Texas Women and Girls in STEM Summit
Breakout Session 1
10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
 

Balancing STEM and Chronic Illnesses
EER 0.708

"I just do not think you can work in our lab; you are too sickly."

As a scientist and a survivor of Lupus, I will never forget a PI saying that to me.   Disabled or chronically ill individuals are the most underrepresented group in STEM today; however, six in 10 adults will deal with a chronic illness in their lifetime.  Women are more affected by chronic illness given that they are more likely to have a chronic illness or are more likely to be the caregiver to others with chronic illnesses.   Having a chronic illness should not mean an end to a career in STEM, but it does mean an adjustment.  In this presentation, I will share some lessons learned and advice on accepting chronically ill individual in STEM.

Presented by:
Jessica Snider, Director of STEM, Conservation and Sustainability, Capitol Area Council, BSA

Girls Engineering Now: Learn from an All-Girl Panel of Elementary Students
EER 3.642/3.640

An all-girl panel of students in grades 2nd - 5th will present the engineering design process followed at Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics & Engineering Elementary School.  Students will answer the questions who, what, where, when, and why of engineering at our elementary school.  The panel of students will  share how the engineering curriculum at our school has impacted them as students and leaders in the classroom.  The students will engage their audience in a problem based engineering project and close the session with a question and answer segment.

Presented by:
Jodi Spakes, Instructional Coach, Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics and Engineering Elementary
Erin Davis, Assistant Principal, Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics & Engineering Elementary

 Hidden in Plain Sight: Discovering STEM Potential
EER 3.646

To create the multifaceted STEM workforce that's needed to face the demands of an ever-changing STEM landscape, it's imperative to look beyond the stereotypical skills of technical proficiency in science, math, and technology, to find untapped STEM potential in a more diverse group. To discover the innovators of tomorrow, we can't use the same rubrics implemented today to define who has STEM potential.

In this session, you'll learn what skills are required to meet the STEM challenges the future holds, the effects of the current STEM paradox, ways to recognize non-stereotypical STEM potential, and tools to create a more inclusive classroom environment that cultivates soft skills in STEM students.

Presented by:
Leslie Diamond, Development Coordinator, Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering (TAME)

Leveraging Equitable Pedagogies to Recruit and Retain Underrepresented Students in High School Computer Science
EER 0.706

Computer Science Principles was the largest AP course launch in the history of the College Board, and the course has dramatically increased student diversity in AP computer science courses since 2016. In this session, panelists from UTeach Computer Science will share lessons learned from years of curriculum development and teacher professional development. They will discuss equitable pedagogies, including project-based instruction and culturally responsive teaching, and strategies for recruitment and retention of young women and underrepresented minority students in CS.

The panelists bring a breadth of experience in various facets of CS education, including teaching, professional development, and curriculum development.

Presented by:
Sarah Jenevein, Program Manager, UTeach Computer Science
Leslie Brommer, UTeach Computer Science
Carol Ramsey, Computer Science Teacher

Shaping the Future of STEM Guidebook for Internships and its Impact on Gender Diversity
EER 2.850

As a global healthcare company, Abbott knows women are a critical factor in solving the world's biggest problems with smart, imaginative thinking. Yet, in the United States, women make up just 24 percent of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workforce, which is way below other sectors. We created a STEM blueprint to share our experience launching a high school internship program and to inspire other companies to create their own programs—and help jump-start the process. We have partnered with STEMconnector—an organization committed to developing strategies that build, attract and retain a more diverse and sustainable STEM workforce—to help ensure companies interested in pursuing a high school STEM internship program have the resources and support they need to get started.

Presented by Abbott Women in STEM

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