How to inspire girls and teens to explore STEM careers?

The world has developed by leaps and bounds over the past 50 years, and material, cultural, social and spiritual barriers have been broken down; however, there are still some remnants of the old order, strongholds that new trends cannot enter.

The study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers by women, teens and girls seemed to be one of the strongholds that needed to be dismantled for society to achieve greater development. Over time, the concept evolved to incorporate the arts into this approach, becoming STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Arts).

“The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report on the education of girls and women in STEM fields (2019, with data from 2017) mentions that education in these subjects can equip those who study them with the skills, attitudes and behaviours necessary to create inclusive and sustainable societies. Especially when many of the jobs of the future will come from these disciplines,” said Lucia Alvarado, National Research Coordinator at Unifranz Franz Tamayo University and member of the Organization for Women in Science for Developing Countries (OWSD).

According to UNESCO, women today make up only 33% of scientific researchers worldwide, even though they make up 45% and 55% of undergraduate and master’s students, and 44% of enrolments in doctoral programmes.

Furthermore, a large body of data indicates that women are underrepresented in STEM fields, at different levels of training from undergraduate to graduate level, and subsequently seeking careers in these fields.

Alvarado said that according to the UNESCO report, which is based on a review of national data from more than 120 countries, cross-national survey results and other sources, while access to education for girls and young people has improved globally, serious inequalities remain at the local, national and regional levels.

Encouraging STEM learning for girls and young people

In an article for UN Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, María del Pilar Carreón Castro, a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, stressed the need to “break traditions that prevent girls from learning what they want.”

In this context, it is crucial to teach them from an early age that they have a place in these subjects.

How to encourage girls to be interested in STEM fields

“It is vital to inspire young women at school and university level to develop themselves in science and technology, to make them believe that they can become good system engineers, scientific researchers and to show role models of women in science, including: Marie Curie’s letter to Carla Giacomelli, to encourage our women and girls to follow this path”, said Zulma Aliaga, Director of Teaching and Learning (JEA) at Unifranz.

Despite these barriers, women and girls continue to be leaders in research innovation. They have designed lifesaving medicines, crossed the sound barrier, explored the universe, and laid the foundation for understanding the structure of DNA. They are role models for future generations.

This does not mean that progress has not been made. Over the past 20 years, science, technology and innovation have undergone astonishing changes worldwide, including in Latin America and the Caribbean, where women scientists have been seeking ways to increase their presence and visibility in new national and international agendas. However, while women have been protagonists of tremendous change in recent decades, there is still a long way to go.

That said, while female participation has grown in recent years, the evolution is still very slow, a reality that is starkly reflected in the number of women who have won Nobel Prizes in science: they make up just 6%.

New References for Women in STEM

“History is filled with scientists and researchers who played a key role in the development of science, yet their recognition has remained in the shadows for centuries. This and other factors have led young women to lack references and avoid studying STEM careers,” said the BBVA report on the gender gap in these fields.

Maria del Rosario Concha, director of Santa Francisca Romana College in Colombia, stressed that the narrative has changed: now girls no longer look to distant references, but are inspired by close teammates and leaders. “The references are starting to change. There is no “I want to be Steve Jobs”, but “I am developing my potential”.

“Instead of comparing themselves to male models who decide how far they go, female students are guided by their own interests,” she mentioned.

The United Nations says that all talents are needed to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, so the contribution of women in all fields of knowledge is also crucial.

“Solving some of the biggest challenges of the Sustainable Development Agenda – from improving health to tackling climate change – requires harnessing all available talent. That means we need more women working in these fields. Diversity in research expands the pool of talented researchers, bringing new perspectives, talents and creativity. This day is a reminder that women and girls play a decisive role in the world of science and technology and that their participation must be strengthened,” the multinational organization said in a statement.

For example, the Integrated Project as an educational approach allows students to conduct applied research within the university, applying what they have learned to real-world problems, thus giving them the motivation to continue their research.