Women in Science Initiatives Aim to Encourage Girls in STEM Field

The Connecticut Science Center’s Women in Science initiative encourages girls and young women to pursue studies and career paths in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and celebrates the achievements of women in the sciences. The multi-faceted initiative seeks to bridge the gender gap in STEM by developing original programming to engage girls in science and to build the community of women in the sciences.

Ongoing programs and special events throughout the Science Center’s 10th anniversary year are integrated into exhibits and include education initiatives, both local and international, guest speakers from various scientific disciplines, and hands-on activities throughout the year.

Though women comprise slightly more than half of the U.S. population, the number of women in STEM-related fields remains stubbornly low. In November of 2017, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a report which stated “America's STEM workforce is crucial for generating new ideas, receiving and commercializing patents, and providing the flexibility and critical thinking required in the modern economy. While women continue to make gains across the broader economy, they remain underrepresented in STEM jobs and among STEM degree holders.”

During November, highlights include Women in Science Saturday, which will focus on algorithms, the opening of applications for a new year of Technovation Girls Connecticut, and nominations for the annual Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award, to be presented next spring.

• Women in Science Saturday

The next edition of the monthly Women in Science Saturday will be held on Saturday, November 16, 11 AM – 2 PM, and will feature Adventures in Algorithms, presented by Optum UWLiT (United Women Leading in Tech).

Students in attendance in the Super Science Girls! program will meet and hear from winners of the 2019 Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair, learning first-hand about the science they developed and how they accomplished their inventions.

During Adventures in Algorithms, students will discover that algorithms are a set of instructions that modify an input to produce an output. During the session, students will write an algorithm to make the “best” product. Students then explore what it means to be “best” and see how their opinions are reflected in their algorithms. For more information and registration, contact Amy Sailor, the Connecticut Science Center’s Advancement Program Manager, at asailor@ctsciencecenter.org or 860-520.2163.

• Technovation Girls Connecticut

Technovation Girls at the Connecticut Science Center equips young women (ages 10-18) to become tech entrepreneurs and leaders. With the support of volunteer mentors, girls work in teams to code mobile apps that address real-world problems. The Technovation calendar begins in January 2020 and runs through early summer.

Participating girls are a part of either the junior division for girls ages 10-14 or the senior division for girls ages 15-18. No prior coding experience is necessary to join and participate. The program uses a three-part model that helps girls and families develop greater self-efficacy and change their attitudes towards STEM: identifying real-world problems, building a team to brainstorm and share the workload, and encouraging community involvement.

There are Technovation Girls chapters across the United States and worldwide. The Connecticut Science Center hosts the state’s only chapter. Students can register now by contacting Connecticut Science Center Advancement Program Manager Amy Sailor, at asailor@ctsciencecenter.org or 860-520.2163

“These programs empower girls to be leaders and problem-solvers, to see themselves as well-prepared to develop careers in the STEM fields, and to set no limits on how far their talents and tenacity can take them,” said Marie O’Brien, Connecticut Science Center Trustee and Chair of the Women in Science Steering Committee. “We are proud of these efforts, and inspired by the determination and know-how that is abundant with every visit to the Science Center and classrooms throughout the state.”

• FIRST LEGO League Jr. Challenge Boomtown Build

The Connecticut Science Center is teaming up with the Girl Scouts of Connecticut to support 10 teams in the 2020 FIRST LEGO League Jr. challenge, Boomtown Build. FLLJR sparks initial interest in science and technology in a culture of sharing and learning from others. The challenge includes both research and building assignments that are conducted over the course of 12 weeks. Young girls in Hartford and around the state will be introduced to basic design skills through a hands-on approach with the familiarity and fun of LEGO building. A celebratory and culminating EXPO will take place at the Connecticut Science Center on Saturday, March 28, 2020, providing teams with an opportunity to showcase what they have learned with their family, friends, and community in a fun, non-competitive event.

• Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award – Nominations Open

Nominations for the 2020 Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award can be submitted via the Connecticut Science Center website until January 8, 2020. Members of the community are invited to help identify exceptional individuals by submitting a nomination and/or sharing this call for nominations with friends and neighbors.

The award recognizes a woman working in STEM who is a leader in her field, and who makes a significant effort to support other women and encourage girls' interests in STEM. The honoree is selected by the Connecticut Science Center's Women in Science steering committee.Honorees will be recognized and celebrated at the 2020 STEM Achievement Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, April 21, 2020, 7:30-9:30 AM.

The Women in Science Steering Committee is chaired by Connecticut Science Center Trustee Marie O’Brien, and includes Kenneth Bowes, Elizabeth Brady, MD FACS, Katherine Coughlin, Meg Duffy, Gladis Kersaint, PhD, Meryl Mallery, Danielle Metcalf, William A. Petit, Jr., MD, Chandra Roychoudhuri, PhD, Ellyn Savard and Chinma Uche, PhD.

Founding sponsor of Women in Science at the Connecticut Science Center is the Petit Family Foundation. Additional support is provided by Voya Financial and Vistra Energy.

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About the Connecticut Science Center: The LEED-Gold certified Connecticut Science Center, located in downtown Hartford, sparks creative imagination and an appreciation for science by immersing visitors in fun and educational hands-on, minds-on interactive experiences while maintaining an environmentally conscious presence. Serving more than 3.25 million people since opening in 2009, the Science Center features more than 165 exhibits in ten galleries, covering a range of topics, including space and earth sciences, physical sciences, biology, the Connecticut River watershed, alternative energy sources, Connecticut inventors and innovations, a children’s gallery, and much more. Other features include the state’s only year-round butterfly habitat, five educational labs, a 200-seat 3D digital theater, function room, gift store, and ongoing events for all ages.

The Science Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing science education throughout the state of Connecticut and New England, providing learning opportunities for students and adults of all ages, and engaging the community in scientific exploration. The Connecticut Science Center is the home to the Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell Academy for Teachers, offering powerful professional development for educators. More information: CTScienceCenter.org or (860) SCIENCE.