Current projections and growth rates state that by 2020 over 2.4 million Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) jobs will be vacant due to a lack of a qualified workforce. Research further shows, however, that girls’ interest in the fields of STEM begins to diminish by 6th grade due to socialization and lack of exposure and access.
To combat this issue the North Museum of Nature and Science in Lancaster created a program to generate interest in these fields. The STEM Sisters program aims to inspire, empower, and ignite the passion for STEM careers through a year-long, interactive, and hands-on STEM program which alumnae Terry Kraft '87, Executive Director of the North Muesum, has made Catholic High the pilot high school.
According to Lancaster Catholic High School's Science Department Chair and Moderator of the STEM Sisters program, Anne Bleistine, the new program has been a success.
"It has been fantastic," said Bleistine. "The students have been exposed to a wide variety of science areas, which most are not in the medical field and do not required eight or more years of schooling. For some of the career choices that the speakers have talked about would only need a two year degree which can be obtained at a trade school."
Over the course of the first half of the school year, nine female professionals in the science field came and spoke with students about their careers and different aspects of the STEM model. The Stem Sister program has brought in passionate and inspiring female speakers from Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, Harrisburg University, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Freshman Lake Wickenheiser, has been involved with the STEM Sisters as part of her Crusader Period and one of her favorite programs so far involved the breaking of technology devices.
Tracy Rosario, owner of Fix It Chix, LLC and STEM Sister Mentor, was an instant hit among the Lancaster Catholic students.
Rosario works on electronic hardware and software by repairing screens, batteries, charge ports, and lots of other hardware components in computers, smart phones, and tablets as well as a few other electronics. In her lecture and hands-on demonstration, she encouraged the young women to take apart the phones (that were provided) and see if they can get them to work again.
"She brought in different phone and tablets and we got to actually take them apart," said Wickenheiser. "It was really cool to look inside and see this is all the technology that makes it ring, makes it beep and makes your world collide with someone else's."
The STEM Sisters meet on Day 2, Crusader Period 2.