How I am working on closing the gender ratio? I've worked to lead WIRES in doing demos, visit schools, convince our friends to join the team.
WIRES is a support system for girls that participate in robotics. We tour and have women in STEM fields come and talk to us. A couple of the companies that we have visited is Ergotron, Monticello Nuclear training center, and the Nerdery.
Last month the team travelled to St. Louis for the championships. While I was there I attended seminars on how teams were able to get more girls to be interested in STEM careers. I experienced hand to guide and lead them with a fellow girl. The girls have the option of going on their learned that several teams all had you thing in common a support system. They consistently have an high school’s co-ed robotics or join the districts all girl team.
I have found out that having a support system for girls will help them want to continue to participate in robotics. What ended up happening is The support system was the push I ended to stay in robotics because there was a network of girls, helping each other out, and we have got to know each other.
This blog was written by Maddie Elsenheimer of FRC Team 2220/ If you want to write a blog post for FIRST Ladies, sign up on the schedule.