Promoting female representation in STEM fields, Dubai International Academy – Emirates Hills hosted a ‘girls only’ STEM Day last month. Sponsored by ATLAB, Year 7 and Year 8 girls selected on academic merit in mathematics participated in a team challenge to design, build, and race a self-propelling car from scratch. The girls harnessed their mathematic and scientific knowledge in a fun, creative, ‘hands-on’ method to encourage innovation, diversity and breaking gender stereotypes.
Throughout the year, as an integral part of the curriculum, DIA placed the spotlight on STEM learning to showcase interdisciplinary knowledge and skills. While both boys and girls have enjoyed this, there has been a more focused initiative by the school to encourage female students into pursuing STEM-related higher education courses and careers.
To encourage STEM learning and increase awareness of engineering amongst female students, the girls at DIA were introduced to some fundamental principles
Students at DIA have enjoyed watching a series of STEM-related videos during homeroom time, including a unique online meeting session with Maansi Suri, a former graduate of DIA, with a special interest in encouraging young girls into the engineering field as part of her ‘give-back’ to the community. It is hoped that success stories like Maansi’s will inspire other younger female students to take STEM subjects such as Higher Level Mathematics and Physics.
To encourage STEM learning and increase awareness of engineering amongst female students, the girls at DIA were introduced to some fundamental principles. They were given a set apparatus to work with, which included hot glue guns, fans, motors and Styrofoam boards. Teams competed to design, create, test and demonstrate their car, which had to travel at least 10ft in a straight line. To further challenge the competing girls, a speed race was included at the end of the competition, which added to the fun! The winning teams received educational Lego kits supplied by ATLAB.
According to the Women’s Engineering Society’s website, wes.org.uk, 79.8% of female engineering students get a First or Upper Second, compared to 74.6% of male students
Mr Nilesh Korgaonkar, CEO of ATLAB, addressed the female students and said: “Empathy is at the cornerstone of any successful STEM and DESIGN project, and it is a beautiful expression inherited by almost every woman. Women Youth in STEM can do wonders, so just believe in yourself and wear that crown. Connect with ATLAB, and we will do our bit to engage and enhance your skills.”
According to the Women’s Engineering Society’s website, www.wes.org.uk, 79.8% of female engineering students get a First or Upper Second, compared to 74.6% of male students. However, just over 20% of professionals working in the engineering sector are women. Dubai is recognised as a city of tolerance and innovation, and school events such as these help challenge the stereotype that engineering is a career reserved for men!