Kellie Openshaw’s Post

In the tech community, we often talk about how Utah is among the best performing states in the nation. What we miss in this conversation is: Utah is also among the worst ranked states in the US for women’s equality, according to findings from Utah Women & Leadership Project and A Bolder Way Forward (https://lnkd.in/gF7JXRV7). Why is that? Part of the reason is missed opportunities in how we prepare female students in Utah for high wage, in-demand STEM careers. A new report published by my team at YouScience, in partnership with Cydni Rogers Tetro, Kristin Wright and their team at Women Tech Council, looks at anonymized data from over 21K female students across Utah to compare aptitudes vs interests for top STEM careers. 🔍 The report found: female students have aptitudes for in-demand careers in STEM, but due to lack of exposure, representation, and resources, they are not pursuing these careers. The report offers solutions like aptitude-powered education and female-centered mentorship to bridge these gaps. This is a must-read for our tech community and business leaders. In order to ensure Utah is a strong tech community for everyone—including for women—we must improve the way we prepare our female students for careers of the future. 👉 Download and read the report here: https://bit.ly/3RZIxZd

I love Utah, its seasons, scenery, friendliness and tech scene. However, as a woman in the state I've personally experienced why it's among the worst ranked states in the US for women’s equality. One reason is missed opportunities in preparing female students for high-wage STEM careers. A new YouScience report, published in partnership with Cydni Rogers Tetro Tetro and her team at Women Tech Council analyzed data from over 21K Utah female students. Findings show strong aptitudes for STEM careers, but a lack of exposure, representation, and resources. The report suggests solutions like aptitude-powered education and female-centered mentorship. I would also add a solution is not just mentorship, but sponsorship. Mentors raise others to their level, while sponsors push them ahead. 👉 Download the report: Utah Report https://lnkd.in/gb5dVUaa

Female students deserve more. The 2024 Female Students and STEM Report, co-published by YouScience and Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL), highlights a critical issue: despite having the aptitude for STEM careers, many female students lack interest due to natural biases and a lack of representation and encouragement. We must break down these barriers and empower the next generation of female STEM leaders. Join us in shaping a brighter future for STEM: https://bit.ly/3LeZMC2  Additionally, our collaboration with Cyndi Tetro and Women Tech Council unveils startling insights into career exposure gaps in Utah compared to national data. Discover the findings that are driving change: https://bit.ly/4cQAS7I #STEMeducation #YouScience #WomenInSTEM #CareerExposureGap

In the tech community, we often talk about how Utah is among the best performing states in the nation. What we miss in this conversation is: Utah is also among the worst ranked states in the US for women’s equality. Why is that? Part of the reason is missed opportunities in how we prepare female students in Utah for high wage, in-demand STEM careers. A new report published by YouScience in partnership with Cydni Rogers Tetro and Women Tech Council, looks at anonymized data from over 21K female students across Utah to compare aptitudes vs interests for top STEM careers. The report found: female students have aptitudes for in-demand careers in STEM, but due to lack of exposure, representation, and resources, they are not pursuing these careers. The report offers solutions like aptitude-powered education and female-centered mentorship to bridge these gaps. The report is a must-read for our tech community and business leaders. In order to ensure Utah is a strong tech community for everyone—including for women—we must change the way we prepare our female students for careers of the future. 👉 Download and read the report here: https://lnkd.in/gfPVkMXQ

STEM skills are the future, and community projects are the launchpad! Our youth are tomorrow's innovators, and industry involvement is key to inspiring the next generation. Want to know how we can shape a brighter future together? Check out this article to discover the impact of community STEM projects. #STEM #STEMeducation #futureofwork #STEMindustry #AotearoaNZ Katheren Leitner Ying Yang Shaun Gear

Join the New REVISE Interest Group: Building Equitable Relationships ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g_h4yfjZ We invite the larger informal STEM education and learning community to become a member of this new interest group! Groups are open to all individuals who share a passion for informal science education, including researchers, practitioners, partners, students, aspiring professionals, and anyone interested in advancing science education. Participants of the interest group have a shared domain of interest around better understanding how to establish and maintain equitable community partnerships and relationships. This group will provide opportunities for interaction and communication between participants, with the shared goals of improving practice to advance the Informal STEM Education field. ________________________ Alt-text: An orange circle with a white megaphone icon on it; to the right of the megaphone icon, large white text against a dark blue header element: 'Join the New REVISE Interest Group: Building Equitable Relationships.' Below the header, black text on a white background: 'The REVISE Center’s Communities of Practice team invites you to join our first interest group: Building Equitable Relationships. This co-designed group is intended to support ISE researchers and practitioners who share an interest in moving beyond extractive and transactional approaches to genuine collaboration and mutual benefit.' To the right of the text, two chat bubbles (one gold, one green) float over a black icon of open hands. At the bottom, there is black text: 'Learn More' black arrow points right to remaining text 'Link in caption' #REVISECenter #NationalScienceFoundation #NSFfunded #InformalScience #STEMEquity #InclusiveSTEM #STEMEducation #InformalSTEM #STEMForAll #STEMResources #EquityInSTEM #STEMForEveryone #DiversityInSTEM

Fantastic to have the chance to read the final recommendations report from the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review released last week by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. The report brings together lived experiences alongside robust data and evidence-based research to pave the way for a more inclusive STEM landscape. The report highlights disparities in STEM education and employment, revealing significant underrepresentation among various demographic groups. For instance, in 2021, only 36% of STEM university students identified as female, while approximately 5% of STEM students were living with a disability, and less than 1% were First Nations people. Moreover, entrenched perceptions and lack of visibility serve as formidable barriers, particularly for women considering careers in engineering. To address these challenges, it's imperative to elevate diverse voices, provide resources and support, and showcase inclusive role models within the STEM community. How do we achieve this? The report lays out 11 comprehensive recommendations, spanning government leadership, workplace inclusivity, lifelong learning initiatives, and efforts to change perceptions about STEM. Key highlights from my perspective include: ▶ Eliminating bullying, harassment, and discrimination through inclusion policies, processes, systems and infrastructure. ▶ Creating inclusive workplaces that prioritize diversity in attraction, retention, and promotion. “Diverse STEM-literate people on boards and in leadership positions across all sectors is critical to ensure good decision-making.” ▶ Removing barriers and creating accessible pathways for diverse individuals to thrive in STEM through early exposure, industry partnerships, and culturally responsive teaching. ▶ Changing perceptions of STEM, increasing awareness, visibility and the importance of diversity, and showcasing the breadth of opportunities available through tailored initiatives, promotion of diverse role models and learning materials. #DiversityinSTEM #STEM #science #technology #engineering 

It's been great to see the focus this week on diversity in STEM careers. Two important reports have been added to the evidence base – the NSTC’s STEM Career Pathways report, and the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review, prepared for the Government by a panel chaired by Sally-Ann Williams. Sally-Ann’s report points to the need for cultural change to shift stereotypes about who should be in STEM jobs and to attract and retain people – so we get the skills we need into the economy. The NSTC report, commissioned through my office and prepared by Science and Technology Australia, found that while STEM workers are committed to their careers, barriers include long hours, job insecurity and unclear career pathways. The research included a survey of 3500 people in STEM careers, and I was struck by the difference between the number of men and women on permanent contracts. The survey suggests women are much more likely to be on short-term contracts, and those contracts are almost always for three years or fewer. Last year, I released research looking at how we assess research careers for hiring, promotion and funding. This Research Assessment report found the current system is not fit for purpose. It’s too focused on numbers of papers and citations, and not enough on collaboration and multidisciplinary teams. All of this adds up to a strong evidence base about the need for systemic change – from the way we measure what good looks like, to the way we organise contracts in the STEM workforce, to how we deal with biases that can mean women and people from different cultural backgrounds sometimes don’t even get a look in. Government can do some things; others are in the hands of research organisations and the private sector. This is an issue for all of us and the test will be how well we turn this work into action. https://lnkd.in/gmKMsrzf #STEM #STEMcareers #STEMpathways #NSTC #research

"In a historic milestone for Caltech, the incoming undergraduate class will comprise 50% women. The class of 2028 is the first to reach gender parity since the Institute began admitting female undergraduates in 1970, and includes 113 women and 109 men, according to admissions data. This accomplishment is the result of sustained efforts to improve gender equity on campus and in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). For the past several decades, the Institute has piloted strategic initiatives to recruit and retain women to ensure equal access to education and to increase diversity among the undergraduate class. 'Caltech aims to be the destination of choice for the most talented, creative individuals from every background and perspective, and to build a community where everyone can reach their full potential," says Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum. 'Our ability to remain a top research and educational institution crucially depends on finding and attracting gifted students, postdocs, and faculty. Achieving gender equity in the same year that we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of our first graduating class of undergraduate women is especially resonant.' Though Caltech has made strides, the journey to gender parity has been an uphill battle. The historic exclusion of women from the Institute's undergraduate program had lingering effects; even after female undergraduates were admitted, it wasn't until 1993 that a Caltech graduating class included more than 25% women. In addition, trends in STEM education nationwide show that women are still underrepresented in math, physical science, engineering, and computer science degree programs, despite making up the majority of bachelor's degree earners. To combat inequities, the Institute has focused on increasing the number of female applicants and matriculants with targeted outreach and recruitment efforts. One of the earliest initiatives toward this goal was Pre-Frosh Weekend, a spring preview program for admitted women first held in 1980. The program later expanded to include other historically underrepresented groups and eventually grew to include all admitted students, becoming what is now called DiscoTech." Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/eHZDUxaB #WomenInSTEM #GirlsInSTEM #STEMGems #GiveGirlsRoleModels

Why is supporting diversity and inclusion in STEM fields so important? Diversity in STEM is more than just a goal—it's a necessity for driving innovation and advancing scientific knowledge. Our latest blog post delves into the significant benefits of cultivating a diverse STEM workforce. From strengthening research and fostering creativity to driving economic growth, diverse perspectives are crucial to shaping the future of science. At LabXchange, the Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Science Education (RDEISE) project is at the forefront of this effort. We're committed to providing inclusive, high-quality educational resources that empower all students to succeed in STEM. Discover how diverse voices are making a difference and learn how you can contribute to a more equitable STEM landscape. Read the full post to explore how diversity is transforming STEM: . https://ow.ly/EvQz50TauSf #DiversityInSTEM #STEMEducation #RDEISE #ScienceForAll #LabXchange