STEM is for girls! What can be done to break down stereotypes and inspire the next generation of female innovators?
Girls and women are still underrepresented in STEM fields, both in education and even more so in STEM professions. The barriers for girls to pursue STEM courses or careers are numerous and complex, stemming from societal, cultural, institutional, and individual factors.
A significant part of the gender gap in STEM is due to persistent stereotypes and biases about gender differences in abilities and performance. These stereotypes influence educational paths and career choices (Farias, 2021). Many still believe that STEM fields are more suited to men, and most STEM success stories feature men. This perpetuates stereotypes and makes it harder for girls to find role models and mentors in the field (Piloto, 2023). The lack of visible female role models in STEM makes it difficult for girls and women to envision themselves succeeding in these areas, which may discourage them from becoming interested in STEM in the first place.
To reverse this phenomenon and encourage girls’ interest in STEM, STEAM Tales showcases positive female role models in STEAM fields, such as scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. This will help deconstruct stereotypes and create a more inclusive and inspiring learning environment for girls of all backgrounds ultimately encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers and reach their full potential in these fields.
To facilitate the early introduction of STEAM concepts in an engaging way, the project uses storytelling to present the lives and work of successful women in STEM. This approach makes it easier for younger children (ages 6 to 9) to relate to these role models and explore their work in STEM fields. Following an adapted storytelling methodology (Campbell’s model revised by Universidade do Porto), each story begins with relatable childhood anecdotes, offering a familiar starting point for young minds. As the narratives unfold, we unveil the remarkable achievements and the hurdles these women conquered to earn their esteemed positions.
Additionally, each story will be accompanied by hands-on experiments, making STEM education more practical and fun.
On June 20, 2024, project partners met in Palermo, Italy, to share the selected stories about successful women in STEM. The role models come from diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, reflecting our commitment to inclusivity and diversity. We aim to empower girls by showcasing that birthplace, skin color, or beliefs pose no barriers to success in STEAM by telling the fascinating stories of Ana Mayer-Kanšky, Andreja Gomboc, Ángela Piskernik, Asta Hampe, Domitila de Carvalho, Elvira Fortunato, Emmy Noether, Maryam Mirzakhani, Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rose Dieng-Kuntz, Samantha Cristoforetti, and Zita Martins. Partners also drafted associated hands-on experiments to help children better explore and understand the subjects of these role models’ research and inventions.
These stories and experiments will be structured as lesson plans and tested with teachers and pupils in local elementary schools in spring 2025.
Learn more about the gender-based barriers in STEM and approaches to empowering girls in our STEAM Tales Guide. Read more about STEAM Tales project here and follow us and learn about fabulous women in STEM!
About the project
STEAM Tales – Enhancing STEAM education through storytelling and hands-on learning is a two-year-project funded by Erasmus+, KA220-SCH – Cooperation partnerships in school education, implemented in five European countries.
Partners
- MIND – Mittelhessisches Institut für Nachhaltigkeit und Diversität gGmbHNome (Germany, coordinator)
- GoINNO Inštitut (Slovenia)
- CESIE (Italy)
- Universidade do Porto (Portugal)
- SCS LogoPsyCom (Belgium)
For further information
Read more about the project and visit https://www.steamtales.eu/.
Contact Cecilie La Monica Grus: cecilie.lamonica@cesie.org.
