Winter 2012 Edition

Dear AAUW members and friends,

With the beginning of a new year, we at AAUW are reinvigorating our focus on making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for women and girls a top priority. The perfect springboard for this goal came at the end of 2011, when AAUW member and former president of the AAUW Buffalo (NY) Branch Tamara Brown received an award at the White House for her work engaging women and girls in STEM. Brown, the founder of Tech Savvy, was among 12 community heroes honored as Champions of Change.

We are dedicated to making STEM a major platform for AAUW in 2012 and have already had a great opportunity to put it at the forefront of the national debate with the State of the Union and President Barack Obama’s continued focus on innovation and expanding STEM industries. The president called for a national commitment to training Americans for jobs in these industries. Obama said, “Growing industries in science and technology have twice as many openings as we have workers who can do the job. Think about that — openings at a time when millions of Americans are looking for work.” As the president made clear, America’s future depends on STEM.

We are very interested in hearing about what you and your branch are doing around STEM, so please be sure to fill out the STEM education survey. We want to know what great things you’re doing and to invite you to join us in our quest to make STEM a major issue for women and girls!

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.

WASHINGTON UPDATE

AAUW Attends White House STEM Event
AAUW President Carolyn Garfein and Executive Director Linda Hallman visited the White House in September for the announcement of a new National Science Foundation initiative to promote workplace flexibility in STEM fields. AAUW was recognized for our contributions to research and grassroots advocacy in promoting women’s increased participation in STEM.

AAUW STEM NEWS

Christianne Corbett and Erin Prangley Present Why So Few?
AAUW Senior Researcher Christianne Corbett and Associate Director of Government Relations Erin Prangley sat on a panel at the December 2011 Dupont Summit to discuss the AAUW research report Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Corbett also presented findings from Why So Few? to more than 2,000 scientists at the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America in November in Reno, Nevada. You can view her remarks in two parts on YouTube.

Celebrating Women in Science
AAUW Director of Research Catherine Hill moderated a panel in December at a New York Academy of Sciences event with Nobel Prize winner Paul Greengard and other leaders in science. At the event, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the creation of the NeXXt Scholars Initiative, which is designed to encourage women to pursue STEM careers.

Get STEM Updates on the AAUW Blog
Check out some of the recent STEM blog posts from AAUW Dialog!

Want to know more about AAUW's STEM efforts? Check us out on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @AAUWSTEM!

FROM THE FIELD

Open Minds, Open Doors Young Women’s Conference
In October, 550 middle school girls attended hands-on workshops put on by professional working women introducing them to a variety of STEM careers in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, Iowa, area. The Open Minds, Open Doors Conference encourages girls to pursue fields with foundations in STEM. Many local groups attended, including General Mills and Iowa State University. The AAUW Cedar Rapids (IA) Branch partnered with the Grant Wood Area Education Agency, Workplace Learning Connection, and Coe College to hold the event.  

California Branch Math and Science Discovery Day
More than 60 fifth- and sixth-grade girls and their adult sponsors attended the AAUW Fremont (CA) Branch’s semi-annual Math and Science Discovery Day this November at Hopkins Junior High. Attendees made slime, watched a planetarium show, played with levers and pulleys, and more as they were engulfed in STEM fun for a day. Read about the November event and its hardworking, longtime coordinator, Miriam Keller.

Sharing Adventures in Engineering and Science Conference
A coalition made up of the AAUW Oak Ridge (TN) Branch, the AAUW Knoxville (TN) Branch, and four women and engineering organizations held a SHADES workshop in November for middle school girls and their math and science teachers. Packed with demonstration-oriented projects on science and engineering, the day also included a design competition.

Ohio Branch Donates to High School Science Lab
In December, the AAUW Circleville (OH) Branch and its corporate partners, DuPont and Four J Properties, donated funds to be used for science equipment and supplies at the local Teays Valley High School. The branch donates to a different school in the county every year to help it fill voids in its science labs. Both corporations have been very involved in community activities and play a large part in the town’s economy.

First STEM Conference for Latina Preteens and Teens
“It meant so much for the middle school girls to talk with Latinas who are enjoying the college experience,” said Carol Cowles, dean of student services and development at Elgin Community College. The school partnered with Judson University  in Elgin, Illinois, to hold the first local STEM conference for middle school and high school Latinas this December. Bringing together AAUW, Elgin School District U-46, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and Judson University, the conference provided a series of panels and sessions for the girls and their moms to give a snapshot of STEM careers.

Expanding Your Horizons
Middle school girls explored careers in math and science at the 25th annual Expanding Your Horizons conference this January hosted by Willamette University and organized by the AAUW Salem (OR) Branch. Highway engineers, Salem health professionals, and closed-circuit TV staffers were among the women who shared tips and activities with girls interested in careers that use math and science.

The AAUW Tyler (TX) Branch is holding an Expanding Your Horizons event for middle school girls on February 25 at the University of Texas, Tyler. The girls will interact with female STEM students and professionals during hands-on sessions on innovation and creativity. The event will include an adult program where parents and teachers can get more information on STEM careers and opportunities as well as web 2.0 tools for exploring STEM. The registration deadline is Wednesday, February 8.

FOR THE GIRLS

Applying Engineering in the Everyday
The National Science Foundation’s Engage in Engineering project has collected lesson plans, demonstrations, and ideas for illustrating concepts to improve students’ classroom experience. This online tool will help educators connect engineering skills to real-world experiences. Emphasizing everyday applications helps girls recognize STEM skills as relevant to careers and global problems, not just as required coursework for college.

Scholarships for Women Studying STEM
The U.S. News and World Report has compiled a list of organizations that provide scholarships for women in STEM. The list includes a Google scholarship for graduating seniors and a Sony scholarship and internship for video-game designers.

Kids Afterschool
Based on programs already going on in the Boston area, Kids Afterschool provides a searchable, online database of activities around STEM and “21st-century skills” for students, parents, and educators to reference to make learning fun and to connect with each other and share their experiences. It also provides a curriculum for after-school and off-campus programs.

See our list of online STEM resources for women and girls for more tools.

STEM CONFERENENCES AND STUDIES

Building a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education Agenda
In December, the National Governors Association released Building a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education Agenda for governors nationwide to shape STEM education in their states. It pinpoints strengths and weaknesses, outlines six key steps, and presents concrete model programs in a number of areas.

Professional Development Institute
The 2012 National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity Professional Development Institute will be held April 16–19 in Arlington, Virginia. Participate in a weekend of workshops and panels with experts and policy makers on topics such as increasing the participation of women in STEM careers, implementing best practices for special-population students, and designing nontraditional programs for college and career readiness.


Questions or comments about this e-newsletter? E-mail us at stem@aauw.org.