Transcription
[Music] picture this a scientist an IT person an engineer a mathematician. chances are like most people you pictured mostly men in each of these roles. that's because even though women make up 50% of the population, they still only represent about 30% of the STEM workforce. and minority women comprise fewer than one in ten employed scientists and engineers.
it's difficult to imagine something you don't even own as possible. research has shown that by age 15, girls begin to lose confidence in STEM subjects, unlike their male peers. by age 16, only 25% of girls asked to draw a scientist will picture a female. this loss of confidence isn't inherent. it's a direct result of the unique issues women face when pursuing STEM education and careers, including a lack of recruitment by higher education and employers, stereotypes and implicit bias, and a fixed mindset.
the good news is that together we can help eliminate these obstacles. at Ecology Project International, we're focusing on five clear actions to help sustain girls' interest in STEM, and we hope you'll join us.
number one: look for and celebrate female role models. nearly half of all girls interested in STEM don't know a woman in a STEM career, so it's up to all of us to share stories and talk about the women in STEM we know. need a little help to get started? check out the links below to learn about women like Katherine Johnson, Sylvia Earle, and Rosalind Franklin.
number two: provide practical experiences. 74% of teen girls say they're interested in STEM, yet four in ten say they don't get enough hands-on practical experience. let's get creative at home and in the classroom. take students to see STEM in action, like a lab or a field station. engage them in hands-on STEM activities, or let them shadow a STEM job for a day.
number three: be an active mentor. according to a recent study, when educators talk to girls about STEM fields and actively encourage them, the girls become more interested in these subjects.
number four: show the real-life connection. research suggests that one reason women may choose non-STEM careers is that they place a higher value on work that serves the greater good. consider taking students to a field station to help collect data that is influencing endangered species policy, or encourage them to use technology to help solve a local issue that they care about. when you can connect a STEM subject to real-life application, it's easy to see how these fields create positive change in the world.
number five: help foster confidence in STEM subjects. girls tend towards a fixed mindset with STEM subjects. it's up to each of us to teach girls the struggle is an important part of learning. with a growth mindset, instead of a fixed mindset, girls are more likely to persevere in the face of intellectual challenges, like their male counterparts do.
science, conservation, and the future of our planet can only be positively affected by engaging a diverse range of people, and we hope you'll join us in celebrating and engaging more girls in STEM.
[Music]
[Music]