Did you know that it’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11th, 2025? To celebrate this global event, we’re shining a light on the efforts to make STEM more accessible, inclusive, and inspiring for future generations. Let’s dive in!
Mind the gap: gender representation in STEM
Science and technology have made huge leaps forward in recent years. Yet, according to UNESCO, women still make up just 35% of STEM graduates – a figure that has remained unchanged for the past decade.
According to Dr. Erica Colón, founder of Nitty Gritty Science, one major issue is the lack of visible female role models. “If you were to ask children to draw a scientist, many would draw a man,” she told Arduino. From textbooks to posters, Erica says STEM careers are often portrayed as male-dominated, making it harder for young girls to see themselves in these roles.
Additionally, many students don’t even know about the exciting opportunities available in tech because these careers aren’t widely discussed in schools. But we can change that narrative.
At Arduino, we’re committed to making STEM education accessible to everyone – regardless of their gender, race, background, or experience. And we’re not alone…
Breaking down barriers: how educators and organizations are driving change
Educators and organizations worldwide are working hard to reshape STEM education and make it more inclusive.
One champion of this movement is Nathalie Duponsel, a doctoral candidate in Educational Technology at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, and a certified primary school teacher. In this video, Natalie explains why Arduino’s open-source platform is key to lowering cost barriers and improving access to technology. “It also gives students real-world examples to work on, which is great for improving their skill sets and brings them around to this maker mindset,” she notes.
Another initiative making a real impact is Arduino4Her, a training project for girls in Ghana hosted by MakerSpaceGH. This popular project equips young women with hands-on skills in Arduino technology, electronics, and programming through interactive workshops and inspiring presentations. The energy is always electric and it’s incredible to see so many young women embracing tech, creating bold new ideas, and challenging STEM stereotypes.
How you can make a difference
Want to inspire more girls to pursue a career in STEM? Whether you’re an educator, parent, or someone who wants to be part of the change, here’s how you can help:
- Ignite a love of STEM early on – STEM skills should be nurtured from a young age. It’s never too early to encourage hands-on play and learning activities that spark curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity. For example, block-based coding with the Arduino Alvik robot provides a fun route into coding and robotics for kids as young as seven.
- Integrate hands-on tech projects – Integrating hands-on and interactive tools like the Plug and Make Kit, the Alvik robot or the Student Kit is a great way to introduce all students to key STEM areas. Who knows, you might even spark a lifelong passion or inspire the next Rosalind Franklin!
- Highlight female role models – Share the stories of women in STEM – past and present – to help girls see what’s possible. Need inspiration? Check out this blog post, where we honor six trailblazing women whose contributions to science were overlooked.
- Create supportive learning environments – Building an encouraging community is key. Whether through clubs, mentorship programs, or events like Arduino Days or Arduino4Her, girls need safe spaces where they can explore and excel in STEM.
- Advocate for inclusive STEM education – Push for curriculum changes that showcase the contributions of women and minorities in science and technology. “As a teacher, all you can do is put that information out there and make your students aware that they can do anything,” says Dr. Erica Colón. “We have to keep encouraging and showing different roles that they can do.”
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, let’s take action to empower, inspire, and break barriers. The future of STEM belongs to everyone!
The post Wired for success: Inspiring the next generation of women in science appeared first on Arduino Blog.