NEWS
Girls’ Interest in STEM subjects are affected by gender stereotype
11/22/2021
Research results published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in November 2021 reveal that gender stereotypes about interests start as early as age 6 and cause disparities in computer science and engineering. Women representation in computer science and engineering are 25% and 15% respectively, according to the recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics from 2019. When in the lab studies girls were told that boys were more interested in computer science than girls, only 35% of the girls showed interest in that field whereas in a comparison group 65% of girls were interested in computer science when they were told boys and girls had an equal interest in it. Lead author of the study Allison Master said in a press release that “gender-interest stereotypes that STEM is for boys begins in grade school, and by the time they reach high school, many girls have made their decision not to pursue degrees in computer science and engineering because they feel they don’t belong”. Teachers and parents can play a key role in encouraging girls to participate in computer science and engineering activities.
A FEMALE Astronaut coach supports girls in STEM
11/13/2021
The international space industry is a male-dominated sector where 20 to 22 percent are women, only 11 percent of the astronauts are female, and 2 percent are non-white. Although she did not receive any encouragement and was ridiculed in the 1970s at her school in New York for her aspiration to become an astronaut, Mindy Howard pursued her dream and works today as an astronaut coach and the founding director of the Netherland-based Inner Space Training. Ms. Howard is one of the 56 women around the world to be the space industry leader and a mentor with the UNSpace4Women Network. She has been supporting young women to overcome test-taking anxiety in STEM fields. Speaking in an expert meeting Space4Woment that was held from 21 to 24 October in Dubai, Howard discussed the importance of women’s role, particularly in leadership and policymaking in the Space industry.
Inspiration through Exhibition: Sophie Harker’s journey to becoming an aerospace engineer
11/1/2021
Sophie Harker, born in London, UK, was unsure of what to do with her life and when she did an online test, her result was to become a fisherman’s wife. She wanted to be anything but an astronaut until she went to Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on a family holiday when she was 16 and watched a film about the future of space exploration and astronauts. After returning to the UK, she enrolled at Space School UK where she met the first British person to ever go into space who suggested she pursue her path in engineering. After her studies, she joined BAE Systems and became one of the youngest engineers to be Chartered Engineer at her age 25 in 2017. “Showing kids real-world applications of engineering is unbelievably important,” she said at an event that is how she became a space engineer.
Mae Jemison - The first Black woman to go into space
As a little girl, Mae Jemison was inspired to go into space by watching the Star Trek series and became the first black woman in space. Besides having degrees in Chemical Engineering, African and African-American studies, and a Doctor of Medicine, she also served in several countries in Asia and Africa including Thailand, Cambodia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. A year after her space mission between September 12 to 20, 1992, Jemison left NASA and created her own company and non-profit organization that advocate sociocultural advancements and develop the technology needed to achieve interstellar space flight. She is the author of several books while producing several shows of modern jazz and African dance. Her successful career and her involvement in multi-disciplinary areas are inspirational for many women of color across the globe.
Wally Funk inspires women in the field of aerospace by describing her career and journey into Space
11/5/2021
When 82 years old Wally Funk went to space with Jeff Bezos in July as a space tourist, she made history by becoming the oldest woman in space. Funk was one of the 13 women selected, trained, and tested by NASA in 1959 for space flight, but never got to go. In addition, to be the first female air safety investigator, Funk has taught as many as 4000 people to fly over the course of her career. Funk attended the annual event for individuals and companies involved in Oklahoma’s aviation and aerospace industries on November 5 and had a message for the young people. “I want all the pilots and the young to start flying. They need to get up and fly” she said.
Girl Scouts, the Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation, and Aerospace Industries Association partner to get girls enthusiastic for Rocketry Challenges
10/27/2021
Girls Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), Aerojet Rocketdyne Foundation, National Association of Rocketry, and Aerospace Industries Association join to engage and prepare girls across the USA for the American Rocketry Challenge. This partnership has the aim to strengthen vital skills in rocket building, teamwork, problem-solving, critical foundational learning and to prepare the next generation of female leaders in STEM and the aerospace industry. Interested girls can register for the world’s largest rocket contest between November 1 and December 1 and can win $100,000 in prizes. According to the data collected from the previous participants, many of them have pursued a career in several STEM fields. Increasing the participation of girls in this competition is key to boosting the involvement of women in STEM fields.
After difficult challenges an engineering student opens more ‘space’ for women in STEM
10/20/2021
After the pole vault accident that caused Lexi English to almost lose her brain function, it became a challenge to follow her passion in STEM. English is now a final year student in aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois and is about to graduate in December. Aerospace engineering is one of the least gender-diverse fields where gender disparity is manifested in subtle and obvious ways. Besides her studies, English serves as the vice president of Women in Aerospace. She stresses the importance of creating opportunities for women by organizing events through her involvement in Women in Aerospace.
Barbie went on a Space flight to get more girls interested in Space
10/4/2021
Barbie goes on a Zero-gravity flight in space to inspire girls in space technology and in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field. “Maybe the fun images of my doll floating in weightlessness will spark children’s imagination and lead them to consider a career in STEM”, says Samantha Cristoforetti from Italy who is an aviator, engineer and is preparing for her next space mission to International Space Station in April 2022. The Barbie doll departed from the ESA base in Germany on a Zero-gravity flight in October to mark world space week. Women are underrepresented in STEM careers and young girls often express that they are less confident in math skills. Ms. Cristoforetti believes that “Sometimes little things can plant the seeds of great dreams.”
Young non-astronaut Kellie Gerardi on her mission to space
7/20/2021
Virgin Galactic has announced that 32-year-old citizen scientist Kellie Gerardi will fly to space and conduct experiments. Kellie Gerardi who became the youngest member of The Explorers Club at her age 16 is serving as Director and co-chaired the club’s annual dinner with Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Stephen Hawking, and Neil deGrasse Tyson. She recently published her book “Not Necessarily Rocket Science: A Beginner’s Guide to Life in the Space Age” and children’s picture book Luna Muna. With over half a million Instagram and TikTok, she belongs to the younger generation and uses social media to influence young girls to engage in the STEM field. As a non-astronaut, her mission to space will have an impact on the younger generation and improve confidence in pursuing a career in the STEM area.
Space industry is changing in favor of women
7/6/2021
When Sally Ride was sent to space in 1983 for a week, the NASA engineers asked her whether 100 tampons would be sufficient for her stay, an incident that became viral with a song in TikTok last year. On the other hand, she was the first astronaut that was part of the LGTBQ+ community, a sign that the space industry started to change towards diversity. Although women are still underrepresented by being only 11% of astronauts who went on space missions, awareness has increased to meet requirements for women in Space. NASA and ESA have been constantly improving their rules, infrastructure, space suits, and in many other areas for the specific needs of women. In addition to increasing the representation of women in space travel, these improvements lead to innovations in the Space industry.