In a partnership between the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and the AAUW New Smyrna Beach (FL) Branch, the Girls’ Aerospace Club allows fourth- and fifth-grade girls from Coronado Beach Elementary School to take part in hands-on engineering experiments once a month for several months right after school. However, Girls’ Aerospace Club is set apart from other programs of this type since its main focus is to follow the girls into high school and college to see how many of them choose to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields as they grow up.
Started just two years ago by then-Branch President Donna Cowart, the club allows young girls to interact with student leaders from the nearby aeronautical school, ERAU, so they are able to see what a STEM career could entail. At each meeting, about 20 fourth and fifth graders listen to a presentation by a student leader who explains that day’s experiment. After gathering supplies and forming groups, the girls get to work.
The activities reinforce the many careers that the girls could pursue in engineering. One of the popular experiments is to build a roller coaster out of foam tubing, which means the girls must utilize their understanding of physics and gravity. But it’s not all fun and games, says Cowart. “It’s great to offer activities, but if we don’t follow the kids or we find that they’re just not serious about STEM, then that’s where we would have to make adjustments. … We would have to take the program in a different direction.”
A process is currently in place to follow the girls’ progress in high school and college. “Our oldest students are in sixth grade now, but we plan to talk to their high school guidance counselors, their parents, and maybe even interview them right before they graduate to see what their possible plans are,” says Cowart. The goal of the Girls’ Aerospace Club is to instill in young girls a love for STEM and give them the confidence and drive to make these subjects a part of their lives. By following the girls through their academic careers, branch members will be able to judge how well their goals were met.
Girls’ Aerospace Club also has plans for expansion. Cowart has been approached by the AAUW Daytona (FL) Branch, which hopes to begin a similar program, as well as other AAUW members who want to make the program more expansive. “As STEM program chair at the New Smyrna branch, it’s my responsibility not to let this die,” says Cowart. As long as there are young girls to teach, Cowart will persevere with her goal of getting more women into STEM fields.
AAUW is part of this year’s Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day effort, which runs from February 24 through May 8. The Girls’ Aerospace Club is a great example of a program that is working to get more girls involved. If your branch is doing something related to engineering, let us know or post it to our Facebook page!
This post was written by AAUW STEM Programs Intern Gaby Obedoza.
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