GEMS in STEM

Jay Burton, Reporter

Introducing and maintaining female interest in technology fields has long been an objective of the engineering department at U-High. Unfortunately, only about 20% of students in these classes are females. Technology teacher Cory Culbertson is advocating for change to prove that engagement in tech classes would greatly benefit female students.

“A stereotype is that females of high school age are interested in careers that actually seem to have a positive impact on society,” Culbertson said. “The challenge then becomes how we can show that this is a career that can focus on helping society and finding solutions to different problems and helping people.”

Many students run through the science sequence of biology, chemistry, and then immediately take physics, leaving engineering as an elective. With the recent addition of the ISU Research Symposium as a part of the physics class by Luke Luginbuhl, there have been new opportunities for girls to gain hands on experience in STEM fields.

“With the science fair project, some girls are engaging in an engineering project for the first time,” Luginbuhl said. “I think part of it is just awareness, that the classes are there and it’s fun to work with their hands and learn about that side of science.”

Senior Michelle Styczynski responded to this need by starting a GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science) club at Metcalf which keeps girls in junior high and elementary school engaged and interested in the technology fields.

“I’ve learned that 5th-6th grade is the most common time for girls to lose interest in math and science, so I started GEMS to try to encourage girls to stay involved in those fields,” Styczynski said.

In addition, Styczynski has provided new, fun opportunities for young minds to explore. Despite the countless hours she has put in, there is one ability that she has learned in the club that truly sticks out:

“Independence and the ability to be driven through self-motivation.”