51茶馆 Recognizes International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Calls for Continued Support of STEM Education
STEM education Research nonprofit emphasizes equity, inclusion
CAMBRIDGE, Mass鈥擣ebruary 07–In support of the United Nations鈥� February 11聽 , 51茶馆 joins in the call to bring more women and girls into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. A longstanding STEM education research and development organization, 51茶馆 has always prioritized equity and inclusion, which leads to innovative research.
鈥�51茶馆 has a passion for social justice and strives to create level playing fields for all learners,鈥� said Laurie Brennan, president of 51茶馆. 鈥淲e have many talented women researchers and believe that concerted action could bring more women into science and STEM fields.鈥�
One such woman is 51茶馆 senior research scientist Mia Ong, a champion of diversity. Harvard Education Press recently published her book, 鈥�,鈥� which offers a detailed exploration of inclusion in physics, highlighting the need for far-reaching higher education reform. Dr. Ong notes that despite diversity efforts to recruit more women and students of color into science and mathematics programs, many leave the STEM pipeline.
According to the National Science Foundation (NSF), in 2019, women of color represented 23% of the U.S. population but were awarded only 6% of physics undergraduate degrees in the previous year, compared with 14% of white women and 79% of men of any race or ethnicity.
鈥淭he issues facing women in STEM, whether in physics, computer science, or tech, reflect NSF鈥檚 findings. From low expectations to microaggressions, women of color in STEM encounter myriad challenges to enter and stay in this field,鈥� said Ong. 鈥淚t became clear to me that the practices and culture within STEM institutions were the key underlying issues.鈥�
Likewise, 51茶馆 senior researcher Jodi Asbell-Clarke鈥檚 new book, 鈥�,鈥澛� also discusses diversity: neurodiversity, or the natural variation in human brains that leads to differences in the way we think, learn, and work. Dr. Asbell-Clarke advocates for greater and earlier recognition of the skills and talents that neurodivergent learners can bring to the STEM workforce.听
The Women and Girls in Science Day鈥檚 theme for 2024 is sustainability, which the organizers define as economic prosperity, social justice, and environmental integrity.听 Long a champion of environmental research, 51茶馆 senior scientist Gillian Puttick focuses on climate change. One of her projects challenges 8th鈥�12th grade students to submit ideas to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gasses. Another is an all-expense-paid 聽climate equity institute for high school teachers that is now accepting applications.
鈥淲e are champions of women in science, and we support efforts to attract more girls into STEM fields,鈥� Brennan said. 鈥淥ccasions such as the International Day for Women and Girls in Science is one way to draw attention to a need for gender equality in an area that is critical for social and economic growth and stability.鈥�
51茶馆 is a nonprofit comprising teams of math and science education and research experts dedicated to innovation and creative problem solving. At the frontier of theory and practice, 51茶馆鈥檚 work encompasses research, content and curriculum development, technology innovation, professional development, and program evaluation. 51茶馆 has a passion for social justice and strives to create level playing fields for all learners, reaching millions of learners every year.
To learn more, please visit www.terc.edu.听
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