Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are still male-dominated fields. With women underrepresented, teaching young girls about opportunities in STEM is crucial. Girl Scouts of America recently announced the addition of 3 space-science badges in order to encourage girls to explore science and technology as a career. These badges join 3 other science-related badges that the Girl Scouts created in partnership with NASA called “Reaching for the Stars: NASA Science for Girl Scouts.”
The Girl Scouts’ goal is to help young girls realize they have the capability to achieve anything they dream, including becoming scientists or aerospace engineers. As the world we live in becomes more technology-focused, STEM is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing areas with a high salary range. Girls must be shown the possibility of STEM while young in order to let them dream big and envision themselves as engineers or scientists.
While Girl Scouts is playing an important role in teaching young girls about STEM outside of the classroom, there are a plethora of activities that can be done inside the classroom. TryEngineering.org offers classroom activities that can teach students about the world of engineering. Encourage students today to think big!