Fall 2010
Back-to-School Edition

From Science-Filled Summers to Festivals in the Fall
While the kids were on summer vacation, AAUW members across the country went back to work — at science camp! Members pitched in everywhere, helping girls create their own electronic dance machines and chaperoning field trips. From what we've been hearing, everyone had a blast. Check out our new listserv and AAUW STEM Facebook group to hear more about these summer adventures.

Now that school is back in session, we're kicking off our back-to-school efforts at the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. You won't want to miss this week-long national celebration of science. We invite you to join us and encourage you to send in your ideas on how we can make our booth (and this opportunity) a must-see for festival attendees. Visit the AAUW website today to find out more about how you can get involved in this ultimate science festival.

Sincerely,
Linda D. Hallman, CAE
AAUW Executive Director

P.S. Missed an issue? Interested in sharing with a friend? Back issues of Spotlight on STEM are now archived on the AAUW website.

Success Stories

New Branch Program Makes Math Fun for Girls in Oregon
AAUW loves Girl Scouts, and not just for their Thin Mints! Local Girl Scout troops make great partners for AAUW branches looking to collaborate on science and math events. This year, volunteers from the AAUW Bend (OR) Branch linked up with the Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington to host a one-day Girl Scout science and math fair for Junior Girl Scouts in the area. It was truly a group effort, with 16 branch members — many of whom were past troop leaders — working to organize the event and get their Marie Curie on during activities with the girls. The fourth and fifth grade girls explored math, chemistry, and mechanics to earn their Math Whiz and Making it Matter badges.

Read more great success stories on our new blog series, which spotlights AAUW programs for girls in science and math.

AAUW STEM News

Hundreds of Thousands Predicted to Attend USA Science & Engineering Festival
Don't miss out this October when AAUW joins more than 500 professional and educational organizations in Washington, D.C., at the USA Science & Engineering Festival, the country's first national science festival. More than 100,000 science fanatics will take over the National Mall for this ultimate multicultural and multigenerational celebration of science. Send us your best activity ideas or sign up to volunteer today. This is a can't-miss for local AAUW members and their families.

Registration Now Open for the NGCP Collaboration Conference
The inaugural National Girls Collaborative Project Collaboration Conference will gather organizations serving girls in STEM on October 21–22, 2010, in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the National Science Foundation-sponsored NGCP, the conference offers opportunities to connect with like-minded organizations, build a stronger women-in-science community, and share ideas on encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers. Register now to join us.

AAUW Keynoting at STEMtech Conference
AAUW Senior Researcher Andresse St. Rose will lead a special session at the prestigious STEMtech conference hosted by the League for Innovation in the Community College in Orlando, Florida, on October 31–November 3, 2010. More than 400 sessions will cover everything from recruiting and retaining students for STEM-related programs to using information technology to improve organizational and student learning. Can't be there in person? Join the web-based version of the conference, STEMtech Online.

AAUW Research Featured in Professional Journals
The Association of American Colleges and Universities journal On Campus with Women featured an article by AAUW Senior Researcher Andresse St. Rose entitled "STEM Major Choice and the Gender Pay Gap." The American Society of Civil Engineers highlighted AAUW's report Why So Few? in their Civil Engineering magazine, citing the report's findings and policy recommendations in an article on how to close the gender gap.

AAUW Staffer Talks STEM
Join AAUW Senior Researcher Christi Corbett on October 5 to discuss women and girls in STEM. Corbett will speak at the Science Café in Arlington, Virginia.

Washington Update

AAUW Goes to the White House
At a meeting with White House staff on July 19, AAUW Director of Public Policy and Government Relations Lisa Maatz and AAUW Director of Research Catherine Hill, along with our coalition partners, presented 10 strategies for improving the participation of girls in STEM. The strategies include training STEM teachers and school counselors and supporting a national clearinghouse on research and best practices on gender and STEM education. A report on the meeting is available at www.stemcollaboration.org.

AAUW at White House Dialogue on STEM
On September 27, AAUW staff members Catherine Hill, Christi Corbett, Andresse St. Rose, and Tracy Sherman presented AAUW's latest research report, Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and STEM policy recommendations at a White House dialogue with the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Other participants included representatives from the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation.

Presidential Advisors Include Girls and STEM in New Report
A new report from the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology singled out women, minorities, and other groups underrepresented in STEM fields in making recommendations on engaging and inspiring students to pursue STEM education and careers. Released September 16, the report was written by 20 of the nation's leading scientists and engineers. They urged President Barack Obama to "prepare all students, including girls and minorities who are underrepresented in these fields, to be proficient in STEM subjects."

Visit the AAUW website to learn more about AAUW's STEM priorities and download our policy recommendations on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

For the Girls

Dot Diva
What do careers like archeology and fashion have in common? They'll both benefit from young women's contributions. The Dot Diva initiative is out to prove that computer science is not only cool but important for high school girls who want to make a difference in the world, in whatever field stirs their passions. Soon the Dot Diva website will feature the excellent adventures of two Dot Divas trying to save the world, one keystroke at a time. AAUW members should look out for a new Dot Diva Program in a Box this fall to help girls in their community find their passion in life.

Expanding Your Horizons: A Girls-Only Conference
How do I make my own slime? How is MP3 music recorded? Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics conferences answers these questions and more at girls-only events across the United States. Hands-on workshops encourage girls to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and math by showing that these fields can be surprisingly fun. Check out the website for a directory of events across the country and a Sample Workshop Bank with step-by-step activity guides.

STEM Radio Program for Women with Disabilities
WAMC Northeast Public Radio's most recent women in STEM radio series, Access to Advancement, reports on the opportunities for and achievements of women with disabilities in STEM fields. Listeners outside the Northeast can tune in to the complete series — funded by the National Science Foundation's Research in Disabilities Education program — online or order free CDs, while supplies last.

AAUW's National Girls Collaborative Project regional liaisons put together a list of STEM resources for women and girls, available online now.

Notes from the Field

AAUW Campus Action Projects 2010–11
Attention all student leaders and campus faculty! We're selecting 10 teams this school year to get out and change their campuses. Whether you want to promote leadership, improve academic and career outcomes, or just make your campus better, we want to make your ideas a reality on campus. Apply for a CAP grant today.

AAUW of Florida Invests in STEM
AAUW of Florida wants to partner with local branches to get girls involved in STEM. Similar to the National Girls Collaborative Project, this grant program will fund local branch programs that encourage girls to pursue STEM careers. Find more information and apply for a grant at the AAUW of Florida website.

Help Locate Sponsors — Chances Are You Already Know Them!
Do you have professional contacts in high-tech companies? AAUW is looking for sponsors for our tent on the National Mall for the first national science festival. E-mail us with your contact's information and AAUW will take it from there. A $5,000 minimum investment will earn a company's name on a booth at an event attended by more than 100,000 people.

AAUW Oak Ridge and Knoxville (TN) Branches Host SHADES Workshop
The 30th annual SHADES (SHaring ADventures in Engineering and Science) math and science workshop for middle school girls and their math and science teachers was launched in 1991 with an AAUW Community Action Grant. Check out this year's event on October 2 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

AAUW Salem (OR) Branch Hosts Girls-Only STEM Conference
Registration opens in November for the 25th year of this one-day program that engages middle school girls in STEM fields. Join in on the fun on January 8, 2011 in Salem, Oregon.

Hosting an upcoming event you'd like to share? Tell us about it!