Stem For Girls gives a pathway to the Next Generation

STEM is for Students who are looking for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Hosted STEM for Girls.

This was an event where girls in 5th through 12th grade were given the opportunity to see that it is possible to get a career in STEM. There was a Keynote speech given by Senior Digital Marketing Specialist Jessica Piffero. Spoke about her experience working as marketing specialist through social media.

The director of STEM for Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, Jason Horsman, helped put the event on because of the opportunity for the girls to see potential careers.

“Show girls that there’s plenty of people in those fields that look like them sound like them, and that they can pursue you know those ideas even if its not something that they saw in themselves,” Horsman said.

Students were sent to breakout sessions to learn about a variety of subjects one of those breakout sessions was with Assistant Professor Nikki Inglis. Students learned about how satellite imagery works and how it is used. Inglis understands the importance of having events like STEM for Girls.

“I wish I had when iIwas their age. Just to have some curiosities to look forward to in school. Maybe things are not getting in the classroom, and just to know what opportunities are out there,” Inglis said.

Students also got to learn physics through hands-on demonstrations by lecturer Joseph White. There were beds of nails, liquid nitrogen, and a superconductor as part of the live demonstrations.

“What we were doing was putting a name to what they already have seen in the world and relating that to them, White said.

The next generation of scientists has just been born.