Workshop Inspires Young Girls to Consider STEM Careers

In April, Girl Scout Ambassador Audrey Godsell tackled the disparity between men and women who are interested in going into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) with a local event called the “Girls in STEM Careers” workshop. The event, held at the Aurora University Challenger Learning Center in Woodstock, aimed to inspire young girls to explore their interests in STEM and consider going into STEM occupations. The workshop’s goal was to increase awareness about several different STEM occupations among the 5th-7th grade girls who attended through engaging hands-on activities.

The girls in attendance created gliders, wind-powered cars, waterproof roofs, earthquake-resistant structures, and more, in addition to learning basic principles of biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science. Guest speaker Subha Karthi spoke to the girls about pursuing STEM in the future. She empowered the girls to pursue their interests, despite the gender gap in many STEM careers. All of those who attended the event said they had a lot of fun and would go to a similar workshop in the future if it was available. Most importantly, all said they were interested in STEM.

The workshop was put on by Godsell in order to make a difference in the community and for her to earn the Gold Award, the highest honor earned by Girl Scouts. The Girl Scout Gold Award Project requires at least 80 hours of work on a sustainable service project aimed at making a difference in the community.