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STEM-Centric Career Assessments

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Write Recommendation Letters Bias Free

October 31st, 2016 by

Did you know that women are just as biased against female STEM students as men? This bias can even be communicated implicitly through language used in letters of recommendation. Read this simple this info-graphic to learn more about how you can better support your students in their vocational pursuits by providing them with bias-free letters of recommendation that accurately showcase their accomplishments. With simple tips like staying away from stereotyped language and emphasizing accomplishments instead of effort, you can begin to accurately articulate your student’s capacity for a successful STEM career.

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How To Read Scientific Papers (Stress Free!)

October 28th, 2016 by

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Reading a scientific paper is incredibly different from many other forms of writing – and can often feel like a daunting task. However, there are several ways to become an effective article reader without becoming overwhelmed by unfamiliar terms and concepts. Check out this article from Science Magazine to learn how you can further develop your scientific reading skills. You won’t regret taking the time to learn these tricks now, so that you can read and write in Science stress-free!

Shortage of STEM Professionals: What that Means for You

September 28th, 2016 by

According to U.S. News, vacancies in STEM jobs are continuing to go unfilled in large numbers. This is a key piece of knowledge relevant for students undergoing career decision processes, as well as for parents/counselors who are responsible for helping individuals navigate important career decisions. The fact is, with STEM job availability being more than twice the national average, students in STEM majors are more likely to be employed out of college and are some of the highest paid employees in the nation.

If you have the ability and interest, think twice when you are making – or advising – major career decisions. The fields of science, technology, engineering and math are highly diverse; requiring many different skillsets and interests. Take time to explore these careers to see if one is a good fit for you!

Let Children Be Children

September 28th, 2016 by

Photo Credit: South China Morning Post

Nations all over the world are taking measures to address the lack of workers in the STEM fields. An example is Hong Kong’s new classroom model for kindergartners – that is, to have no classroom. Hong Kong Forest Kindergarten is among several nature-based nurseries advocating for the power of outdoor play. The advocates claim children in this age group are in a critical period of development where engagement in exploration and nature can dramatically increase creativity, innovation, confidence. Ironically, these are critical skills that are needed to be successful in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Click Here to learn more about Hong Kong’s new breed of kindergartners, and how they may be experiencing more positive learning outcomes than students in the “traditional” classroom model of education.

Let’s not forget STEM Postdocs!

September 21st, 2016 by

Closing the gender gap in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics seems to be a common theme in the U.S. as well as cross-nationally. For example, toys gendered for young girls are now being geared towards building, computing math, and exploring the natural sciences. Additionally, multiple programs exist at a national level encouraging middle and high school women to participate in camps to build confidence and break down barriers that hold them back from pursuing innovation and leadership.

However, what support is out there for Postdoctoral students nearing the end of their role as a part of a university research team? Most of the time these students have been sequestered away in lab, spending all of their time focused on their research tasks, gaining a plethora of knowledge in their specific content area. In regards to the next step, there’s a large learning curve that must be addressed to aid in the shift from “lab rat” to full-time faculty.

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How Can Researchers Address the Gender Gap in STEM?

September 18th, 2016 by

Up until recently, the majority of human development literature on masculinity and femininity has held to the assumption that males and females are inherently different from one other (Schock & Schwalbe, 2009). That is, research has spent an ample amount of time focusing on constructing and disseminating the concept of “gender roles”. This view of male and female as different and opposite has deep historical roots that affect the types of research questions scientist study, thus affecting the material that the  general public recieves (Mustin & Marecek, 1988). Science forwarding the concept of “gender roles” has numerous implications in forwarding gender stereotypes and social inequality. More specifically “gendered” research is a convincing explanation that has been offered for explaining the gender gap in engineering, mathematics, computer science, and physics (Hyde, 2013).

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25 Fictional Stories Starring Fierce Female Leads

September 13th, 2016 by

Ignite her curiosity! A powerful way to convey that STEM subjects are open to all is by sharing stories of girls and women who love science and technology. Surprisingly, not only is it helpful to introduce girls to real-life women in STEM through biographies, but fictional stories can also serve to forward girls’ interest in STEM. Click HERE to access a list of fictional books for both children and teens staring girls who love science engineering and path.

“I have a passion for _____. How can STEM help me?”

September 7th, 2016 by

From analyzing music, tracking down computer crime, to bringing extinct species back to life; there are an incredible amount of fascinating opportunities in the STEM field that many haven’t even heard of. In fact, there will be jobs available for high schoolers currently considering STEM – that don’t even exist yet. So, whether you’re obsessed with video games, or a science-fiction nerd, there are opportunities out there for you to pursue your passion AND thrive in a successful career.

Read this article that describes just 10 of the hundreds of possible careers in STEM to learn more.