CLEVELAND — Female students in Northeast Ohio are finding out that the future of STEM could start with them.
Through the 7th annual “STEM Goes Red” interactive expo fair at the Great Lakes Science Center, the American Heart Association of Greater Cleveland is showing 280 seventh, eighth, and ninth graders that career fields in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are accessible.
“We are hoping that some of those future scientist and researchers are in this room today,” says American Heart Association of Greater Cleveland Executive Director Valerie Hillow Gates.
Hillow Gates says the organization puts on the expo because research tells them that young girls lose confidence in their tween and teen years.
“We want to help girls learn about careers in the STEM field before they check out or lose interest or get nervous. So, we're trying to inspire them while they're still young,” Hillow Gates explains.
According to the Census Bureau, women make up nearly half of the U.S. Workforce, but only 27% of STEM workers.
A research study out of Georgetown University found that out of every 100 female students working toward a bachelor’s degree in a STEM-related field, only three will work in a STEM job 10 years after graduation.
“Women are underrepresented in STEM and a huge part of it is because you can't be what you can't see,” says Dr. Anene Ukaigwe, an interventional cardiologist at University Hospitals.
Dr. Ukaigwe, a presenter at the expo, says she was able to become an interventional cardiologist because as a child, she saw a woman successfully occupy the role.
“Seeing somebody who did that, and went through that, and was able to juggle all their life and be successful at it, that was what reassured me that I could do that,” Dr. Ukaigwe says.
Cleveland Heights Senior Brooklyn Pace is a testament of STEM Goes Red. After attending the event as an eighth grader, Pace gained the confidence to pursue a future career in bio medical engineering.
“STEM is the way to go,” Pace says with a smile. “I love STEM.”
Pace tells 3News she has a 3.9 GPA and is undecided where she wants to attend college next year. However, she has financial help paying for her studies. Pace is one of six recipients of this year’s Lorraine Dodero STEM Goes Red for Girls Scholarship worth $5000.