Middle school girls learn about STEM careers at expo

A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT from Sophia Academy in Providence works with a volunteer during a workshop at the recent STEM in the Middle career expo for middle school girls held at Rhode Island College's STEM Center. / COURTESY TECH COLLECTIVE
A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT from Sophia Academy in Providence works with a volunteer during a workshop at the recent STEM in the Middle career expo for middle school girls held at Rhode Island College's STEM Center. / COURTESY TECH COLLECTIVE

PROVIDENCE – Middle school girls connected with professionals working in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math at Tech Collective’s STEM in the Middle workshop recently.
Held at the Rhode Island STEM Center at Rhode Island College, 125 middle school students and 13 educators from Providence’s Sophia Academy, Times 2 STEM Academy and Paul Cuffee Middle School, and Central Falls’ Calcutt Middle School, attended the fifth annual event.
“The middle school years represent a crucial time of exploration and self-discovery for girls,” Carol Giuriceo, director of the Rhode Island STEM Center, said in a statement. “STEM in the Middle exposes them to new experiences in a safe and supportive environment. Hopefully, when the girls return to their schools, they will have a more comprehensive understanding of and connection to STEM and STEAM.”

Students attended interactive workshops, designed by industry professionals and faculty, where they could learn about computer technology, digital media and programming, biotechnology, engineering, environmental science, physics, robotics and arts.

Companies and organizations represented at the expo included Ahlers Designs, Amgen Inc., Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp., the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Rhode Island College, Leidtke Design, Fab Newport, NASA, the U.S. Navy and the Ocean Exploration Trust at the University of Rhode Island.
Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott addressed the students at the Nov. 13 expo.
“To meet the health demands and other challenges that we as a community will certainly face in future, we need girls to be embracing science, technology, engineering and math just as much as their male classmates,” Alexander-Scott said in a statement. “As a young girl, I had key female role models who helped me believe that I could be a doctor one day. Today, I consider it one of my most important roles as a public figure to be at events such as ‘STEM in the Middle’ and to be encouraging young people to follow their hearts and achieve their dreams.”
According to information from Tech Collective, middle school typically represents a “turning point” for a student’s perception and interest in STEM as students – particularly girls – can shy away from STEM due to gender stereotypes or a lack of awareness and perceived opportunities.
“STEM in the Middle’s mission is to erase these barriers through raising awareness and increasing opportunities for and participation of young women in the sciences,” a news release from Tech Collective stated.

STEM in the Middle, funded through a Governor’s Workforce Board of Rhode Island Industry Partnership grant, was sponsored by IBM and Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.

- Advertisement -

No posts to display