Our Project

MISSION STATEMENT

We are Banning Academies of Creative and Innovative Sciences. Our mission is to encourage young girls to want to be future leaders in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics by hosting Family Maker Nights to introduce them/show them how fun and rewarding STEM projects can be.

PROJECT NEED

Our team addressed STEM education by teaching young females about the many valuable fields in STEM. We informed the young girls in our community about STEM to increase the amount of girls who are interested in subjects such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through engineering activities. Early on girls are discouraged to pursue these fields; they are taught that these fields are made for boys only. Young girls are raised without opportunities to be knowledgeable of mathematics and engineering. Many are raised from a young age to believe that these subjects are a “boy’s job” and the importance of their appearance is greater than their intellectual state. We found out the self-confidence instilled by parents and teachers is more important for young girls learning math and science. In our research we found that “81% of girls are interested in science, technology, engineering, and math careers but almost half say those are not typical careers for girls”. We are hope to change the mindset of being limited to “barbies” and “girly” things. If boys are the majority in these subjects then the majority of the opinion on topics that could benefit these fields come from men. Moreover, having more women in these subjects can voice the female opinion allowing a more diverse solution to world problems.

Research

        

        

Our research shows the number of females that are interested in STEM. We took surveys before and after an activity to see the change in the girls’ perspectives. We also looked into the percentage of females in STEM fields, and researched the wage gap between men and women.         

PROCESS

Throughout January we visited our local elementary and middle schools to conduct fun and engaging STEM activities to inform them of STEM education. During April, 2017, we hosted ‘maker’ nights at our school, meanwhile promoting our school.

December: Visit local elementary and middle schools to spoke with principals to determine the best times and methods to reach out to their female students.

April 6 & 19: Hosted Maker Nights at BACIS where we conducted STEM activities with participants

Activities such as:

May: Updated website and gathered data

OUTCOMES

Short Term: Surveys completed by participants concluded that 100% of the girls were engaged by the activities; they all named the different ways they would continue their interest in STEM.

Long Term: Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will not be able to gain the correct data.

        We hope to see an increase in female participation in STEM        

DATA COLLECTION