Leaders and advocates of STEM education are making efforts to take learning beyond just the academics offered in the classroom. The IEEE Pre-University STEM Grant program offered the opportunity for the Power Girls: Renewable Energy for Sustainable Campus in Public Schools program to launch as a new opportunity for mentoring girls in STEM in Colombia (R9). 

The program encompassed a large number of individuals including 130 students, 5 teachers, 30 parents, and 14 volunteers. The program aimed at strengthening STEM skills in girls in their final years of high school through a pilot plan to bring the campus closer to a sustainable system. A student branch team and the mentor teachers led a team of girls in the creation of a first design phase of an urban garden, identification of resources (solar and biomass), and prototyping of a first approach to this self-sustaining system. The learning style was enhanced by actively working STEM women who volunteered to teach the classes after seeing the impact this project could have in the young generation of future women in science and STEM careers. As result, The Public Education Office of the district (Bogotá, Colombia) and other government institutions highlighted the results and impact of “Power Girls” as a successful STEM experience because it goes further with active learning strategies.

The pilot project from the IEEE SB of Universidad del Rosario in conjunction with the target school was considered a successful pilot project. It served as a seed for future Pre-University STEM projects where young women were motivated to enter STEM careers for their professional and personal development. 

Power Girls: Renewable Energy for Sustainable Campus in Public Schools was a recipient of the 2022 IEEE Pre-University STEM Grant Program.

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