STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—is a term used to group together these academic disciplines. The acronym was coined by US Science Foundation in 1990s. The term is typically used when addressing education policy, and curriculum choices in schools to improve competitiveness in science and technology. According to National Science Foundation 80% of the jobs to be created in the next decade will require some form of math and science skills. STEM fields have remained predominantly male with historically low participation among women since the origin of STEM during the age of enlightenment. It is a cultural thing in most countries in the world with rare exception.
Research shows that children develop interest in STEM fields at the age of eight. Studies suggest that many factors contribute to a child’s interest in STEM. Some of them are : encouragement from the parents and teachers, school curriculum content, hand-on laboratory experience, role models and resource available at homes and at schools. Researchers have found few differences in girls’ and boys’ attitudes toward science in the early secondary school years. However, the attitude changes during the high school and college years. There is a significant gender differences in STEM fields: more boys and fewer girls. This is true in most countries.
STEM Education for Girls in India
I was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi in 1964. Thousands of us took the all India entrance examination for 45 seats. Five seats were reserved for commonwealth students. Out of the 45 students, 22 were female students and one of them stood first. In 2018, 51% of the students admitted to medical colleges in India were female, same percentage as in the United States. But things are very different in the field of engineering. In 1964, IIT Delhi had no female student, not even one. In 2018, among the 23 IITs the enrollment of female student is less than 14%. According to a recent Economic Forum Report, in India, only 14.3% researchers in science are women (Times of India, April 2, 2018). According to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) 10-12% of faculty in IITs, IISC, are women. All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) shows that less than 30% of students admitted to all engineering colleges in India are female.
Recommendations
India will have the world’s youngest population by 2022 and women of the country will, play a definite role in country’s future. More women, close to 50% have to enter the STEM fields as researchers, scientists, mathematicians, engineers and doctors to make India a developed country.
1-Parents
Girls’ participation in STEM should be encouraged from the primary and secondary school levels. Waiting until they enter high school and college is too late. Ultimately, pursuing a career in STEM is a decision. Your daughter will make for herself but you make sure that she understands her choices. Do not underestimate your own influence on her decision. Stay involved in her education; encourage her to study math and science from the secondary school onward. Provide her as much help as you will provide to your son. Do not let her drop math in high school if you can help it. Do not think that your daughter cannot be an engineer or a mathematician or a scientist, just because she is a girl.
2- Teachers
Almost all studies show that boys and girls have equal capacity to learn what ever subject you teach them-music to mathematics. It is not a gender thing. One gender is not better than the other in learning. Do not treat boys and girls differently when you are teaching any subject including mathematics. There is absolutely no proof that girls are weaker in math or better in music. It is question of interest and effort. Practice is the key.
3- Government, Universities and Society
Government agencies, universities, and society must work together to ensure that women achieve their full potential in all the fields of education, especially in the STEM fields. Companies have to provide more training opportunities to women and make a deliberate effort to hire them. Government and industries must ensure that hiring practices are fee from the insidious sexism and the pay gap between the male and female employees be equalized.
Some of the STEM Jobs
Actuary- Like stat? Actuaries work for insurance companies calculating insurance premiums for various risks. They are very well paid.
Aerospace engineer- she performs calculation and creates mathematical models for space crafts and air crafts.
Agronomist- science and technology of food production.
Architect- an architect designs and overseas building construction.
Astronomer and Astrophysicist- Both involve studying celestial bodies—planets, stars, comet, asteroids.
Atmospheric scientist- work for national weather services, TV stations and emergency management.
Biochemist- works for drug and chemical companies.
Biologist- Studies living organism and can work for agriculture and drug companies.
Biomedical engineer- applies human engineering and technological knowledge to human biology-X-ray, MRI, CT scan, Ultrasound machines and medical monitors.
Chemical engineer- develops new materials for drug and chemical companies.
Civil engineer- works in construction.
Computer engineer- is trained in both computer science and engineering.
Cybersecurity analyst-she safeguards the data of a company and responds to any threat to company’s data.
Electrical engineer- is a wide field including power, telecommunication, computer and electronics.
Environmental engineer-develops solution to air, water, and air pollution and waste disposal.
Epidemiologist- studies disease outbreaks and their prevention.
Financial advisor- studies financial investment, insurance and financial planning. Math and computer knowledge is important.
Geneticist- geneticist is a biologist who studies genes and heredity. It is a growing field.
Geophysicist- studies the features of the Earth and even below the earth’s surface. She can work for oil and gas companies, very well paying job.
Information Technology- specializes in IT and IT solutions.
Marine engineer- designs ships, submarines, boats, oil platforms.
Mechanical engineer- a broad field, she designs machines of all kinds.
Medicine – Medical doctor, Dentist, Nurses and Medical researchers.
Medical physicist- works in medical centers helping doctors treat patients with cancer with radiation.
Microbiologist- studies organisms like algae, fungi, bacteria and viruses.
Mining engineer- works for mines of all kinds.
Nuclear engineer- works in the field of nuclear energy. Very well paying job.
Petroleum engineer- works in the fields of oil and gas.
Physicist- wide open field- from teaching to space agency.
Statistician- a very popular field for women. They can work in many fields—business, healthcare, engineering, marketing etc.
Wildlife biologist- studies how animals in the wild interact with the environment and with each other.
Wind energy engineer- a high demand field- designs, manufactures and maintains wind turbines.
Hybrid Skills
The human brain, that extraordinary computer, is divided into two hemispheres, each responsible for different skill set. The left brain is popularly associated with logic and analytical thought; the right, with intuition and creativity. Many of the good jobs now and in the future, will require being good at both sides of the brain- a “hybrid”. Jobs that combine once –unrelated skills, such as engineering and sales, are at low risk of being automated, according to labor market experts. Their growth will be twice that of other jobs. Hybrid jobs are typically not entry level jobs. They usually require some experience and additional training beyond college but they pay much better (The Wall Street Journal, Jan 22, 2019).Companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Disney and many others are looking for workers with hybrid skills.
Foreign visa for STEM graduates
There is a shortage of workers in STEM fields in most developed countries like Germany, U.K, Australia, Canada, Japan and United States. United States now allows foreign students graduating from US colleges and universities with degrees in STEM fields to stay extra 27 months under Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa extension program. During the OPT extension of his/her student visa, a student can work (student visa holders are not allowed to work) full time for a company. If she/he is wanted by the company, the employer can apply for green card or permanent visa on her/his behalf. There are proposals pending now in the US congress to give preference to STEM graduates for the annual green cards lottery. To learn more about these programs visit- www.uscis.gov.
Apps to teach STEM skills
Hopscotch (age7-10)
Lightbot (all ages)
Swift playgrounds (10+)
Learning websites
Khanacademy-www.khanacademy.org
TryComputing.org
TryEngineering.org
Girlswhocode.com
Code.org
Nerd girls-www.nerdgirls.org
Engineer girl-www.engineergirl .org
MIT Open course ware highlights for highschool-www.ocw.mit.edu/high-school
Conclusions
Studies show that there is no difference between boys and girls in learning math or music or any other subject. It is a question of opportunities, guidance from parents, teachers and practice. There are plenty of job opportunities in India and overseas for STEM graduates. The percentage of female students in the STEM fields in India (except medicine) is quite low. Parents, teachers and government should do everything possible to bring the percentage to fifty percent.
Source
Karen Panetta, PhD, and Katianne Williams. Count Girls In-Empowering Girls to Combine Any Interests with STEM to Open Up a World of Opportunity. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2018
Dr Saheb Sahu, FAAP.