Men have long outnumbered women when it comes to careers in science. In school, more males historically choose to pursue degrees in science, math and technology. But that may be changing.
Schools and organizations across America are making greater effort to introduce girls to various science and technology fields and encourage them to take a look at these career paths. One such organization uses the excitement of a competition to get kids of both genders interested in engineering.
Photo credit: Lipofsky.com
It’s called the FIRST Robotics Competition (FIRST stands for ‘For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology’). Hundreds of teams comprised of students aged 14-18 from all around the country build a functioning robot in only six weeks. This year’s competition (the championships will be held next week in Atlanta) is to build a robot that can kick a soccer ball in a goal. The competitions take on an atmosphere akin to the NCAA basketball tournament: screaming, banner-waving fans line bleachers and cheer on their favorite teams.
One such team is an all-girls robotics team from California that calls themselves “Space Cookies.” Formed in 2006 in a partnership with NASA and the Girl Scouts of Northern California, the team is made up of 12 girls who started out with little or no robotics experience. According to a story about the team on NASA.com, the team’s mentor and NASA Engineer Wendy Holforty says the girls involvement in the FIRST competition makes a substantial impact on their lives to follow.
“Each year, they come from all walks of life and all backgrounds and, in no time, bond together as if they have been lifelong friends,” Holforty said. “Most of them come to us with little or no robotics or engineering background, yet when they graduate they go off to very impressive colleges and universities to study science or engineering.”
Photography Copyrighted 2008 by Marco Ciavolino
The competition was started in 1989 by scientist/inventor Dean Kamen whose goal was to generate interest in science among high school students. Today, 1 in 10 high schools in the U.S. are involved in FIRST. And according to FIRST, each year more and more girls join teams and enter the event. FIRST has also expanded to include programs and competitions (such as a LEGO League) for kids as young as 6 years old.
The competition proves that if girls (and boys) are exposed to fun ways to learn about science and technology, and develop the confidence to take on a complex project and succeed at it, then they are more likely to believe that they have what it takes to pursue careers not only in science, but anything they set their sights on. In fact, according to a survey of participants by FIRST, 93% of participants reported wanting to learn more about science and technology.
The annual FIRST challenge really is just that: a challenge. But one that the kids work on together—boys and girls—and succeed at together. In fact, FIRST was founded not only to build science and technology skills but to “foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.” With greater involvement by girls in programs such as FIRST, look for a brighter future for women in science.
For more information on any of the FIRST programs, how you can get involved and how students can form a team, visit the FIRST web site at USFirst.org.
