THE PROBLEM
Disparities in race, gender, and socioeconomic status continue to plague the STEM field. These inequalities cannot continue to be ignored.
EduSTEM Initiative seeks to engage the youth of these underrepresented minorities in STEM fields, working towards a national goal of achieving equality for all racial, socioeconomic, and gender minorities in STEM.
EduSTEM Initiative seeks to engage the youth of these underrepresented minorities in STEM fields, working towards a national goal of achieving equality for all racial, socioeconomic, and gender minorities in STEM.
GenderAs of 2015, women filled 47% of all U.S. jobs but held only 24% of STEM jobs. While women hold almost the same number of undergraduate degrees as men overall, they make up only about 30% of all STEM degree holders.
(US Department of Commerce) |
RaceIn February 2015, the amount of interest in STEM from African American and Latino groups dramatically declined below interest levels in 2000. African-American and Latino students are much less likely to have access to Advanced Placement courses in STEM fields. African-American and Latino workers represent 29% of the general workforce population, but just 15% of the computing workforce and 12% of the engineering workforce.
(US News) |
Socioeconomic StatusIn 2014, the National Assessment of Educational Progress gave out its first STEM subjects assessment, the Technology and Engineering Literacy (TEL) test, a national benchmark for youth's capabilities in STEM-related subjects. On a 300 point scale, students from low income families scored on average 28 points lower than their more affluent peers, reflecting the educational disparity between the two groups.
(Washington Post) |
For a more comprehensive report on the lack of diversity in today's STEM representation, take a look at these eye-opening statistics compiled by the National Girls Collaborative Project:
THE MISSION & CONCEPTION
Educate, encourage, empower. Founded in the Greater Seattle Area in 2016, EduSTEM seeks to increase diversity within STEM fields by targeting youth from underrepresented minorities at an early age. We believe that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic background, gender, or race, deserves an opportunity to pursue STEM on the same playing field as their peers. Rather than waiting for minorities to come to us, we go to the youth in hopes of providing them learning opportunities that normally not accessible under ordinary circumstances.
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Growing up in the Greater Seattle Area, three girls noticed an incredibly uneven playing field among their peers when it came to STEM. Their observations during STEM club meetings, CTE classes, and other science activities led to one conclusion- a lack of diversity in STEM. After doing further researched, they realized that this issues starts at a young age and carries forward to reflect in today's workforce.
Thus, in 2017, they conceived the idea of an initiative in order to provide a greater opportunities in STEM fields to youths in their community. With the aid of their former middle school teacher, Mrs. Debra Benzinger, EduSTEM was founded and launched shortly after. |
OUR APPROACH
STEMX- find your x factor in stem
EduSTEM uses a unique methodology to educate, encourage, and empower youths to pursue STEM careers- STEMX curriculum. Our STEMX initiative embodies the diversity in applications within STEM fields, erasing the notion that STEM is confined to just technological and scientific application. Technology can manifest itself in various other impactful and meaningful careers such as political science, art, literature, and entrepreneurship. What makes our organization unique is that we run our workshops exploring these diverse intersections regarding how STEM can be used through a multi-faceted approach. Through our STEMX initiative, we hope to develop youth leaders in a diverse multitude of fields who are empowered with the knowledge that STEM can be used for good in any of their career paths.
OUR IMPACT
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500+ youths reached through workshops, camps, volunteering, and partnership initiatives
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70+ workshops, classes, camps, and sessions for underrepresented minorities by the end of 2018
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9+ chapters in Washington, Thailand, Istanbul, Connecticut, New York, Boston, Virginia, and California, run by our youth regional leaders
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12+ partners on local, national, and international levels, all working towards the same goal of diversifying STEM fields
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THE FOUNDERS
Archika DograArchika Dogra attends Interlake High School as a junior in Bellevue, WA. Archika is the President of her school's Technology Student Association, is part of National Science Honor Society, and does Speech and Debate. In her free time, she enjoys playing outside and petting dogs!
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Evelyn ChenEvelyn is a junior at Newport High School. She participates in speech and debate and theatre at school. In her free time, she enjoys reading and watching football. Evelyn is super excited to expand and evolved EduSTEM to better achieve it's mission!
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Maya SrikanthMaya Srikanth is a junior at Newport High School. At Newport, she loves to participate in its Robotics club and is a captain of the Debate team. In her free time, Maya especially enjoys reading and taking long walks. Maya's favorite subjects to learn at school are English and Math.
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