About the STEMINIST Project
Background
In 2015/2016 the STEMinist Project (female initial teacher education, engineering and science students) was formed at Curtin University. This group has created a STEM community of practice working with girl school students, at the primary and middle school level, to unblock the STEM pipeline, thereby addressing the persistent gender imbalance in this field. The group now has members as far away as the US, UK, India and Indonesia.
The project supports STEMinists in developing their identity and competence as STEM educators and role models which, in turn, leverages their entrepreneurial skills so as to develop an interdependent and action-oriented mindset that increases their employability. The girl school students involved will be mentored in small groups in their schools by the STEMinists to successfully engage with and complete artefacts in STEM-based projects that are directly linked to the Australian Curriculum. They will also develop collaboration, communication, creativity and problem-solving skills.
STEM Ambassadors provide a natural progression to the STEMinist program bringing a powerful, engaged and committed group of role models who are experts in their STEM professional fields.
This project includes:
In 2015/2016 the STEMinist Project (female initial teacher education, engineering and science students) was formed at Curtin University. This group has created a STEM community of practice working with girl school students, at the primary and middle school level, to unblock the STEM pipeline, thereby addressing the persistent gender imbalance in this field. The group now has members as far away as the US, UK, India and Indonesia.
The project supports STEMinists in developing their identity and competence as STEM educators and role models which, in turn, leverages their entrepreneurial skills so as to develop an interdependent and action-oriented mindset that increases their employability. The girl school students involved will be mentored in small groups in their schools by the STEMinists to successfully engage with and complete artefacts in STEM-based projects that are directly linked to the Australian Curriculum. They will also develop collaboration, communication, creativity and problem-solving skills.
STEM Ambassadors provide a natural progression to the STEMinist program bringing a powerful, engaged and committed group of role models who are experts in their STEM professional fields.
This project includes:
- female university students (in initial teacher education and science and engineering undergraduate courses); and
- girl school students in metropolitan and regional/rural primary schools (although we do not limit to just girls at the primary school level).
Project Description
Curtin STEM academics (STEM Ambassadors) and STEMinists (Pre-service primary educators) will visit Primary classrooms and engage and excite primary girls in STEM subjects and careers through a motivating talk and Makerspace project.
Four chosen primary schools in the Belmont Rotary Club district will be visited by the STEMinist Ambassador Program each term to engage in science conversations and participate in a Makerspace and make exciting take home STEM projects.
Curtin STEM academics (STEM Ambassadors) and STEMinists (Pre-service primary educators) will visit Primary classrooms and engage and excite primary girls in STEM subjects and careers through a motivating talk and Makerspace project.
Four chosen primary schools in the Belmont Rotary Club district will be visited by the STEMinist Ambassador Program each term to engage in science conversations and participate in a Makerspace and make exciting take home STEM projects.
Outcomes
Curtin University in collaboration with Belmont Rotary Club to promote
Curtin University in collaboration with Belmont Rotary Club to promote
- increased engagement and interest in STEM subjects and careers with Primary girls in low socio-economic schools in Belmont area
- STEM trained academic women at Curtin engaging and sharing their journeys with young would-be future STEM adopters.
- Increase the pre-service teachers’ engagement with STEM and STEM academics and promote their increased engagement and interest in this area.
Commitment
Curtin
Each Curtin STEM Ambassador to run the workshop with the STEMinists to ensure they understood the science behind the activity and then spend 1.5 hours at each Primary School once over 10 weeks. So the STEM Ambassadors would have a 6 hour time commitment at Primary Schools and 1 x 45 min Workshop at Curtin.
STEMinists to attend 1 workshop and then 4 schools on the same activity (Activity 1) in 1st Term. Then 1 workshop and 4 schools on the same activity (Activity 2) in 2nd Term.
Belmont Rotary Club
Funding for the program and a member of Belmont Rotary Club would be invited attend School visits to take photos and engage with school community and Curtin students.
Curtin
Each Curtin STEM Ambassador to run the workshop with the STEMinists to ensure they understood the science behind the activity and then spend 1.5 hours at each Primary School once over 10 weeks. So the STEM Ambassadors would have a 6 hour time commitment at Primary Schools and 1 x 45 min Workshop at Curtin.
STEMinists to attend 1 workshop and then 4 schools on the same activity (Activity 1) in 1st Term. Then 1 workshop and 4 schools on the same activity (Activity 2) in 2nd Term.
Belmont Rotary Club
Funding for the program and a member of Belmont Rotary Club would be invited attend School visits to take photos and engage with school community and Curtin students.
In 2015 when the project started our STEMinists and other interested students were asked to describe with 1 word 'teachers' and 'engineers'. Here are the ways that they were described.