Project Team
Student(s)
Alix Medler
Philosophy & Religion
Truman State University
Mentor(s)
School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Project Video
Project Abstract
Educating Girls is one of the most influential solutions for climate change, according to Project Drawdown. Access to an education is also seen by many as a fundamental human right. However, millions of girls globally still do not have access to educational opportunities. Additionally, despite recent efforts, girls are still largely underrepresented in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields of engineering, computer science, and physics both in educational institutions and beyond. Our research assesses the interconnection between climate change, the education of women and girls, current educational opportunities in STEM, and STEM camps, while implementing a small-scale solution through the APOGEE (Anything is POssible for Girls in Electrical Engineering) girls’ camp. Through the assessment of past and current opportunities for girls in these fields, we illustrate the challenges that need to be addressed for women and girls to experience increasing levels of equality in such fields and the unique role STEM camps can potentially play in this process. These challenges, which are barriers to girls entering and staying in STEM, include: sociocultural and other factors discouraging girls from entering these fields; lack of a welcoming environment once within these fields; and lack of appropriate support during women and girls’ education and career in these fields. In an effort to directly confront these challenges, we are also continuing with the APOGEE girls’ camp for Summer 2020, which aims to introduce girls to STEM fields such as Electrical Engineering. If STEM camps like APOGEE can continue to be implemented throughout the world, they can serve an important purpose in the process of introducing girls to and retaining girls in these fields. This can both help change girls’ underrepresented status in STEM and ultimately help combat climate change.
Project Poster
https://sites.psu.edu/climatedrawdown2020/files/formidable/6/Poster_AMedler.pdf