Philadelphia is working hard to help students, especially young women, get interested in STEM careers, which include science, technology, engineering, and math.
Events and programs across the city are providing hands-on experiences and inspiring the next generation to explore these fields.
At Penn Medicine, a special event called “STEM Goes Red” brought together more than 140 high school students from the Philadelphia School District.
This event, sponsored by the American Heart Association, focused on encouraging young women to think about careers in STEM.
During the event, students learned to program miniature computers called Ozobots.
Using smart markers, they gave the Ozobots instructions to perform certain movements, which combine creativity and coding in a fun and educational way.
Dr. Helene Glassberg from Penn Medicine talked about how few women are in STEM jobs today and how important it is to change that.
Students like Tajanay Wilson, who loves science, and Anaaje Booker-Neal, who enjoyed coding her Ozobot, left the event feeling excited about STEM.
Anaaje, who dreams of becoming a labor and delivery nurse, said learning coding made her even more interested in science.
Another big celebration happened at Imhotep Institute Charter High School for International STEM Day.
The theme was “The Future of AI and Robotics.”
Students saw a robotic dog named Jiggy perform tricks like waving and dancing.
The event, led by Shirley Posey and her STEM Ambassadors, showed how artificial intelligence (AI) is used in many areas, including law enforcement and the military.
Posey explained how AI needs people to program it, which is why it’s so important for everyone to be included in its development.
Students also explored different STEM stations, like a virtual reality medical booth, an AI flight simulator for pilot training, and a hydroponics system using AI to grow food.
These activities helped students see how STEM skills are used in the real world.
Many students, like Nori Farmer and Yusuf Harris, said the event helped them feel more confident about their abilities and excited about a future in STEM.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Braskem are also helping students through their “Tackling STEM” program.
This program is designed for middle school students and has reached nearly 15,000 kids since starting in 2018.
As it mixes online learning with fun, the hands-on activities make STEM exciting and easy to understand.
This year, the program will reach up to 10,000 students in over 20 schools in the Philadelphia area.
It also helps teachers with professional training and offers STEM-focused field trips.
One of the highlights this year will be a trip to Lincoln Financial Field, where students will participate in STEM activities and tour the stadium.
Mark Nikolich, CEO of Braskem America, said the program helps kids imagine new possibilities and get excited about STEM careers.
Amazingly, these events and programs inspire students across Philadelphia to think about careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
By giving them fun, real-world experiences, the city is helping them build skills and confidence for the future.
More importantly, these efforts show students, especially those from underrepresented groups, that they belong in STEM and can succeed.
Through teamwork and creativity, Philadelphia is helping shape the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.
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