landscape. Let’s explore Julia’s incredible journey and see how she’s paving the way for the next generation of STEM leaders!

What was your trajectory from school to where you currently are professionally/academically?

I majored in general engineering at Harvey Mudd College. An introductory materials science course in my junior year sparked a fascination with the idea of tailoring engineered materials to have specific properties. That fascination led me to graduate school, where I earned a PhD in materials science.

I studied lead-free solder alloys. After graduation, I worked as a process development engineer in semiconductor packaging.

I was always the engineer who would write, so when I needed a more flexible schedule when my sons were young, I transformed myself into a journalist. I spent a decade writing and editing for several trade magazines covering the semiconductor industry.

During this time, I started teaching music. I took training through an organization called Music for Minors and brought the program to my sons’ elementary school. From a pilot program for four first-grade classes the first year, I expanded it, with additional instructors, into a program covering 300 students in kindergarten through 3rd grade. After my younger son graduated, I turned it over to another instructor.

While I enjoyed teaching music and movement, that wasn’t a suitable long-term career path. I decided instead to return to my engineering and writing roots. JLFG Communications, which I founded in 2011, has evolved over the years. It started with content writing—blog posts, white papers, articles—and is now focused on creating effective content marketing strategies. I help sustainability minded manufacturers position themselves as the industry leaders they know they can be.

My role as a business owner combines my passions for materials science, writing, and teaching. I love it when I can amplify the voices of companies that make materials, chemicals, and components and truly care about their responsibilities to people (employees, customers, and local communities) and the environment.

What motivated you to get into STEM? Did you have a female role model or anyone who inspired you? If so, who?

As a child, I was good at math and science, so going into STEM felt like a natural step. An interest in science runs in the family, and my parents encouraged me to pursue a degree in science or engineering instead of music. My father was a crystallographer, and my mother was a chemistry teacher. I also come from three generations of PhDs. My maternal grandmother earned a PhD in German literature in 1928. One of my mother’s regrets in life was never earning that degree, but when I decided to go to graduate school, I wanted to do it for me, not for her.

What’s your most important professional/academic achievement?

I am proud of the four books I have written. My first book, Material Value: More Sustainable, Less Wasteful Manufacturing of Everything from Cell Phones to Cleaning Products, is a B.R.A.G Medallion Honoree, Finalist in the 2019 San Francisco Writers Contest, and Semifinalist for the 2020 Nonfiction BookLife Prize. My other books include Rethink the Bins: Your Guide to Smart Recycling and Less Household Waste, which received a Gold Award from the Nonfiction Authors Association, and Beyond the Green Team: Aligning Internal and External Communication to Advance Corporate Sustainability, which was the #1 new release in green business on Amazon when it came out in 2022.

My latest release, Materials and Sustainability: Building a Circular Future, presents a compelling vision for a future in which materials are valued and reused in innovative ways. This book is a collaboration between me and my co author, Paul Foulkes-Arellano.

Did you face any challenge throughout your professional/academic journey? How did you overcome it?

My most difficult professional challenge happened when I was fired from a music teaching job in 2008. My volunteer teaching with Music for Minors led to paid teaching opportunities where I needed to teach all the grades, and I faced an unusually disruptive 5th-grade class that I didn’t manage well. My first instinct was to quit teaching entirely, and I sank into a temporary depression. Two things brought me out: getting a new job teaching 2nd grade music at a different school and becoming an endurance runner.

I also realized that music teaching wasn’t the right path. I enrolled in business courses at my local community college and earned a certificate in Business Leadership. That started the journey that got me where I am today: running a business where I use my teaching and public speaking skills to educate my clients.

In your opinion, what needs to be done to attract more women into STEM?

Girls need to see more examples of women working in STEM fields in the books they read (for school and for fun) and in real life. They need to hear that science and engineering are exciting, creative fields and that there are many possible career paths, few of which involve endless solitary hours in a lab or at a computer. When women in STEM share our stories, we can spark interest in girls and young women.

Teachers also have a responsibility. Many of them unintentionally discourage female students from pursuing STEM by perpetuating the myth that girls and women aren’t good at maths.

What advice would you give to anyone looking into a career in STEM (or those who do not consider it)?

The concept of a “career in STEM” isn’t just one thing. There are many ways to contribute. If you like solving puzzles or building things, or if you are naturally curious about how the world works, there is probably a place in STEM for you if you choose to explore it.

Julia Freer Goldstein’s journey exemplifies how curiosity, resilience, and a passion for continuous learning can lead to a fulfilling and impactful career in STEM. From engineering and journalism to founding her own business, Julia has continuously evolved, using her talents to inspire others and advocate for sustainability in manufacturing. Her story reminds us that STEM is not a one size-fits-all path; it’s a space where diverse skills and perspectives are not only welcome but necessary.

Julia’s dedication to amplifying the voices of sustainability-focused companies while nurturing her love for writing and teaching is a powerful reminder that we can forge our own unique paths in STEM. Her ability to blend creativity, science, and entrepreneurship serves as a source of inspiration for anyone looking to make their mark in the industry.