STEM
Branch STEM Committee
STEM, October Newsletter
by Annie Allen-Wyman, Chair. (608) 514-2871 therosyorb@gmail.com
The U.S. Department of Education hosted last year the YOU Belong in STEM National Coordinating Conference in Washington, D.C., and introduced the Raise the Bar: STEM Excellence for All Students initiative of the Biden-Harris Administration. Its goal is to help implement and scale equitable, high-quality STEM education for all students from PreK to higher education—regardless of back- ground— to ensure their 21st century career readiness and global competitiveness. “Research shows how a sense of belonging in rich and rigorous classrooms is directly correlated to students’ long-term academic success. Moreover, the Department’s Civil Rights Data Collection continues to demonstrate that students of color and students with disabilities are disproportionately excluded from learning opportunities in STEM,”
said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten. “Today, we are saying unequiv- ocally to all students and educators that they belong in STEM and that they deserve to have rigorous and relevant educational experiences that inspire and empower them to reach their full potential as productive, contributing members of our nation’s workforce.” Quote is taken from a US Department of Education 2022 news release — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, including Computer Science | U.S. DOE.
The role of the La Crosse Branch of AAUW is to provide similar access locally to STEM resources through collaboration with UW- La Crosse, Viterbo, and Western Technical College — and through outreach to our local high schools.
STEM, September Newsletter
by Annie Allen-Wyman, Chair. (608) 514-2871 therosyorb@gmail.com
Some things don’t change: girls and women are still systematically tracked away from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers throughout their free and public education, limiting their access, preparation, and opportunities in the S-T-E-M fields. According to AAUW.org, women make up only 28% of the workforce in STEM fields. In Biology, women are 46% of the workforce; in Chemistry, just over 40%; in computer science
and mathematics, 25.2%; and in architecture and engineering, combined, women are 16.5% of the workforce. These gender gaps are particularly high in some of the fastest-growing and highest-paid jobs of the future, like computer science, especially cyber-security, and environmental/sustainable engineering. Why so few? Myths about female intelligence continue to spread in our society – you know, girls aren’t good at math. High school guidance counselors may per- petuate the myths by suggesting more traditional career paths for the girls in their schools, and with a reduced presence of women working in these fields, those girls have few role models. One research paper included in the Why So Few (click on it to read it) article on www.aauw.org demonstrates that telling girls that intelligence can expand with experience and learning, actually results in higher grades in math and science classes! “By creating a Growth Mindset, teachers and parents can encourage girls’ achievements and interests in [STEM] careers.”
AAUW provides free online courses for girls in middle and high school on the national website. Our partners, UW-La Crosse and Viterbo, host first-year seminars to encourage young women who are just “interested” to pursue their STEM studies. Western Technical College has a dedicated office for “non-traditional” students and their career paths, to shepherd and encourage girls in industry, construction, and computer sciences programs.
How can our La Crosse Branch help? By partnering with our partners and by spreading the word to girls and college-age women about STEM career paths: YES, YOU CAN!!
by Annie Allen-Wyman, Chair. (608) 514-2871 therosyorb@gmail.com
Thank you for the opportunity to help AAUW reach more women in careers (or college) related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM is a huge umbrella that affects all of us in all parts of our lives: aero-dynamic cars and EVs, computers and social media data, security systems on our houses, vaccinations and pandemic research, calculating “fair pay” and reparations for formerly enslaved peoples, and climate change mitigation.
AAUW has a strong national program called STEM Ed that includes summer camps. Learn more: STEMEd for Girls. Watch this space for more information about local and nearby STEM Ed events! Please contact me to join the committee.
Shared on our branch’s Facebook page is a press release from Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez about the annual K-12 scholarship awarding up to $1,000 to 12 schools nationally to support STEM-related activities for youth. Applications are accepted until May 1, 2023. The application is available at: NLGA (National Lieutenant Governors Association)
AAUW La Crosse will make more connections with UW-L, Viterbo, and WesternTech through courses related to STEM topics – and the STEM committee will intersect with our Membership and DEI committees.
STEM
by Annie Allen-Wyman, Chair
2023/Summer
Thank you for the opportunity to help AAUW reach more women in careers (or college) related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM is a huge umbrella that affects all of us in all parts of our lives: aero-dynamic cars and EVs, computers and social media data, security systems on our houses, vaccinations and pandemic research, calculating “fair pay” and reparations for formerly enslaved peoples, and climate change mitigation.
AAUW has a strong national program called STEM Ed that includes summer camps. Learn more: STEMEd for Girls. Watch this space for more information about local and nearby STEM Ed events! Please contact me to join the committee.
Shared on our branch’s Facebook page is a press release from Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez about the annual K-12 scholarship awarding up to $1,000 to 12 schools nationally to support STEM-related activities for youth. Applications are accepted until May 1, 2023. The application is available at: NLGA (National Lieutenant Governors Association)
AAUW La Crosse will make more connections with UW-L, Viterbo, and WesternTech through courses related to STEM topics – and the STEM committee will intersect with our Membership and DEI committees.