Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA

Guest post by Universe of Learning

As we approach Women’s History Month in March, we look to our partners to help inspire their communities, and future generations, to discover and explore the universe for themselves.  Join us in Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA to celebrate the women in STEM and NASA Astrophysics.

Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA is an initiative within NASA’s Universe of Learning, an informal STEM learning and literacy program.  Growing from the pilot program NASA Science4Girls and Their Families, we are entering the second year of the initiative, where we aspire to empower women’s—especially young girls’—engagement in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).  We are currently seeking interested Year Two libraries to participate.

During the first year of Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA, participating libraries partnered with NASA’s Universe of Learning to provide resources and host events in over 100 locations across the country.  Our field-tested, hands-on resources are focused on engaging girls; however, events are open to all family members, regardless of gender or age.  Year One’s evaluations  show that those who meet a scientist or engineer see the greatest influence; 69% of participating youth were inspired to consider careers in STEAM when they grow up.

We will kick off our Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA events in March in recognition of Women’s History Month, but encourage girl-inspiring programming all year long.  If you would like to participate, please sign up by February 23 via our Interest Survey to access resources such as exhibits, hands-on activities, and discussions with NASA scientists and engineers.  You can sign up for events happening at any time during the year; the survey will also be reopened in late spring to support events in the summer/fall.

Learn more through the following links:

• NASA’s Universe of Learning: https://universe-of-learning.org/
• Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA: https://www.universe-of-learning.org/gsawn
• NASA Science Mission Directorate: https://science.nasa.gov/
• Women’s History Month (Library of Congress): https://womenshistorymonth.gov/
• International Women’s Day: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
• Women@NASA https://women.nasa.gov/

This material is based upon work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC65A.  Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.