Role Models
(Jeri Countrymen, Linda Kekelis and Jennifer Wei. Oakland, CA: Techbridge, 2006)
This easy-to-use guide contains strategies for showing girls how technology, science, and engineering connect to their interests and goals and includes suggestions for planning and hosting successful outreach programs. The guide explains the benefits of being a role-model; describes tactics and activities for classroom visits and field trips; and provides examples of successful case studies for classroom and worksite visits.
Volume two of Book of Black Heroes tells the stories of more than 80 historical and contemporary African-American women, all of whom have made significant contributions to a variety of fields, including science. The stories of women scientists, such as Mary Mahoney, Eleanor Norton and Edith Sampson celebrate the great, and often unrecognized, achievements of these important women.
(Toyomi Igus, Veronica Ellis, Diane Patrik, and Valerie Wesley. East Orange, NJ: Just Us Books Inc., 1991)
Produced by the National Academy of Sciences, Iwaswondering.org showcases the accomplishments and careers of some of today’s most prominent women in science. The site is inspired by “Women’s Adventures in Science,” a biography series for middle-school students that chronicles the lives of contemporary, working scientists. The site presents interactive content and games for students, as well as a parent-teacher guide that includes related games and activities.
Mentornet.net, a nonprofit program, is The E-Mentoring Network for Diversity in Engineering and Science. Their mission is to further the progress of women and others underrepresented in the scientific and technical fields through a mentoring program that pairs undergraduate college students, graduate students, or untenured faculty members with a professional in their STEM field in an e-mail based mentoring relationship. The website also offers an e-forum and resume database to help students find jobs or internships. Renowned universities such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Johns Hopkins use this program.
This website contains the archived information and audio files of the special radio programming on women in science, technology, and engineering, of public radio station WAMC/Northeast Public Radio. The programs were funded in part by the National Science Foundation and produced for broadcast on WAMC’s nationally-syndicated radio programs. The site contains a wide range of stories highlighting the changing roles of girls and women in STEM, a list of resources and links to information about women in STEM, and audio files from other organizations that share stories of how educators, parents, and organizations are introducing girls to STEM and bridging the gender gap in science and math.
Created by the Purdue University College of Agriculture and in cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture, USDA Living Science is a helpful site for afterschool group leaders or counselors. It offers information on an enormous selection of careers involving agriculture such as an Aquaculturist, Biochemist, Food Scientist, Soil Scientist, or Wildlife Biologist.
The Women of NASA was developed to influence young girls to pursue careers in math, science or technology. It includes a bilingual (Spanish) component, showcases profiles of some of the outstanding women in NASA who are enjoying successful careers, and demonstrates how these women balance personal and professional responsibilities. The main components include live chats, forums, and webcasts that offer participants the opportunity to dialogue with the featured mentor. The site also includes lesson plans for student activities.