36.8 million people held STEM careers in 2021, according to Science and Engineering Indicators. 18% of that number consists of women.
Women in STEM is a national science-based club that introduces Haven students to STEM careers, programs, and opportunities, while preparing young women to become even more involved in STEM careers. The club, which meets on Wednesdays once a month, aims to not only prepare young women for a future in STEM but also to further its impact on the community. The September 17 interest meeting was run by club presidents senior Kaitlyn Ho and junior Lavanya Dixit and introduced the club to new and returning students.
This year, leaders of the club want to build off of a successful 2024-2025 school year by incorporating some of the things that worked well last year into meetings again.
“We want to continue inviting and hosting guest speakers because that’s a really good opportunity for people to see how STEM careers develop, and the process that other women go through navigating the STEM field,” Dixit said. “We heard feedback and people found it to be very useful and informative.”
However, this year, club leaders are trying something different to expand the club even further. Not only does the club aim to build STEM knowledge for high school students, but also for the community. One of the club’s goals this year is to build upon the STEM knowledge of younger students in the district as well, through giving presentations and making STEM kits.
“We want to visit the middle school and present STEM concepts to them, and elementary schools as well,” Dixit said. “The elementary school doesn’t enforce as much science learning as they do English or math.”
Active club member and senior Maya Hartung believes that getting children involved in STEM at a young age is the goal of the STEM presentations.
“[It’s] a really good way to expand our STEM education for young kids in our district, and to increase their passion for STEM,” Hartung said.
In addition to providing free STEM education to students, the club leaders aim to raise funds for supporting a new project this year, one that would be available for elementary school classrooms.
“We want to fundraise and raise money for making STEM kits. These would be a box that has all the materials needed to conduct a little experiment, and a QR code to a video of us walking them through the experiment, telling them what they can learn from it and how it’s applied in the real world for classrooms,” Dixit said.
Women in STEM ran a table at the activities fair on Friday, September 5, to encourage people to join the club. New members attended the interest meeting on September 17, including freshman Damini Mydur, who is already brainstorming for the club.
“I’m really excited to put together the STEM kits and little presentations. I have a few ideas in mind already, so that’s going to be fun,” Mydur said.
With many events planned for the school year, the club presidents are excited to see how the club grows.
“We’re really excited to see how this year goes!” Dixit said.
