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The Next Generation of Girls in STEM

April 24, 2012 at 3:25 PM ET by Lauren Andersen
Summary: 
Girls in STEM is a new video that features young women scientists and engineers who wowed the President and the nation at the White House Science Fair in February, and shines a spotlight on their exciting projects

“Knowing that your ideas…might change the future is something that I like,” says Eva, a high school student from California, who is featured in a new video released today by the White House Council on Women and Girls.

Girls in STEM, featuring young women scientists and engineers who wowed the President and the nation at the White House Science Fair in February, shines a spotlight on these extraordinary young role models and their exciting projects – ranging from a machine that detects buried landmines, to a prosthetic hand device, to a lunchbox that uses UV light to kill bacteria on food.  

Following the release of this video, several of America’s top women in science and engineering took the stage to talk about how pursuing their interest in STEM led them to exciting and rewarding careers. Moderated by Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and an engineer by training – who also delivered opening remarks – this panel included the following:

  • Jocelyn Goldfein, Director of Engineering at Facebook
  • Dr. Cady Coleman, NASA Astronaut, Colonel, U.S. Air Force, retired
  • Bianca Bailey, President of the Howard University Chapter of Engineers without Borders
  • Dr. Jean Hernandez, President of Edmonds Community College.

The group fielded questions from an audience of local students, as well as students, teachers, and parents across the country via Twitter and Facebook.

Click here to watch video of the full event

In addition, inspired by the President’s “all-hands-on deck” call to action, a number of private-sector partners have joined with the Administration today to announce exciting new commitments to expand STEM learning opportunities for girls and provide them with inspiring STEM role models and mentors. Among these commitments are:

  • More than $500,000 in new funding for STEM programing at the national girl-serving organization, Girls, Inc. 
  • A new partnership between Girl Scouts, USA and Mocha Moms, Inc., a national network for moms of color, to encourage the recruitment of more STEM mentors. 
  • A new collaboration spearheaded by the Entertainment Industries Council to feature more women and girls in STEM fields in the media. 
  • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s new NASA G.I.R.L.S program featuring online STEM lesson plans and mentoring for girls.

Together, these commitments will help us put girls across the country on the path to fulfilling high-paying jobs while ensuring that our nation has the science and engineering workforce we need to make the discoveries, and build the industries, of the future.