View our Past Roundtable: Getting Girls Interested in STEM
Revisit our past online round table discussion on STEM education and the importance of getting and keeping young girls interested in math, science, and the arts.
You’ve probably heard the acronyms STEM thrown around the last couple years (most definitely if you have a school-aged kid). Short for “Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math” (its sister phrase STEAM represents all those fields too, but includes an “A” for “Arts” to nurture and develop more well-rounded students), STEM (and STEAM) have become increasingly popular in discussions and debates on American education policy within the last half-decade. Why? Because kids that thrive in these disciplines in school tend to end up working in STEM fields as adults —making them highly skilled and valued workers. Oh, there’s also the breaking down of barriers between different subjects and the promotion of critical thinking and problem solving that makes education more applicable to real life. But in the end, it’s about ensuring a higher employment rate for the next generation, along with the base for a strong economy.
But be it STEM or STEAM, a noticeable gap has been gaining attention with the fields’ time in the spotlight: a gender gap. It seems that even though women make up to close to half the workers in America, they hold less than a quarter of the jobs in STEM fields. The problem seems to be rooted in childhood education, with only 13% of school-aged girls expressing interest in STEM careers.
What’s the cause of this gender disparity? How can we get the next generation of women interested in science, technology, engineering, math, (and the arts) so they can become the future’s creative thinkers, inventors, and community leaders? What works best in encouraging and inspiring young girls in these fields so they can grow up with an equal chance at being doctors, scientists, engineers, and more?
We look to answer these questions and more with our esteemed panel of experts.
Alexis Jones is an internationally recognized speaker, media personality, activist, and the founder of the non-profit I AM THAT GIRL. Her book, I Am That Girl, will be released in October and she will be touring cross-country igniting a movement, spreading her message of turning self-doubt into self-love. (10% of book profits will go to support I AM THAT GIRL).
Tamara Hudgins, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of Girlstart, which provides comprehensive and robust STEM education programs for K-12 girls. Since 2009, Girlstart’s impact has grown from reaching 1,500 girls, teachers, and family members in four yearly programs to over 15,000 people in over thirty programs, including Girlstart Summer Camp.
Kim Richards is the founder of KDR PR, a PR consultancy exploring new ways to showcase the power of fusing arts and STEM in education. In collaboration with UCSD Extension, KDR PR is building STEAMConnect.org to bridge the gap between the business community, arts organizations, science and education institutions to collectively elevate STEAM education.
Michael Araten is the President and CEO of K’NEX Brands, L.P, the company best known for its K’NEX construction toy systems, which is sold in over 40 countries around the world and has won over 250 international awards. He has appeared on CNBC, CNN, ABC World News, Bloomberg News, Fox Business, and numerous local and regional television and radio shows and was recently named one of the 100 CEO Leaders in STEM by STEMconnector.
<a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=1e6820cfac" href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=1e6820cfac" >How to Get Girls Interested in STEM Education</a>
[Pic via Flickr -Todd Kulesza]
