Women in STEM

“Young girls need to see role models in whatever careers they may choose, just so they can picture themselves doing those jobs someday. You can’t be what you can’t see” – Sally Ride

Women make up only 20% of bachelor degrees in engineering, computer science, and physics and one of the ways to help increase the enrollment of women in STEM is to give her role models like the ones that were a part of the Women in STEM event hosted by the Beaumont Area Society of Women Engineers.

The kids who attended got to see first hand what engineers do by trying out:

• Snap Circuits for electrical engineering
• Da Vinci bridges for civil engineering
• Lava Lamps for petroleum engineering
• Water filtration experiments for environmental engineering
• and much more!

I was honored to be included in the lineup to demonstrate Newton’s Laws of Motion and introduce the Halley Harper series, a science hero that they could take home with them!

(photo cred: The Beaumont Children’s Museum)

(photo cred: The Beaumont Children’s Museum)

(photo cred: The Beaumont Children’s Museum)

Here is my daughter enjoying the Da Vinci bridge. She had a blast at the event trying out all of the tables. Her favorite was the Snap Circuits. Perhaps I’ve got a future electrical engineer!

These brilliant kiddos and I tried out Newton’s Laws of Motion and made bookmarks to go along with the Halley Harper series.

Check out your local Women in STEM events. You can find information on the Houston Women in STEM event here. There are also events in Missouri hosted by Missouri S&T with information here.

Solutions to today’s problems will come from tomorrow’s science – quite possibly her science! For more help on how to encourage your girls in STEM check out my book She Loves Science here.