让女性进入STEM领域

Several dozen girls from 20 schools across the Denver metro area will gather at DU's 科罗拉多女子学院 on May 13 for a fun-filled day of science learning 和 exploration.

事件, called Femme in STEM, is the brainchild of a group of five DU alumnae from the 自然科学部 & 数学 who were alarmed by the underrepresentation of women in science, 技术, 工程, 和数学. 研究 shows that girls are equally as interested in STEM subjects as boys early on, but that this interest declines significantly around junior high.

"We want to help mend the leaky pipeline," says Faith Lierheimer, a master's student in the Department of Biological 科学s who helped launch the group while she was an undergraduate. "We're missing out on a chunk of brainpower that could advance science in ways that we can't imagine."

事件, which is aimed at girls ages 9–13, will feature short activities in the morning during which participants will get 亲自动手的 experience in subjects ranging from liquid nitrogen to DNA extraction 和 computer programming. In the afternoon, participants will present their findings at a science fair. Two dozen volunteers from DU's sciences 和 工程 departments will help run the event 和 serve as role models.

"It's a high-energy affair where the girls get to shine 和 demonstrate their knowledge to their peers, while being exposed to multiple STEM fields,利尔海默说.

Femme in STEM is funded by the 科罗拉多女子学院.

"I’ve watched 和 coached this great group of DU leaders as students, 现在是校友, as they've built a very successful program for girls that is innovative, 快速移动, 亲自动手的, 和 anchored in important STEM concepts,琳达·奥尔森说, interim dean of the 科罗拉多女子学院. "The College is proud to sponsor 和 host this program, as it fits with our mission of addressing significant gaps that persist for women’s full participation in STEM careers."