Did you know that only 35% of students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) are women? Data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reveal that gender stereotypes still exist in the scientific field, despite statistics showing that girls and boys perform similarly. Many girls are not encouraged to pursue this path, but diversity in this area increases the number of talented researchers and brings new perspectives to Science.
At school, working with young women can be an important tool for female empowerment in STEM and promoting professional careers. Therefore, as a general rule, the Solve for Tomorrow program includes in its guidelines that projects must be developed by a team with at least one female student.If you are a teacher and you have doubts about how to involve girls in such initiatives, we next present an interview with Jimena Zapata Erazo, CEO and founder of Genias, a technical ally of the program in Chile. Genias is an organization focused on equity in professional development and women’s empowerment, inspiring with a human and empathetic perspective; educating for career growth, promoting content and experiences, and connecting people, companies, and institutions.
How to Involve Girls in Technology
Zapata believes that the first step to involving young women is to show them that they can be protagonists of their own stories. “They can develop in whatever they want, having the freedom to explore and experiment,” she says. Next, the expert highlights the importance of presenting inspiring examples of women in technology. “When you show a girl that there are women changing the world through STEM tools, it opens her eyes,” she adds.
According to her, one of the main challenges in educational STEM projects is breaking stereotypes. “For us, engineering, mathematics, and science were male-dominated fields. Since we were not raised with this perspective, we need to unlearn and understand the importance of discussing these topics with girls,” she emphasizes.
Solve for Tomorrow and Gender Equity
In Chile, the “Talk” project involved two female students and a female mentor. They created an interface for communication with people with hearing disabilities and reached the finals of Solve for Tomorrow in the country in 2022. The teacher believes that the girl’s experience now serves as a model for younger students at school. “They paved the way. I feel that these initiatives help students grow in their soft skills and knowledge,” says mentor Carolina Ríos.
Meanwhile, in Belize, four teenage girls used robotic technology to prevent injuries for visually impaired individuals, developing the “Smartz” project. It was the 2023 winner of the program in the Central America and Caribbean region, which includes 11 countries: Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.
The mentor teacher, Abraham Flowers, observes that engaging in technology can be a significant leap forward for girls’ future careers in STEM; as well as boosting their confidence in science. “This experience showed them that technology has a vast field of development in which they can take part. That is crucial for students their age to see that they are capable of achieving great goals,” he states.
Inclusive Education in Science
Educators can also use commemorative dates to highlight the importance of STEM projects for girls. Here are some of them:
- February 11 – International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Use this date to highlight the importance of inspiring girls and discussing the global impact.
- March 8 – International Women’s Day: Focus on the need for inclusive educational policies and gender equity in career development.
- April 22 – International Girls in ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) Day: Showcase how digital technologies can be a driving force for empowerment.
