GIRLS

Washington Robotics The sport of science, technology, and teamwork.

INSPIRING YOUNG WOMEN TO BE

TOMORROW’S LEADERS

INITIATIVE

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INSPIRING YOUNG WOMEN

TO BE TOMORROW’S LEADERS

About Us Washington FIRST Robotics inspires young individuals to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting, mentor-based, and competitive robotics programs. Through participation in FIRST, students develop well-rounded life capabilities, including self-confidence, communication skills and leadership.

Girls FIRST Initiative Mission The science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce is essential to America’s growing economy. According to a 2013 Boston Consulting Group report, local companies will experience 50,000 vacancies by 2017, 90% of which are in STEM and health care fields. Filling these positions will require a STEM educated workforce statewide. Yet, despite the growing opportunities for STEM employees, women today make up only 28% of tenure track faculty in STEM fields.

Through Washington FIRST Robotics, we have the opportunity to engage female students in STEM at an early age. With less than 20% of women acquiring computer science and engineering degrees, Washington FIRST Robotics is dedicated to increasing STEM interest and bridging the gender gap in the future workforce.

With the generous support of Intellectual Ventures, we have launched the Girls FIRST Initiative. This initiative encompasses a matrix, data points, and recruitment efforts to spark interest in STEM among girls and women within Washington State. Join us in our efforts to diversify the STEM workforce and to empower young women and men of all backgrounds across the globe!

Girls Initiative

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WHY GIRLS?

WHY STEM?

...Because Industry Needs Women

“Women currently make up 58% of the United States workforce. Though women are the majority of our country’s

workforce, they are poorly represented in STEM fields.”

- Women’s Collaborative Project

Our vision is to promote interest in STEM through

robotics programs with the goal of girls pursuing

STEM careers!

Girl Scouts of America, The Girls Collaborative Project, The State of Girls and Women in STEM,

2013.

45.9% of Chemists and Material Scientists are Women.

28.9% of Environmental Scientists and Geoscientists are

Women.

22.3% of Chemical Engineers are Women.

17.8% of Industrial Engineers are Women.

13.1% of Civil Engineers are Women.

8.8% of Electrical and Electronic Engineers are Women.

5.5% of Mechanical Engineers are Women.

THE STATISTICS

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WHY GIRLS? WHY STEM? (cont.)

...Because Stereotypes are Obstacles

Humans from every gender, culture, and ethnicity have stereotypes that affect their perception of their individual success. It is the stereotype that women cannot succeed in math and science that overshadows the female perception.

How much do gender stereotypes play into the human’s perception on their STEM ability? Research from The American Association of University Women (AAUW) suggests that elementary school children consciously believe in the truth of stereotypes. In a 2006 survey conducted by AAUW, 38% of boys agreed with the statement, “the smartest girls in my school are not popular,” and 17% of girls and 14% of boys thought it was true that “teachers think it is not important for girls to be good at math.” These subconscious beliefs may be more powerful than held beliefs because we are

not aware of them.

However, research shows that human beings can succeed beyond stereotypes. Psychologist Janet Hyde of the University of Wisconsin published a report in 2008 of standardized test scores taken in 2005-2007 by nearly 7 million students in 10 states. The researchers found that math and science scores of boys and girls were split 50/50, suggesting that there is "no gender difference" in scores among children in 2nd through 11th grade.

Overall, gender does not determine success in STEM fields. Every human being is born with equal STEM capabilities. It is important to begin STEM interest at an early age so female and male students are not discouraged. The overall goal of the Girls FIRST Initiative is to overcome gender stereotypes and to tell both boys and girls that they are equally capable of success!

Girls Initiative

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OUR RESEARCH

Washington FIRST Robotics conducted online surveys and mini-focus discussions

across all four programs with girls, boys and mentors participating. The findings

compliment years of national studies.

50 % of Junior FIRST Lego League and

FIRST Lego League team members

are girls.

35 % of FIRST Tech Challenge team

members are girls.

28 % of FIRST Robotics Competition

team members are girls.

Our research shows that both girls and boys

show equal interest in FIRST programs in ele-

mentary school. However, female interest

declines as children enter middle and high

school. The goal of the Girls FIRST Initiative is

to maintain girl’s interest in STEM as they age.

Girls Initiative

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1-2-3 LET’S GO!

Make the FIRST

game experiences

more relevant and

connected to

real-world

problems.

According to a 2012 survey conducted by

the Girl Scouts of America, over 94% of

participating girls reported that they

wanted to pursue a career path on which

they can serve their community. About

65% of Girl Scouts interested in STEM

fields desired a STEM career path related

to health and social science. In order to

maintain and promote female interest,

FIRST must be dedicated to the creation of

an environment that is relevant to

outside world issues.

Develop and provide

mentor training for

adults and students.

The report also noted that 47% of

participating girls would feel

uncomfortable if placed in a classroom in

which they are the only female student.

By training mentors and recruiting

additional female mentors, Washington

FIRST Robotics can minimize the fine line

between intimidation and success for

girls, and inspire career connections.

Define heroes and target

girls whose parents do not

have a STEM background

71% of Girl Scouts reported

that their parents have a

STEM career that have

encouraged them to pursue

STEM-related interests. It is

more difficult for girls whose

parents do not have STEM

backgrounds to discover their

love for STEM. Washington

FIRST Robotics must

encourage these girls by

defining heroes that can help

them find their potential

passion for math and science.

2

Generation STEM, Girl Scouts of America, 2013.

Girls Initiative

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3

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CALL TO ACTION!

Washington FIRST Robotics is in the field,

recruiting, training, and supporting female

mentors and girls to join FIRST teams in

Washington State. We aspire to empower

young women and to make a difference in the

FIRST community! Join us today by investing,

mentoring and volunteering with us!

For more information on the Girls

FIRST Initiative and how you can get

involved, please contact:

Hilary Waite at hilary@firstwa.org

Erin McCallum at erin@firstwa.org

Girls Initiative

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“Every year I'm amazed by the

students who get engaged in FIRST.

The most successful years for Franklin

High School team #488 Xbot is when

the team is lead by female co-captains.

Get involved, see how cool science,

math, robotics and FIRST can be.

GIRLS rule!”

“There is no doubt in my mind that a

strong STEM workforce is crucial to

ensuring innovation in today’s

technology driven world. Women

have had some great impact on areas

of STEM, and by encouraging girls to

pursue these areas in education, we

are paving the way to a brighter

future. When we’ve finally overcome gender barriers in STEM, we will have

unlocked half of the world’s inventive

brainpower.”

“Imagine what fantastic ideas and

innovations are waiting to be

discovered and invented by girls!

When we dare to branch out of

the girly stereotype, anything is

possible and the sky is the limit!”

WOMEN STEM LEADERS OF

THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Kimberly Hicks Systems Engineer,

The Boeing Company

Adriane Brown President and COO

Intellectual Ventures

Donna Lew Mentor, Franklin High School Team #488 Xbot

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Amy Myers Walla Walla FIRST Lego League,

Girl Scouts

Amy has earned a B.A. in biology and chemistry

from Whitman College and a MPH (health

education focus) from the University of

Washington. Amy loves FIRST Lego League and

has witnessed firsthand the benefits of the program while working as a mentor for a group

of fifth grade girls from a high-poverty elementary

school.

Chelsea Olson Electrical Engineer, The Boeing Company

Mentor, FIRST Robotics Competition

Chelsea recently graduated from the

University of Washington with a B.S. in

Electrical Engineering and is currently seeking

her M.A. in Engineering. She got involved as a

mentor for FIRST Robotics Competition team 2046 Bear Metal in 2012 and has been a

significant member of the FIRST volunteer

community ever since.

GIRLS FIRST COMMITTEE

Jennifer Mortensen Corporate Communications Marketing,

Intellectual Ventures

After receiving a B.A. in English and a minor in

environmental studies from the University of

Puget Sound in Tacoma, Jennifer worked in

science and tech communications at a leading

magazine publisher and at an infectious disease

research institute. In 2012 she joined the

corporate communications team at Intellectual

Ventures, where she helps recruit mentors for

FIRST teams.

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Sarah Powazek Issaquah High School

Sarah is a student at Issaquah High School and

is a member of FIRST Robotics Competition

team 1318 Issaquah Robotics Society (IRS). On

her team, she analyzes, designs, and drives the

robot. She looks forward to working on the

advisory board to help recruit more girls to

FIRST and STEM !

Jennifer came onto FIRST Robotics as a freshman

on the FIRST Tech Challenge rookie team 4590.

She has been involved in the growth and

development of FIRST programs in her community.

She has been a leader, mentor, and friend to many

people through her experiences in robotics. She

will pursue a degree in robotics and embedded

systems at the University of Advancing

Technology in September 2014!

As a teacher for over 20 years Kat has taught

many subjects at a variety of levels, but science

has always been her first love. The FIRST Robotics

programs are a hobby, which allow Kat to share

her love of learning and science with kids.

Kat Stebbins FIRST Robotics Team Coordinator,

Moses Lake, WA

Jennifer Taflin Kings High School

GIRLS FIRST COMMITEE (cont.)

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Work Cited

Girl Scouts of America. "Generation STEM: What Girls Say about Science, Technology, Engineering,

and Math." Generation STEM - Full Report.

"Girls = Boys at Math." Science/AAAS. ScienceMag.Org. Web. 30 May 2014.

"Jobs within Our Reach: Solving the Problem of Washington State's Growing Job Skills Gap." Boston

Consulting Group.

"Statistics: State of Girls and Women in STEM." National Girls Collaborative Project |. National Girls

Collaborative Project.

"Why so Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math." AAUW: Empowering Women

Since 1881.

Cassidy Barnes Franklin High School

Cassidy is a student who does community

outreach for the FIRST Robotics Competition

team #488 Xbot at Franklin High School. In

her spare time, she participates in choir and

drama!

GIRLS FIRST COMMITTEE (cont.)

Lisa has been an administrator in Spokane

Public Schools for the past 21 years. She is the

Director of Career and Technical Education

and has been in this position for the past 11

years. Lisa has catalyzed an opportunity for all

students ( K-12) in Spokane Public Schools to

participate in engineering and computer Science

through Junior FIRST Lego League and FIRST

Lego League, and FIRST Tech Challenge over

the next three years. Lisa is an alumna of

Gonzaga University and has a Master’s Degree

in Educational Administration.

Lisa White Director of Instructional Programs,

Spokane Public Schools

Girls Initiative

Washington FIRST Robotics

21238 68th Avenue South

Kent, WA 98032

www.firstwa.org

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