FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering and Science)
Submitted by vcweston on Sun, 03/15/2009 - 21:29. Last updated on Wed, 12/16/2009 - 08:44.
Vital Stats
ongoing project
860
90
$26,000
Project Video
The Problem
FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering and Science) is a student-run educational and community outreach program that seeks to improve female participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects. The centerpiece of the program is an annual, free-of-charge capstone event (held each spring) that invites Durham-area girls in 4th-6th grade to participate in science, math and engineering activities led by female Duke students, faculty and scientists. I founded FEMMES in 2005 as a sophomore in college, and the first full day program was held in the spring of 2006, with over 150 students in attendance. The program has continued to grow in scope and popularity, and 250 students attended FEMMES 2009. The FEMMES concept has been expanded to three after-school programs where FEMMES volunteers to teach science concepts to students through hands-on lessons and activities. FEMMES is also being expanded to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
For our annual capstone event, Duke University faculty members design and lead hands-on activities to expose FEMMES participants to different areas of study. The groups are kept small to maximize individual learning experiences and to create a comfortable environment for the girls to learn and ask questions. The real power of our program lies in the way we use female role models to demonstrate how women can excel in these fields. Thus, all of our program volunteers are women, including faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduates.
Why It's Important
Women have long been underrepresented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields; the disparities between men and women in the sciences underscore the need for outreach programs to engage young women in these fields. Today, women constitute nearly half of the U.S. work force, but account for only 25 percent of the science, engineering and technology work force, according to Sally Ride Science. Girls have reported that they desire interactive and engaging experiences in classes involving the STEM fields and without this, they find them "boring" as they consist of "facts to memorize.” However, outreach programs are often demonstration-based rather than hands-on. Also, outreach programs are often not designed to serve underprivileged communities. Many intervention programs cost money and require a chaperone to attend -- potential obstacles for parents who work weekends and evenings, have other children at home, or cannot spare the money. Durham families may face these potential obstacles, as Durham is an under-served community where many residents are at a socioeconomic disadvantage. In fact, out of 46 public schools, only 23 met expected academic growth standards in the 2006-07 school year. Consequently, female students who have the potential to succeed in STEM fields may not receive a sufficient chance to explore their potential.
It is important to me that we reach out to as many girls as possible and provide consistent, long-term guidance during the critical 4th-6th grade years so we can empower them to break into fields that are typically male-dominated. The research we conducted on our capstone event indicates that our program has a positive impact on the girls’ knowledge of and confidence in math, engineering and science. We also have received substantial positive feedback from parents, teachers and the girls themselves. We are clearly making a difference, and it is important to me that we continue to expand FEMMES so that we can serve other underprivileged communities.
The Plan Of Action
Plan of Action:
1) Capstone Event: We will continue hosting this event, with 2010 being the fifth year. Since the inception of FEMMES, participation has increased yearly and we hope to continue this trend.
2) After-School Program: We will continue our mentoring programs which are currently being held at three Durham schools. We will design more hands-on activities and compile them into a comprehensive publication to be used as curricula by all future FEMMES programs.
3) Summer Day Camp: We will organize a week-long summer day-camp, to be initiated in summer 2009. Participants will be recruited through connections with Durham public schools; female Duke undergraduates as well as high school students will serve as counselors; activities will be led by Duke faculty and student volunteers.
4) Research: We will continue our research protocol, which consists of participant surveys that assess our program’s effectiveness and will help us enhance our programming.
5) Expansion: We have developed a partnership with students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and are in the process of helping them set up a FEMMES program. We hope to expand our outreach program to other universities as well.
6) Non-profit Status: We are working towards obtaining non-profit status in the hopes of founding a national organization. This will allow us to reach out to a more widespread population of young girls in underprivileged communities.
One of our big goals is to expand FEMMES to other universities. Consequently, we are looking for female college students who would be interested in starting a FEMMES chapter, and for faculty members who would serve as advisors and/or volunteers.
Locally, we are hoping to expand our after-school program to more elementary schools in Durham, NC and Chapel Hill, NC. We would love to hear from principals and teachers who would be interested in working with us.
We also need legal assistance as we apply for non-profit status in order to become a national organization. Our current budget does not have sufficient funds for this, so we are looking for someone who would be willing to donate their time and expertise.
Project Updates
12/16/09
Update: This past August, FEMMES held its first week-long summer day camp here at Duke for fifty 5th-6th grade Durham girls. Serving as counselors and role models for the girls, FEMMES volunteers developed personal relationships with the campers and had a positive influence on their attitudes towards STEM fields. Our theme this year was Forensic Science, and we incorporated fun hands-on activities, such as fingerprint analysis, DNA extraction from cheek cells, blood spatter analysis, footprint impression, and powder analysis. In addition, field trips to the lemur center, the Smart Home, and the DiVE center, were integrated into the summer camp curriculum. The camp overall was a huge success, so we are hoping to establish this summer camp program as a long-standing component of FEMMES.
This semester, we also decided to add a six-week Saturday program component to our after-school program. The Saturday program, held on Duke's West Campus, had activities that paralleled the ones we had planned for our after-school program. However, instead of going to the elementary schools during the week, we invited fifty 4th-6th graders to Duke to do the activities. This way, we were able to reach out to other young girls who did not attend the elementary schools with whom we had already partnered with for our after-school program. We plan to continue the Saturday program as a vital component of our after-school program.
Final Grant Update
12/16/09
FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering and Science)
Number of people in the organization: 120 Number of people impacted: 210 Describe the impact the grant had: Winning the DoSomething grant allowed us to hold our first week-long summer day camp this past August. We hosted fifty 5th-6th grade Durham girls on Duke's campus. Serving as counselors and role models for the girls, FEMMES volunteers developed personal relationships with the campers and had a positive influence on their attitudes towards STEM fields. Our theme this year was Forensic Science, and we incorporated fun hands-on activities, such as fingerprint analysis, DNA extraction from cheek cells, blood spatter analysis, footprint impression, and powder analysis. In addition, field trips to the lemur center, the Smart Home, and the DiVE center, were integrated into the summer camp curriculum. The camp overall was a huge success, so we are hoping to establish this summer camp program as a long-standing component of FEMMES.
In addition to our weekday after-school programs, we were able to use the DoSomething grant to add a six-week Saturday program component to our after-school programs. The Saturday program, held on Duke's West Campus, had activities that paralleled the ones we had planned for the after-school program. However, instead of going to the elementary schools during the week, we invited fifty 4th-6th graders to Duke to do the activities.This way, we were able to reach out to other young girls who did not attend the elementary schools with whom we had already partnered for our after-school program. We plan to continue the Saturday program as a vital component of our after-school programs. Project highlights: 1.) Capstone Event: During the spring semester of every year, FEMMES hosts a free, one-day capstone event, which provides an opportunity for ~250 Durham-are girls in 4th-6th grade to come to Duke and participate in four activities that are designed and led by Duke professors, scientists and students. Activity subjects include the following: chemistry, computer programming, genetics, neuroscience, and biomedical, environmental, and mechanical engineering. Students are placed in small groups, which are led by female undergraduate and graduate student volunteers, to maximize learning and to create a comfortable atmosphere.
2.) After-School Programs: The FEMMES concept was expanded in January 2008 to an after school mentorship program that fosters long-term relationships and constant encouragement. This mentorship opportunity invites 4th-6th grade girls to learn from Duke undergraduate students for six weeks per semester at select elementary schools in the Durham area. Student volunteers travel to different Durham schools every day of the week to lead hour-long activities that expose young girls to more applications of science, engineering, and math and to teach fundamental concepts in an engaging, hands-on manner. An after-school committee meets throughout the year to design activities for the curriculum, acquire materials, and train the volunteers ahead of time so that all activities run smoothly. Some activities that we have done in the past include designing egg-drop parachutes and trebuchets (Physics and Engineering), performing ink chromatography (Chemistry), and making respiratory system models (Biology). Since its initiation in 2008, the after-school program has grown to include four partner schools: WG Pearson Elementary, Club Blvd Elementary, E.K. Powe Elementary, and the Emily Kryzewski Center in Durham. In addition to the weekday programs, we have decided to initiate a six-week Saturday program this year, to be held on Duke's West Campus. The activities for our Saturday program will parallel the ones we have planned for the after-school program. However, instead of going to other schools, we will be inviting girls to Duke. This way, we can reach out to other young girls that do not necessarily attend the elementary schools with whom we have already partnered with for our after-school program.
3.) Summer Camp: This past August, FEMMES held its first week-long summer day camp here at Duke for fifty 5th-6th grade Durham girls. Serving as counselors and role models for the girls, FEMMES volunteers developed personal relationships with the campers and had a positive influence on their attitudes towards STEM fields. Our theme this year was Forensic Science, and we incorporated fun hands-on activities, such as fingerprint analysis, DNA extraction from cheek cells, blood spatter analysis, footprint impression, and powder analysis. In addition, field trips to the lemur center, the Smart Home, and the DiVE center, were integrated into the summer camp curriculum. The camp overall was a huge success, so we are hoping to establish this summer camp program as a long-standing component of FEMMES. How did the project unfold and develop? As a team, we shared the responsibilities of planning for all three components of the program: the one-day capstone event, the after-school programs, and the week-long summer day-camp. These responsibilities included the following: reaching out to schools in the Durham community, finding untapped funding sources, recruiting Duke faculty volunteers who lead the workshop activities at the capstone event, recruiting new student volunteers, designing and conducting research to assess the effectiveness of the program, identifying and supporting other universities interested in initiating FEMMES programs, and executing all other logistical tasks. Student volunteers served as mentors to the girls, whether as counselors at the summer camp, or teachers and mentors at the after-school programs. The individual attention given to each student by the volunteers makes our program unique in its ability to directly influence how accessible girls feel to science education. In regards to program monitoring, girls were given pre- and post-surveys to evaluate changes in their attitudes towards the STEM fields, as well as areas of personal growth – such as whether their self-confidence has increased through working with female role models.
In order to gain visibility throughout the campus and local community, we formed strong relationships with various Durham community organizations that helped us distribute information about our programs. David Stein, senior educational partnership coordinator of the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership Project, served as our contact with Durham public schools. With his guidance, we distributed brochures and registration forms for our events to all local elementary and middle schools. He also put us in contact with many science teachers and principles.
All the components of our program- capstone event, after-school programs, and summer camp- are designed to benefit Durham-area female students in 4th-6th grade. By participating in any of the three components of our program, young students' confidence, interests, and knowledge of STEM subjects are enhanced. 4th-6th grade female students are placed in groups with female undergraduate and graduate counselors, who serve as mentors. This allows the young students to get to know older female role models who can share their enthusiasm for science, math, and engineering. Through hands-on activities that demonstrate science, math, and engineering concepts, the young students get very interested in learning more about each topic. They often ask very intriguing questions during each activity and run out of the classroom to explain what they have learned to their parents.
The FEMMES workshop and after school activities will continue in 2010. Our annual workshop is currently scheduled for February 27, 2010. Our goals are to achieve the same level of participation (~250 girls) and increase the number of faculty activities so that individual groups can be smaller. The after-school program, as well as the new Saturday program, will continue to be held during the Spring semester. Our second annual summer camp is tentatively scheduled for mid-August 2010.
FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering and Science) is a student-run educational and community outreach program that seeks to improve female participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects. The centerpiece of the program is an annual, free-of-charge capstone event (held each spring) that invites Durham-area girls in 4th-6th grade to participate in science, math and engineering activities led by female Duke students, faculty and scientists. I founded FEMMES in 2005 as a sophomore in college, and the first full day program was held in the spring of 2006, with over 150 students in attendance. The program has continued to grow in scope and popularity, and 250 students attended FEMMES 2009. The FEMMES concept has been expanded to three after-school programs where FEMMES volunteers to teach science concepts to students through hands-on lessons and activities. FEMMES is also being expanded to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
For our annual capstone event, Duke University faculty members design and lead hands-on activities to expose FEMMES participants to different areas of study. The groups are kept small to maximize individual learning experiences and to create a comfortable environment for the girls to learn and ask questions. The real power of our program lies in the way we use female role models to demonstrate how women can excel in these fields. Thus, all of our program volunteers are women, including faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduates.
Why is it important to you?:
Women have long been underrepresented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields; the disparities between men and women in the sciences underscore the need for outreach programs to engage young women in these fields. Today, women constitute nearly half of the U.S. work force, but account for only 25 percent of the science, engineering and technology work force, according to Sally Ride Science. Girls have reported that they desire interactive and engaging experiences in classes involving the STEM fields and without this, they find them "boring" as they consist of "facts to memorize.” However, outreach programs are often demonstration-based rather than hands-on. Also, outreach programs are often not designed to serve underprivileged communities. Many intervention programs cost money and require a chaperone to attend -- potential obstacles for parents who work weekends and evenings, have other children at home, or cannot spare the money. Durham families may face these potential obstacles, as Durham is an under-served community where many residents are at a socioeconomic disadvantage. In fact, out of 46 public schools, only 23 met expected academic growth standards in the 2006-07 school year. Consequently, female students who have the potential to succeed in STEM fields may not receive a sufficient chance to explore their potential.
It is important to me that we reach out to as many girls as possible and provide consistent, long-term guidance during the critical 4th-6th grade years so we can empower them to break into fields that are typically male-dominated. The research we conducted on our capstone event indicates that our program has a positive impact on the girls’ knowledge of and confidence in math, engineering and science. We also have received substantial positive feedback from parents, teachers and the girls themselves. We are clearly making a difference, and it is important to me that we continue to expand FEMMES so that we can serve other underprivileged communities.
What's your plan of action?:
Plan of Action:
1) Capstone Event: We will continue hosting this event, with 2010 being the fifth year. Since the inception of FEMMES, participation has increased yearly and we hope to continue this trend.
2) After-School Program: We will continue our mentoring programs which are currently being held at three Durham schools. We will design more hands-on activities and compile them into a comprehensive publication to be used as curricula by all future FEMMES programs.
3) Summer Day Camp: We will organize a week-long summer day-camp, to be initiated in summer 2009. Participants will be recruited through connections with Durham public schools; female Duke undergraduates as well as high school students will serve as counselors; activities will be led by Duke faculty and student volunteers.
4) Research: We will continue our research protocol, which consists of participant surveys that assess our program’s effectiveness and will help us enhance our programming.
5) Expansion: We have developed a partnership with students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and are in the process of helping them set up a FEMMES program. We hope to expand our outreach program to other universities as well.
6) Non-profit Status: We are working towards obtaining non-profit status in the hopes of founding a national organization. This will allow us to reach out to a more widespread population of young girls in underprivileged communities.
How Can Others Help?:
One of our big goals is to expand FEMMES to other universities. Consequently, we are looking for female college students who would be interested in starting a FEMMES chapter, and for faculty members who would serve as advisors and/or volunteers.
Locally, we are hoping to expand our after-school program to more elementary schools in Durham, NC and Chapel Hill, NC. We would love to hear from principals and teachers who would be interested in working with us.
We also need legal assistance as we apply for non-profit status in order to become a national organization. Our current budget does not have sufficient funds for this, so we are looking for someone who would be willing to donate their time and expertise.
Total hours volunteered (to date):
1000
Money Raised:
$26,000
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[value] => FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering and Science) is a student-run educational and community outreach program that seeks to improve female participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects. The centerpiece of the program is an annual, free-of-charge capstone event (held each spring) that invites Durham-area girls in 4th-6th grade to participate in science, math and engineering activities led by female Duke students, faculty and scientists. I founded FEMMES in 2005 as a sophomore in college, and the first full day program was held in the spring of 2006, with over 150 students in attendance. The program has continued to grow in scope and popularity, and 250 students attended FEMMES 2009. The FEMMES concept has been expanded to three after-school programs where FEMMES volunteers to teach science concepts to students through hands-on lessons and activities. FEMMES is also being expanded to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
For our annual capstone event, Duke University faculty members design and lead hands-on activities to expose FEMMES participants to different areas of study. The groups are kept small to maximize individual learning experiences and to create a comfortable environment for the girls to learn and ask questions. The real power of our program lies in the way we use female role models to demonstrate how women can excel in these fields. Thus, all of our program volunteers are women, including faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduates.
[view] => FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering and Science) is a student-run educational and community outreach program that seeks to improve female participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects. The centerpiece of the program is an annual, free-of-charge capstone event (held each spring) that invites Durham-area girls in 4th-6th grade to participate in science, math and engineering activities led by female Duke students, faculty and scientists. I founded FEMMES in 2005 as a sophomore in college, and the first full day program was held in the spring of 2006, with over 150 students in attendance. The program has continued to grow in scope and popularity, and 250 students attended FEMMES 2009. The FEMMES concept has been expanded to three after-school programs where FEMMES volunteers to teach science concepts to students through hands-on lessons and activities. FEMMES is also being expanded to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
For our annual capstone event, Duke University faculty members design and lead hands-on activities to expose FEMMES participants to different areas of study. The groups are kept small to maximize individual learning experiences and to create a comfortable environment for the girls to learn and ask questions. The real power of our program lies in the way we use female role models to demonstrate how women can excel in these fields. Thus, all of our program volunteers are women, including faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduates.
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[value] => Women have long been underrepresented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields; the disparities between men and women in the sciences underscore the need for outreach programs to engage young women in these fields. Today, women constitute nearly half of the U.S. work force, but account for only 25 percent of the science, engineering and technology work force, according to Sally Ride Science. Girls have reported that they desire interactive and engaging experiences in classes involving the STEM fields and without this, they find them "boring" as they consist of "facts to memorize.” However, outreach programs are often demonstration-based rather than hands-on. Also, outreach programs are often not designed to serve underprivileged communities. Many intervention programs cost money and require a chaperone to attend -- potential obstacles for parents who work weekends and evenings, have other children at home, or cannot spare the money. Durham families may face these potential obstacles, as Durham is an under-served community where many residents are at a socioeconomic disadvantage. In fact, out of 46 public schools, only 23 met expected academic growth standards in the 2006-07 school year. Consequently, female students who have the potential to succeed in STEM fields may not receive a sufficient chance to explore their potential.
It is important to me that we reach out to as many girls as possible and provide consistent, long-term guidance during the critical 4th-6th grade years so we can empower them to break into fields that are typically male-dominated. The research we conducted on our capstone event indicates that our program has a positive impact on the girls’ knowledge of and confidence in math, engineering and science. We also have received substantial positive feedback from parents, teachers and the girls themselves. We are clearly making a difference, and it is important to me that we continue to expand FEMMES so that we can serve other underprivileged communities.
[view] => Women have long been underrepresented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields; the disparities between men and women in the sciences underscore the need for outreach programs to engage young women in these fields. Today, women constitute nearly half of the U.S. work force, but account for only 25 percent of the science, engineering and technology work force, according to Sally Ride Science. Girls have reported that they desire interactive and engaging experiences in classes involving the STEM fields and without this, they find them "boring" as they consist of "facts to memorize.” However, outreach programs are often demonstration-based rather than hands-on. Also, outreach programs are often not designed to serve underprivileged communities. Many intervention programs cost money and require a chaperone to attend -- potential obstacles for parents who work weekends and evenings, have other children at home, or cannot spare the money. Durham families may face these potential obstacles, as Durham is an under-served community where many residents are at a socioeconomic disadvantage. In fact, out of 46 public schools, only 23 met expected academic growth standards in the 2006-07 school year. Consequently, female students who have the potential to succeed in STEM fields may not receive a sufficient chance to explore their potential.
It is important to me that we reach out to as many girls as possible and provide consistent, long-term guidance during the critical 4th-6th grade years so we can empower them to break into fields that are typically male-dominated. The research we conducted on our capstone event indicates that our program has a positive impact on the girls’ knowledge of and confidence in math, engineering and science. We also have received substantial positive feedback from parents, teachers and the girls themselves. We are clearly making a difference, and it is important to me that we continue to expand FEMMES so that we can serve other underprivileged communities.
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1) Capstone Event: We will continue hosting this event, with 2010 being the fifth year. Since the inception of FEMMES, participation has increased yearly and we hope to continue this trend.
2) After-School Program: We will continue our mentoring programs which are currently being held at three Durham schools. We will design more hands-on activities and compile them into a comprehensive publication to be used as curricula by all future FEMMES programs.
3) Summer Day Camp: We will organize a week-long summer day-camp, to be initiated in summer 2009. Participants will be recruited through connections with Durham public schools; female Duke undergraduates as well as high school students will serve as counselors; activities will be led by Duke faculty and student volunteers.
4) Research: We will continue our research protocol, which consists of participant surveys that assess our program’s effectiveness and will help us enhance our programming.
5) Expansion: We have developed a partnership with students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and are in the process of helping them set up a FEMMES program. We hope to expand our outreach program to other universities as well.
6) Non-profit Status: We are working towards obtaining non-profit status in the hopes of founding a national organization. This will allow us to reach out to a more widespread population of young girls in underprivileged communities.
[view] => Plan of Action:
1) Capstone Event: We will continue hosting this event, with 2010 being the fifth year. Since the inception of FEMMES, participation has increased yearly and we hope to continue this trend.
2) After-School Program: We will continue our mentoring programs which are currently being held at three Durham schools. We will design more hands-on activities and compile them into a comprehensive publication to be used as curricula by all future FEMMES programs.
3) Summer Day Camp: We will organize a week-long summer day-camp, to be initiated in summer 2009. Participants will be recruited through connections with Durham public schools; female Duke undergraduates as well as high school students will serve as counselors; activities will be led by Duke faculty and student volunteers.
4) Research: We will continue our research protocol, which consists of participant surveys that assess our program’s effectiveness and will help us enhance our programming.
5) Expansion: We have developed a partnership with students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and are in the process of helping them set up a FEMMES program. We hope to expand our outreach program to other universities as well.
6) Non-profit Status: We are working towards obtaining non-profit status in the hopes of founding a national organization. This will allow us to reach out to a more widespread population of young girls in underprivileged communities.
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[value] => One of our big goals is to expand FEMMES to other universities. Consequently, we are looking for female college students who would be interested in starting a FEMMES chapter, and for faculty members who would serve as advisors and/or volunteers.
Locally, we are hoping to expand our after-school program to more elementary schools in Durham, NC and Chapel Hill, NC. We would love to hear from principals and teachers who would be interested in working with us.
We also need legal assistance as we apply for non-profit status in order to become a national organization. Our current budget does not have sufficient funds for this, so we are looking for someone who would be willing to donate their time and expertise.
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One of our big goals is to expand FEMMES to other universities. Consequently, we are looking for female college students who would be interested in starting a FEMMES chapter, and for faculty members who would serve as advisors and/or volunteers.
Locally, we are hoping to expand our after-school program to more elementary schools in Durham, NC and Chapel Hill, NC. We would love to hear from principals and teachers who would be interested in working with us.
We also need legal assistance as we apply for non-profit status in order to become a national organization. Our current budget does not have sufficient funds for this, so we are looking for someone who would be willing to donate their time and expertise.
FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering and Science) is a student-run educational and community outreach program that seeks to improve female participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects. The centerpiece of the program is an annual, free-of-charge capstone event (held each spring) that invites Durham-area girls in 4th-6th grade to participate in science, math and engineering activities led by female Duke students, faculty and scientists. I founded FEMMES in 2005 as a sophomore in college, and the first full day program was held in the spring of 2006, with over 150 students in attendance. The program has continued to grow in scope and popularity, and 250 students attended FEMMES 2009. The FEMMES concept has been expanded to three after-school programs where FEMMES volunteers to teach science concepts to students through hands-on lessons and activities. FEMMES is also being expanded to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
For our annual capstone event, Duke University faculty members design and lead hands-on activities to expose FEMMES participants to different areas of study. The groups are kept small to maximize individual learning experiences and to create a comfortable environment for the girls to learn and ask questions. The real power of our program lies in the way we use female role models to demonstrate how women can excel in these fields. Thus, all of our program volunteers are women, including faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduates.
Women have long been underrepresented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields; the disparities between men and women in the sciences underscore the need for outreach programs to engage young women in these fields. Today, women constitute nearly half of the U.S. work force, but account for only 25 percent of the science, engineering and technology work force, according to Sally Ride Science. Girls have reported that they desire interactive and engaging experiences in classes involving the STEM fields and without this, they find them "boring" as they consist of "facts to memorize.” However, outreach programs are often demonstration-based rather than hands-on. Also, outreach programs are often not designed to serve underprivileged communities. Many intervention programs cost money and require a chaperone to attend -- potential obstacles for parents who work weekends and evenings, have other children at home, or cannot spare the money. Durham families may face these potential obstacles, as Durham is an under-served community where many residents are at a socioeconomic disadvantage. In fact, out of 46 public schools, only 23 met expected academic growth standards in the 2006-07 school year. Consequently, female students who have the potential to succeed in STEM fields may not receive a sufficient chance to explore their potential.
It is important to me that we reach out to as many girls as possible and provide consistent, long-term guidance during the critical 4th-6th grade years so we can empower them to break into fields that are typically male-dominated. The research we conducted on our capstone event indicates that our program has a positive impact on the girls’ knowledge of and confidence in math, engineering and science. We also have received substantial positive feedback from parents, teachers and the girls themselves. We are clearly making a difference, and it is important to me that we continue to expand FEMMES so that we can serve other underprivileged communities.
Plan of Action:
1) Capstone Event: We will continue hosting this event, with 2010 being the fifth year. Since the inception of FEMMES, participation has increased yearly and we hope to continue this trend.
2) After-School Program: We will continue our mentoring programs which are currently being held at three Durham schools. We will design more hands-on activities and compile them into a comprehensive publication to be used as curricula by all future FEMMES programs.
3) Summer Day Camp: We will organize a week-long summer day-camp, to be initiated in summer 2009. Participants will be recruited through connections with Durham public schools; female Duke undergraduates as well as high school students will serve as counselors; activities will be led by Duke faculty and student volunteers.
4) Research: We will continue our research protocol, which consists of participant surveys that assess our program’s effectiveness and will help us enhance our programming.
5) Expansion: We have developed a partnership with students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and are in the process of helping them set up a FEMMES program. We hope to expand our outreach program to other universities as well.
6) Non-profit Status: We are working towards obtaining non-profit status in the hopes of founding a national organization. This will allow us to reach out to a more widespread population of young girls in underprivileged communities.
One of our big goals is to expand FEMMES to other universities. Consequently, we are looking for female college students who would be interested in starting a FEMMES chapter, and for faculty members who would serve as advisors and/or volunteers.
Locally, we are hoping to expand our after-school program to more elementary schools in Durham, NC and Chapel Hill, NC. We would love to hear from principals and teachers who would be interested in working with us.
We also need legal assistance as we apply for non-profit status in order to become a national organization. Our current budget does not have sufficient funds for this, so we are looking for someone who would be willing to donate their time and expertise.
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What's the problem you are trying to solve?:
FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering and Science) is a student-run educational and community outreach program that seeks to improve female participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects. The centerpiece of the program is an annual, free-of-charge capstone event (held each spring) that invites Durham-area girls in 4th-6th grade to participate in science, math and engineering activities led by female Duke students, faculty and scientists. I founded FEMMES in 2005 as a sophomore in college, and the first full day program was held in the spring of 2006, with over 150 students in attendance. The program has continued to grow in scope and popularity, and 250 students attended FEMMES 2009. The FEMMES concept has been expanded to three after-school programs where FEMMES volunteers to teach science concepts to students through hands-on lessons and activities. FEMMES is also being expanded to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
For our annual capstone event, Duke University faculty members design and lead hands-on activities to expose FEMMES participants to different areas of study. The groups are kept small to maximize individual learning experiences and to create a comfortable environment for the girls to learn and ask questions. The real power of our program lies in the way we use female role models to demonstrate how women can excel in these fields. Thus, all of our program volunteers are women, including faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduates.
Why is it important to you?:
Women have long been underrepresented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields; the disparities between men and women in the sciences underscore the need for outreach programs to engage young women in these fields. Today, women constitute nearly half of the U.S. work force, but account for only 25 percent of the science, engineering and technology work force, according to Sally Ride Science. Girls have reported that they desire interactive and engaging experiences in classes involving the STEM fields and without this, they find them "boring" as they consist of "facts to memorize.” However, outreach programs are often demonstration-based rather than hands-on. Also, outreach programs are often not designed to serve underprivileged communities. Many intervention programs cost money and require a chaperone to attend -- potential obstacles for parents who work weekends and evenings, have other children at home, or cannot spare the money. Durham families may face these potential obstacles, as Durham is an under-served community where many residents are at a socioeconomic disadvantage. In fact, out of 46 public schools, only 23 met expected academic growth standards in the 2006-07 school year. Consequently, female students who have the potential to succeed in STEM fields may not receive a sufficient chance to explore their potential.
It is important to me that we reach out to as many girls as possible and provide consistent, long-term guidance during the critical 4th-6th grade years so we can empower them to break into fields that are typically male-dominated. The research we conducted on our capstone event indicates that our program has a positive impact on the girls’ knowledge of and confidence in math, engineering and science. We also have received substantial positive feedback from parents, teachers and the girls themselves. We are clearly making a difference, and it is important to me that we continue to expand FEMMES so that we can serve other underprivileged communities.
What's your plan of action?:
Plan of Action:
1) Capstone Event: We will continue hosting this event, with 2010 being the fifth year. Since the inception of FEMMES, participation has increased yearly and we hope to continue this trend.
2) After-School Program: We will continue our mentoring programs which are currently being held at three Durham schools. We will design more hands-on activities and compile them into a comprehensive publication to be used as curricula by all future FEMMES programs.
3) Summer Day Camp: We will organize a week-long summer day-camp, to be initiated in summer 2009. Participants will be recruited through connections with Durham public schools; female Duke undergraduates as well as high school students will serve as counselors; activities will be led by Duke faculty and student volunteers.
4) Research: We will continue our research protocol, which consists of participant surveys that assess our program’s effectiveness and will help us enhance our programming.
5) Expansion: We have developed a partnership with students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and are in the process of helping them set up a FEMMES program. We hope to expand our outreach program to other universities as well.
6) Non-profit Status: We are working towards obtaining non-profit status in the hopes of founding a national organization. This will allow us to reach out to a more widespread population of young girls in underprivileged communities.
How Can Others Help?:
One of our big goals is to expand FEMMES to other universities. Consequently, we are looking for female college students who would be interested in starting a FEMMES chapter, and for faculty members who would serve as advisors and/or volunteers.
Locally, we are hoping to expand our after-school program to more elementary schools in Durham, NC and Chapel Hill, NC. We would love to hear from principals and teachers who would be interested in working with us.
We also need legal assistance as we apply for non-profit status in order to become a national organization. Our current budget does not have sufficient funds for this, so we are looking for someone who would be willing to donate their time and expertise.
FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering and Science) is a student-run educational and community outreach program that seeks to improve female participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects. The centerpiece of the program is an annual, free-of-charge capstone event (held each spring) that invites Durham-area girls in 4th-6th grade to participate in science, math and engineering activities led by female Duke students, faculty and scientists. I founded FEMMES in 2005 as a sophomore in college, and the first full day program was held in the spring of 2006, with over 150 students in attendance. The program has continued to grow in scope and popularity, and 250 students attended FEMMES 2009. The FEMMES concept has been expanded to three after-school programs where FEMMES volunteers to teach science concepts to students through hands-on lessons and activities. FEMMES is also being expanded to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
For our annual capstone event, Duke University faculty members design and lead hands-on activities to expose FEMMES participants to different areas of study. The groups are kept small to maximize individual learning experiences and to create a comfortable environment for the girls to learn and ask questions. The real power of our program lies in the way we use female role models to demonstrate how women can excel in these fields. Thus, all of our program volunteers are women, including faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduates.
Why is it important to you?:
Women have long been underrepresented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields; the disparities between men and women in the sciences underscore the need for outreach programs to engage young women in these fields. Today, women constitute nearly half of the U.S. work force, but account for only 25 percent of the science, engineering and technology work force, according to Sally Ride Science. Girls have reported that they desire interactive and engaging experiences in classes involving the STEM fields and without this, they find them "boring" as they consist of "facts to memorize.” However, outreach programs are often demonstration-based rather than hands-on. Also, outreach programs are often not designed to serve underprivileged communities. Many intervention programs cost money and require a chaperone to attend -- potential obstacles for parents who work weekends and evenings, have other children at home, or cannot spare the money. Durham families may face these potential obstacles, as Durham is an under-served community where many residents are at a socioeconomic disadvantage. In fact, out of 46 public schools, only 23 met expected academic growth standards in the 2006-07 school year. Consequently, female students who have the potential to succeed in STEM fields may not receive a sufficient chance to explore their potential.
It is important to me that we reach out to as many girls as possible and provide consistent, long-term guidance during the critical 4th-6th grade years so we can empower them to break into fields that are typically male-dominated. The research we conducted on our capstone event indicates that our program has a positive impact on the girls’ knowledge of and confidence in math, engineering and science. We also have received substantial positive feedback from parents, teachers and the girls themselves. We are clearly making a difference, and it is important to me that we continue to expand FEMMES so that we can serve other underprivileged communities.
What's your plan of action?:
Plan of Action:
1) Capstone Event: We will continue hosting this event, with 2010 being the fifth year. Since the inception of FEMMES, participation has increased yearly and we hope to continue this trend.
2) After-School Program: We will continue our mentoring programs which are currently being held at three Durham schools. We will design more hands-on activities and compile them into a comprehensive publication to be used as curricula by all future FEMMES programs.
3) Summer Day Camp: We will organize a week-long summer day-camp, to be initiated in summer 2009. Participants will be recruited through connections with Durham public schools; female Duke undergraduates as well as high school students will serve as counselors; activities will be led by Duke faculty and student volunteers.
4) Research: We will continue our research protocol, which consists of participant surveys that assess our program’s effectiveness and will help us enhance our programming.
5) Expansion: We have developed a partnership with students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and are in the process of helping them set up a FEMMES program. We hope to expand our outreach program to other universities as well.
6) Non-profit Status: We are working towards obtaining non-profit status in the hopes of founding a national organization. This will allow us to reach out to a more widespread population of young girls in underprivileged communities.
How Can Others Help?:
One of our big goals is to expand FEMMES to other universities. Consequently, we are looking for female college students who would be interested in starting a FEMMES chapter, and for faculty members who would serve as advisors and/or volunteers.
Locally, we are hoping to expand our after-school program to more elementary schools in Durham, NC and Chapel Hill, NC. We would love to hear from principals and teachers who would be interested in working with us.
We also need legal assistance as we apply for non-profit status in order to become a national organization. Our current budget does not have sufficient funds for this, so we are looking for someone who would be willing to donate their time and expertise.
Total hours volunteered (to date):
1000
Money Raised:
$26,000
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vmartir says:
Yes, women are very underrrepresented in the sciences and this is a great way to tackle the problem early on. Good luck!
gregs says:
I completely agree with the fact that women are excelling in the field of science. My area of concern is civil engineering and in the last few years, I have seen many women coming up. I will like to openly invite civil engineering women graduates to apply at Oakland civil engineering. We will welcome women with high credentials.
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You must Login or Register to post comments or replies.
Yes, women are very underrrepresented in the sciences and this is a great way to tackle the problem early on. Good luck!
I completely agree with the fact that women are excelling in the field of science. My area of concern is civil engineering and in the last few years, I have seen many women coming up. I will like to openly invite civil engineering women graduates to apply at Oakland civil engineering. We will welcome women with high credentials.