What is STEMpower?
STEMpower Goals:
- Improve girls’ participation in STEM subjects
- Increase girls’ interest in STEM careers
- Create a STEM messaging framework to improve STEM exposure
- Reduce the systemic barriers girls face
- Address the myths and biases surrounding girls and women in STEM in a supportive and safe way
- Provide exposure to the wonderful STEM programs that exist
- Showcase Careers of the Future and their multiple pathways
- Make finding STEM information simple and easy
- Give STEM role models the spotlight they deserve
- Increase diversity, equity and inclusion in all workplaces
- Reduce the amount of duplicated information across STEM institutions to simplify STEM exploration
Why We Created STEMpower
Spotlight on STEM!
At the very core of STEMpower lies a dream. A world where every girl’s potential in STEM knows no bounds. We light up the path to STEM for girls and women Australia wide. This is not just a learning platform it is a sanctuary where students, parents, educators, industry, and curious minds come together to explore and demystify all things STEM.
STEMpower shines a light for those beginning or navigating through their STEM careers with an expansive range of resources available for each unique phase of their journey.
A woman’s journey into a STEM career should not be a solitary journey, instead a shared adventure.
STEMpower was born from the vision for a digital home where everyone can discover the wonders of STEM, be inspired by role models, and explore the exciting and futuristic potential careers in these fields.
We are dedicated to dismantling the systemic biases and barriers that can shadow the aspirations of young women in STEM, by creating a future where their participation is not just welcomed but celebrated.
The Beginnings of STEMpower
STEMpower’s Big Bang
In 2022, WiTWA hosted a series of workshops with STEM industry leaders and women of influence, facilitated by Dr Kate Raynes-Goldie. The workshops’ goals:
- Create relatable STEM career guidance for to female students
- Discuss STEM opportunities with STEM industry leaders
- Facilitate open communication between employers and educators
- Propose solutions to the intersectional barriers faced by girls and women
The workshops were part of Future STEM Jobs & Skills Initiative funded by:
The workshops uncovered many insights about career journeys and the barriers girls face in their pursuit of STEM. Many great suggestions were made by the working group. One standout topic was consistently raised – there are STEM initiatives and resources that support women and girls, but people just don’t know about them.
“What I’m hearing from everyone is that STEM programs are out there already but how do we pull them together?”
From this the idea of building the STEMpower platform was born! With the goal of bringing everyone together, for a common cause, promoting the power of STEM.
