FIRST Ladies
  • HOME
  • About
    • FAQ
    • History
  • Blogs
  • Promote
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Store

Breaking Stereotypes of STEM

5/30/2015

0 Comments

 
I became a lead of a program called “Women in Robotics Empowering Sisters.” (WIRES) A problem I have noticed  is that in any STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, and Math) career fields, the number of women involved is less than 30%. I was extremely annoyed when I first heard that, because of how horrible that is, hearing that also increased my mission and determination to get more girls into STEM and FIRST Robotics by the time I graduate is to have on my team to an equal gender ratio of 50-50. This problem first sparked my mentor, who sparked me, which I have sparked a bunch of my friends who now all want to see the same happen, more girls inn STEM and Robotics. Last year, about 12% of the team was made up of  girls. . This year, 25% of the team was made up of of girls. We were able to increase the amount of girls by 13% in one year.

               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. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Be a guest

    ​author!

    Do you want to be a guest blogger for FIRST Ladies? You can write about a topic of your choice!  Anyone can submit a blog, especially our Regional Partner teams! Please email us a Google Doc of the completed blog.  Thank you!
    ​

    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    August 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • HOME
  • About
    • FAQ
    • History
  • Blogs
  • Promote
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Store