How were you introduced to the STEM disciplines?

Back in elementary school, we obviously had STEM classes. My first real experience with STEM was doing Math Counts starting in middle school, so around sixth grade. Math Counts is a math-based competition, and there’s individual competitions but also team competitions within it. So I really enjoyed having that team aspect and working around peers to solve those math problems. It was really nice and really got me interested in STEM.

What is your personal experience as a woman in predominantly male STEM environments?

I definitely felt that STEM was male-dominated, not just in mathematics, but just in general, and particularly for Math Counts, growing up, a large part of the group was males. Especially when we formed the actual team, a lot of people were males. I felt like I really had to try my best to represent girls in STEM and also just strive to join as many different organizations as possible. I joined Science Club, and in high school I joined Chemistry Club, Math Club, just to try to get more involved and try to promote the fact that STEM shouldn’t just be for guys. It can also be for girls too, and girls can have the opportunity to perform well in STEM.

How does the lack of female role models and representation in STEM fields impact women and girls?

Honestly, I feel like there’s not really a lack of representation. It’s more of a lack of knowledge of that representation, because there’s a lot of great figures in STEM that are females. For example, Marie Curie is really inspirational, and also figures like Sophie Germain. There are many others, but it’s just the fact that even during their time period, there was a lot of male oppression; like for Marie Curie, a lot of her work her husband takes credit for, in addition to her. So that really takes away from the fact that women can be powerful in STEM. So I feel like it’s less of the fact that there aren’t female role models; it’s just a lack of knowledge of that female representation. And I feel like that really hurts girls in terms of being confident in a field where there may be less of them. 

How can STEM education and programs be modified to be more attractive to girls and women?

I feel like there’s a lot of that in CHS already. For example, I know there’s a Girls Who Code Club. There’s also a Women in Cybersecurity Club. But even outside of school, like here at Empowher STEM, we’re really trying to get girls to become more motivated in STEM by providing more events and opportunities. For example, we have a guest lecture series and also a Q&A session with the girls and executive members of Empowher STEM, just to try to let people know that there are other girls out there that really share the passion for STEM that they may be looking for in that community.

What inspired you to be a part of Empowher STEM in the first place?

I joined at the end of middle school. That’s really when–stepping into that high school arena–I was already noticing the gender gap between girls and males, and I guess (when) Sophia and Helena, (two) of the founders, told me that, like they were starting this organization, I was quite interested, especially because it did involve more heavily mathematics, which is what I deal with, and I know firsthand. So I just really wanted to get involved, and I ended up as the head problem writer, and I have been for the last few years leading up to this series.

What are your future goals with the organization?

For this year, as executive director, you get a more hands-on scope of all of it. We’re working towards definitely planning more events to allow engagement. We want Empowher STEM to be a global thing, not just something that’s focused in Indianapolis, because we see that as a pretty big problem–the gender gap–not just within our community, but in the whole world as well. We really want to host more events, to have more guest speakers and more international competitions, so we can reach more people with our mission.

In terms of you, do you have any future plans pursuing STEM?

Empowher STEM has really inspired me to continue on this journey as a girl in STEM, so in college, I’m definitely wanting to pursue some sort of applied mathematics. I was thinking statistics, just because there’s so many applications. I’m definitely continuing on Empowher STEM. And also in college, joining some other organizations involving STEM, but specifically women in STEM to empower young girls to be passionate about STEM and not be afraid.

Is there anything else that I haven’t asked that you want readers to know about Empowher STEM or about you?

Stay tuned for more events, but we’ll definitely have a competition this winter. Visit our website and follow us on Instagram.