A letter from Mar 03, 2025

Dear FutureMe, There are a great many inequities in this world that need to be addressed, but I will reserve most of those for later. This email is to inspire you to think about how girls are represented in STEM and STEAM. In a 2017 UNESCO report, it was stated that “[b]y higher education, women represent only 35% of all students enrolled in STEM-related fields of study” (p. 11), which is clearly unacceptable. Therefore, I must ask my future self, what are some ways I, as a librarian, can help increase interest and address inequality in this area? After reading some articles, watching a few videos, and chatting with some of my colleagues, I’ve come up with a few action steps I can take. These are in no particular order of importance. * Instead of a Read to ME campaign, what about Code with ME? Or something STEM related? * Start a mentorship program and include our tech integrator and computer science teacher. * Advocate to have our curriculum map resources to include a diverse group of scientists and mathematicians. * Encourage project-based learning that connects to students' lived experiences and communities. * Have a student lead a book club that is centered on books by and/or about women in STEM/STEAM. * Have a student or students help me develop a "STEM/STEAM literacy" program that helps students navigate scientific literature, evaluate sources, and develop research skills essential for STEM success. * Host maker spaces or tech workshops in the library where all students can experiment with technology, coding, or engineering concepts in a low-pressure environment. I look forward to learning what you were able to accomplish next year! All the best, Kristin, Your Future Self Works Cited Zacharia, Zacharias, and Zayba Ghazali. "Cracking the Code: Girls' and Women's Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)." UNESCO, 2017, unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000253479. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.