A new open-air exhibition at the FIFA Fan Festival™ Dallas is using life-sized 3D-printed statues to highlight the role of women working in STEM fields connected to the sports industry.
The installation, titled #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit: Game Changers, features 26 women represented by lime-green, life-sized 3D printed statues up on display at Fair Park. Each figure represents professionals working across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with careers linked to performance analytics, sports engineering, data systems, and innovation in athletic environments.
According to the vision of organizers from Lyda Hill Philanthropies’ IF/THEN® Initiative, the project is a way to make STEM careers more visible during one of the world’s largest sporting events. “Sports captivate young people everywhere,” said Nicole Small, CEO of Lyda Hill Philanthropies, LH Capital, Inc. and Co-Founder of IF/THEN®. “By showcasing women thriving in STEM careers connected to the sports industry during one of the world’s biggest sporting events, we hope young visitors will see the many paths available for their own futures.”
The statues are designed not only as physical installations but also as digital entry points. QR codes are placed on each 3D-printed figure, linking to multimedia stories, with photos and videos detailing the featured women’s professional and personal journeys.
“These works celebrate the powerful influence each of these women has made throughout their lives,” said Monica Paul, President of the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee. As Paul highlighted, the exhibition connects global audiences with individual stories, allowing fans to experience their impact first-hand.
To Lyda Hill, Founder of Lyda Hill Philanthropies, the goals of the project are visibility and representation. “When girls can see women succeeding in STEM careers tied to something as exciting and universal as sports, it can change how they imagine their own futures,” she said.
