Carrots and radishes and watermelons don’t really care who plants them or waters them or harvests them. They’ll grow just the same.
It’s one of the things we love about gardens. They offer an equal playing field for learning.
And it’s that spirit that underscored UT Austin’s STEM Girl Day in February, an annual event presented by Women in STEM that welcomed more than 12,500 students in grades kindergarten through eighth to participate in hands-on activities designed to spark their interest in or further their fascination with fields rooted in science.
With chaperones, parents and educators in the mix, more than 18,000 people attended the one-day event, which also included participation from thousands of volunteers and more than 160 student organizations, community organizations and companies.
The immersive and engaging day relies on the support of presenting sponsors, like the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, to spark connections between girls and science at a time when the gender gap in STEM fields remains significant. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, women account for just 28% of the STEM workforce.
“My daughters look forward to this annual event,” said one parent who attended. “By engaging in hands-on activities that cover complex and varied STEM fields, my girls are able to appreciate the impact and applications of STEM careers in daily life.”
From fascinating robotics demonstrations to a class on mixing mystical potions to an action-packed physics circus, the students who attended had opportunities to engage with and learn from scientists, engineers, astronomers and mathematicians in hands-on experiences and experiments.
UT Austin’s STEM Girl Day is grounded by three goals:
- Increase a sense of belonging in STEM among pre-college participants.
- Educate STEM professionals and college students on the need for role models.
- Offer STEM college students opportunities to develop leadership and mentoring skills.
What started in the early 2000s with just 95 students has grown into a powerhouse of a “girls in STEM” incubator, as volunteers have poured more than 89,000 hours of work into igniting interest in STEM-related career pathways for females. Since the event’s initial launch, more than 100,000 elementary and middle school-aged students have registered, attended and been connected to STEM resources.
As a sponsor, in partnership with EdEN Lab at the University of Texas — an organization designed to help school garden programs develop curriculum that promote healthy living practices — we couldn’t be more proud to support an effort aimed at creating healthier communities and introducing girls to STEM opportunities. We’re always excited to be part of something that plants the seed for opportunity.
Together, we are SproUTing Healthy kids!