Bridging the STEM Gap: IEEE and Girl Scouts Inspire Next Generation of Female Innovators
Table of Contents
Despite ongoing efforts, the percentage of women working in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields remains persistently low. Recent data from the World Economic Forum indicates that women comprised only 28 percent of the global STEM workforce last year, highlighting a critical need for sustained initiatives to encourage female participation.Recognizing this challenge, organizations like IEEE are actively working to cultivate a pipeline of future female STEM leaders through targeted outreach programs.
The Power of Role Models in STEM Education
Studies consistently demonstrate that exposing girls to female role models in STEM is one of the most effective strategies for sparking their interest in these careers. This exposure provides invaluable insights, guidance, and practical advice, empowering young women to envision themselves succeeding in traditionally male-dominated fields. To facilitate these connections,IEEE has partnered with the Girl Scouts of the United States of America’s Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ) council and its “See Her,Be Her” career exploration program.
“See Her, Be Her”: an Annual Event Fostering STEM Exploration
Now in its eighth year, the annual “See Her, Be Her” event – formerly known as “What a G.I.R.L. Can Be” – offers girls hands-on activities, interactive games, and opportunities to engage directly with STEM professionals. The event, held in May at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, welcomed over 100 attendees this year. Volunteers from the IEEE North Jersey Section and the IEEE Technical Activities future Networks technical community where among the 30 exhibitors present.
“IEEE and the Girl Scouts share a view that STEM fields require a diversity of thought, experience, and backgrounds to be able to use technology to better the world,” explained a senior program manager from IEEE who helped coordinate the event. Johanna Nurjahan,girl experience manager for the Heart of New Jersey council,added,”We know that there’s a shortage of girls and women in STEM careers.We are really trying to create that pipeline, which is needed to ensure that
Inspiring Through Personal Experience: The Story of Gautami Nadkarni
IEEE Senior member Gautami Nadkarni, a cloud architect and senior customer engineer with Google in New York City, volunteered at this year’s career fair. Nadkarni, a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, shared how a female professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, inspired her own pursuit of a STEM career. “I remember being just so empowered and really inspired by her and thinking, Wow, there is someone who looks like me and is going places,” she recalled. “When I look back, that was one of the moments that helped me shape who I am from a career standpoint.”
Nadkarni’s exhibit focused on cloud computing, decorated with a cloud motif. She presented herself as a “superhero for big companies,” explaining how she safeguards and organizes information for her clients. Using relatable examples, she illustrated the power of cloud computing, explaining to the Girl Scouts how it helps companies understand consumer preferences, even down to the types of toys children desire. She engaged the girls with interactive exercises, including a data-sorting activity using toy dinosaurs and a puzzle focused on data security. She also demonstrated Google Cloud’s Imagen 3 text-to-image model,allowing the girls to create AI-generated images,including a memorable depiction of a dog riding a unicycle on a boat.
A Lasting Impact on Future Generations
“The exhibitors who participate in the See Her, Be Her program provide inspiration,” Nurjahan concluded. “It’s inspiring to see the enthusiasm in the girls after meeting with exhibitors. Just a few minutes of engagement gives them a glimpse of their potential and sparks hope for the future, no matter what career thay choose.” This collaborative effort between IEEE and the girl scouts serves as a powerful example of how targeted outreach and the visibility of female role models can help close the STEM gap and empower the next generation of female innovators.
