We write a fair bit about STEM education here at BIOtechNOW, so I was a bit surprised to come across a word I’d never heard before. STEMinists may be a made-up word, but it’s still a good one.
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, let me help you:
STEM + feminists = STEMinists.
In other words, it’s a young women who’s interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.
As the father of two girls I have embraced the importance of initiatives that promote and encourage girls to stick with STEM education. There’s no doubt that when kids are young they all like science – their waking hours are consumed with discovery. However, as girls grow there are a number of factors that tend to steer them away from STEM interests.
To stem (pardon the pun) this tide, Rhode Island’s Tech Collective established a program known as STEM in the Middle. It aims to increase awareness, interest, and participation through a day of hands-on interactive workshops and a learning lunch session with industry professionals.
This past November, nine workshops – ranging from biotechnology and DNA, social media, mathematics, engineering, computer technology and programming, science, and electronics – were designed and delivered by 20 female industry professionals and faculty. Companies and organizations bringing real-world insight and experience to the Expo were: Amgen, Catch the Science Bug, The Rhode Island Foundation, the U.S. Navy, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, and Rhode Island College.
