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MORE ABOUT SPOT STEM GIRLS
How did we get here?
Girls lose interest in STEM and computer science as time goes on. In middle school, for example, 31 percent of girls believe that jobs requiring coding and programming are “not for them.” In high school, that percentage jumps up to 40. By the time they’re in college, 58 percent of girls count themselves out of these jobs.
A similar pattern applies to the prospect of continuing STEM and computer science beyond school. The young women least likely to know how they would pursue a STEM career are those enrolled in college—ironically, the ones who are closest in their lives to start a career.
HOW DO WE STOP THE DECLINE?
An important first step is to introduce girls and young women to positive female role models in the times of development and interest. Girls who know a woman in a STEM profession are substantially more likely to feel empowered when they engage in STEM activities (61 percent) than those who don’t know a woman in a STEM profession (44 percent).
Unfortunately, most girls don’t have any female role models in STEM to look up to. So it’s no surprise that, when asked to describe a typical scientist, engineer, mathematician, or computer programmer, 30 percent of girls say that they envision a man in these roles. As do almost 40 percent of adult women—and 43 percent of women in STEM and tech fields.
This is why I created spotstemgirls as a 7th grade student; to combat and spread awareness of this problem. In collaboration with g4g, underprivileged girls who are interested in STEM, and taking up science in the future will be able to look to this site for both support and ideas. There will be pages dedicated to learning science at home amid the pandemic, as well as information about upcoming opportunities, and a science blog.
What is the target on this website?
One of the main targets of my website is to generate excitement in girls, and get them to exposed to different types of STEM as well as Female role models. Being a middle school girl going on approach to high school, it is a mission of mine to show girls just like me, how important STEM can be, and how no matter what type of person you are, STEM can be learned and understood by anyone. Making a difference for girls in STEM is extremely important, and closing the gender gap in STEM requires not only the help of others, but tapping into ones creativity, knowledge and curiosity. Connecting STEM subjects to real examples will not only help one to visualise how powerful STEM can be, but can also create a budding inspiration that one may carry with them forever, give them an aspiration, and inspire them to do great things in the world.
What will this website cover?
This website covers a key component to learning STEM, which is allowing girls to discover first-hand creative and impactful ways that STEM and computer science knowledge is applied in the real world. It helps to spread information and awareness to others.