Expert to Speak on STEM

Developmental psychologist Dr. Inga Schowengerdt of Newburyport will discuss “Keeping Girls (and Boys) Keen on STEM” at Cohen Hillel Academy in Marblehead on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:15 p.m.

A graduate of Waring School in Beverly and Smith College, Schowengerdt earned her Ph.D. at Cambridge University in England. She is an experienced researcher, consultant, and educator with expertise in the areas of gender equity and inclusion in STEM education, curriculum design, and mentoring practices. She will share insights from her research on why students stray from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and advice about what can be done to keep them interested.

“I first became interested in increasing girls’ STEM persistence as a psychology major at Smith College, where an inspiring professor opened my eyes to the ways that sex role stereotypes about women’s inferior abilities in math can trigger anxiety that impairs girls’ and women’s performance on math tasks,” explains Schowengerdt. “Girls who are enthusiastic about these subjects often don’t perceive a great deal of social support for their inclinations and my graduate research explored how math and science can be made more appealing students of both sexes.”

With many high-quality jobs in the today’s global economy requiring certain math and scientific skills, Schowengerdt asserts that students who avoid STEM may not be prepared for the job market. “It’s particularly important to encourage girls’ interest in STEM because women and girls remain underrepresented in these fields, and securing early interest is key to encouraging long-term persistence,” she believes.

While Schowengerdt acknowledges that there has been some progress in many areas of math and science education and in the STEM workforce, gender gaps in STEM participation still tend to increase during the middle and high school years and become entrenched at subsequent levels of educational and occupational attainment. “While it’s important to celebrate the strides made towards gender equity in STEM, gender gaps remain, as does the need to close them,” Schowengerdt maintains.

During her presentation at Cohen Hillel, aimed towards educators and all parents interested in their children’s futures, Schowengerdt will talk about the importance of keeping girls and boys enthusiastic about STEM, and girls’ troubling tendency to lose interest in math and the sciences during adolescence. “I’ll discuss some of the key reasons for the drop-off in girls’ openness to STEM during these years, and what adults can do to encourage girls’ – and boys’ – affinity for these domains,” says Schowengerdt. “Parents and educators can expect to glean a perspective into the barriers that remain for girls and women in STEM and to leave with new ideas for how they can support their children in remaining enthusiastic about these important subjects.”

The event is free and open to the public. Cohen Hillel Academy is located at 6 Community Road, Marblehead. For more information, go to www.cohenhillel.org or call 781-639-2880.