PORTLAND, Oregon — Tomorrow is National STEM Day, a time to encourage kids to explore their interests in science, technology, engineering and math careers.
"STEM doesn't have to be complicated with lots of equipment or kits,” said Sarah Foster, founder of Portland nonprofit STEM Like a Girl. “You can do so much with what you have at home!"
Foster has a background in chemical and biomedical engineering. She started STEM Like a Girl in 2017 to motivate young girls to become involved in the male-dominated industry.
“Ultimately, whether girls go to STEM or not, the problem-solving and leadership skills they develop by doing STEM activities will be important for anything in their lives, whether that’s in school or in a future career," Foster said. “As we work through different activities in our workshops, they get to problem solve and learn about failure — and how that’s actually a good thing, what we can learn from failure.”
According to the website STEM Women, women made up 26% of the STEM workforce in 2022 and 2023. That's a 2% jump from 2019 and a 4% climb from 2018.
While some progress is being made, Foster says there's more that needs to be done.
"I think it's a combination of supporting women when they are in their careers so that they stay in STEM more,” she said. “And then I think it’s more awareness and understanding that women bring a different thought process and skills to anything they do. So just encouraging them and giving them the opportunities to try things out — I think allows them to get interested in careers they might not have thought of in the first place.”
Foster has created parent-daughter workshop activities for third and fifth-grade girls by solving fun science and engineering challenges — making slime, a structure with toothpicks and mini marshmallows, or a catapult made from a spoon, rubber bands and craft sticks.
Foster hopes to help young girls find the fun in STEM, as studies show 4 in 10 girls who enjoy STEM activities say they don't get enough practical experiences.
You can go here to find a full list of STEM activities for you and your child to do.