As an engineer who has worked several years in the technology industry, it is encouraging to see more fellow women at various levels in recent years compared to a few years ago. Statistics show that women are making gains but still only comprise 27% of the STEM workforce.
One way to get young girls interested in STEM is by introducing them early and one of the best ways to do this is through Science Olympiad which in my opinion models the real world experience of a career in STEM. This year when my middle school daughter expressed interest in participating in the event through her school, I couldn’t be more happier and I volunteered as a mentor. I along with another mom and science olympiad coach, mentored 4 girls on 2 different events and I am so proud of their drive, hard work and achievements.
What is Science Olympiad ?
Science Olympiad is a nationwide event where students compete in 23 events which include science, biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. The events are designed to encourage team work which is a required and critical skill in STEM careers. Throughout my career, working on several projects, I have seen exceptional results driven by successful teamwork.
For more details visit the Science Olympiad website.
Preparation
The teams I co-mentored participated in two events, namely,
- Food Science — This event required the participants to answer questions on food chemistry. Additionally they are required to build a hydrometer capable of measuring sugar solutions between 1–10% (mass/volume).
- Bridge Building — This event expects teams to build a bridge meeting the requirements specified in the rules to achieve the highest structural efficiency.
As mentors, preparation involved addressing 3 aspects, namely,
Scheduling
My co-mentor and I worked out a flexible schedule to mentor the girls such that it didn’t collide with our work and other commitments. Within the initial few meetings we were able to establish a schedule and being middle schoolers the girls didn’t need much hand holding and were able to quickly self organize. It typically required a commitment of 2 to 3 hours a week over a 5 month period.
Getting organized
In order to get organized the girls first needed access to relevant resources that would help them practice for the respective events. The science olympiad website has many resources to get started. Besides this youtube has many short educational videos that are helpful for visual learners.
Once the resources were identified it was a matter of setting up the learning objectives and timelines. Once this was established and a routine was in place the 2 teams were able to organize themselves and practice.
For the build events, once they build the first prototype with some guidance, they were able to continuously iterate and improve their design with limited help.
Getting supplies
The cost can vary for different events. Some events involve more study and don’t involve much or any cost. Build events need supplies and can incur some costs.
The funding page on the Science Olympiad website provides a guide on ways to acquire funds for the event.
Facing Challenges
My teams faced several challenges while practicing for the event just like they would in a real work environment.
In building the bridge, the rules indicated that the optimal design is one that weighs low and holds the maximum weight of 15 kilograms. The first prototype the girls built weighed 25 gm and broke at 7 kilogram. They kept iterating and with each iteration they kept improving. They tweaked several things including the type of wood, the type of glue used and several changes in design until they arrived at the final version which had a low mass and held the full expected weight.
The team struggled with the hydrometer. They did a lot of research and watched many videos but had difficulty calibrating and identifying the amount of sugar in a solution. After some frustration and several iterations the team figured it out two days before the event.
Learnings
During the 5 months while preparing for Science Olympiad, the girls learnt many valuable lessons.
Team Work
They learnt the power of building alliances. As a team they learnt to harness the benefits of their diverse skillsets while working on a shared goal. Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions and working as a team kept them motivated and together helped them achieve great results.
Continuous Iteration and Continuous Improvement
Through prototyping, they learnt how to come up with a solution quickly and continuously iterate on it. They learnt to validate their design through early feedback, improvise on it and avoid surprises. It also helped them with planning. When testing a prototype, they identified the weak points which helped them plan their next course of action.
Planning and Time Management
The girls had to plan and manage the time they spent on preparing for the events along with their school and other extra curricular activities. They learnt to ask for help when needed and they learnt to support each other. When a member could not attend a class because they had to go for sports practice the other partner took notes and shared it later. They learnt to recognize their strengths and their partner’s and complement each other so that the work load is distributed.
Setting Goals
As part of the practice they had weekly quizzes and prototype testing for the build events which gave them instant feedback on their progress. This helped them define their goals and work on them to continuously improve. By participating in the olympiad they have gained experience in setting a goal, learnt to step out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves to achieve more.
Having Fun On The Job
It is important to have fun when working on a challenging endeavor. There were many jokes shared, pizzas consumed and several hours spent in trying to calibrate a hydrometer. Being able to have fun while tackling an obstacle kept the team motivated. The event itself was held at a local high school. In between their competitions they checked out other build events. It was great to see the girls have fun and enjoy science.
Gaining Real World Experience
All the above learnings are a testimony of the fact that Science Olympiad is a great way to introduce kids and also encourage more girls to a career in STEM. I was pleased to see the girls gain some of the same skills expected of me and what helps me perform well at my job in the technology field. Science Olympiad helps participants get trained in skills that are critical to be successful in STEM careers.
Healthy Competition
My 2 teams competed with each other for the food science event. They often joked about it. But they supported each other, shared notes, quizzed each other on questions from the test packets and worked as a team. At the actual event they competed with many groups from several schools. The teamwork, group enthusiasm and the festive atmosphere at Science Olympiad creates an environment that promotes healthy competition.
Outcome
The girls performed well and both our teams won recognition for their efforts. More importantly, the girls enjoyed the event, developed confidence and an interest in STEM education. Many kids in my daughter’s school have been attending Science Olympiad for several years and as they grow older they serve as volunteers and mentors to younger olympians.
Final Thoughts
I am glad that myself, my co-mentor mom and also our spouses were able to support the girls as mentors and allies and encourage them in STEM education.
From the Million Women Mentors initiative,
Women comprise 52% of the college-educated workforce, but make up only 29% of the STEM workforce. Girls with a mentor are 2.5x more likely to be confident in their ability to succeed in school and careers.
From the Giving Compass,
While 71% of today’s jobs require STEM skills, only 15% of girls (and 44% of boys) plan to pursue a career in STEM. But the power of one mentor can be the change: more than 75% of girls who have a mentor feel they will be successful pursuing a STEM career.
I want to see more women join the technology industry and other STEM careers and by becoming a STEM mentor I hope to do my part in bridging the gender gap.