Bridging the Gender Gap in STEM with Girls Go Circular
In a world where only 3% of investment goes to women-led businesses, programmes like Girls Go Circular are changing the narrative. This groundbreaking initiative equips girls aged 14-18 with digital, entrepreneurial, and green skills, empowering them to close the gender gap in STEM and innovation. In this episode, Matt Eastland is joined by Solène Moutier, Laura Borge, and alumna Daniela Garcia Moreno to discuss how the program is fostering diversity, confidence, and creativity.
Synopsis
Learn how Girls Go Circular is addressing critical challenges like gender inequality and digital skill shortages while inspiring the next generation to tackle sustainability issues through innovation. Hear Daniela’s inspiring story of creating “Be Mighty,” a robot designed to save honeybee colonies, and discover how Girls Go Circular is helping young women build foundational skills for their future careers.
Key Takeaways:
1. STEM Needs Diversity: Only 19% of the EU tech workforce is female, and programs like Girls Go Circular are essential to filling the talent gap while promoting innovation.
2. Digital Skills for Sustainability: Learning modules on topics like circular economy, food waste, and smart gardening equip students to address real-world challenges.
3. Representation Matters: A lack of role models and hands-on experience discourages girls from pursuing STEM fields. Girls Go Circular counters this by building confidence and community.
4. Youth-Led Innovation: Projects like Daniela’s “Be Mighty” demonstrate how young women are applying STEM knowledge to solve pressing issues, such as saving pollinators crucial to food systems.
5. Building the Future Workforce: With digitalization increasing across industries, closing the gender gap in STEM is critical for economic growth and equity.
Episode Highlights:
• The Digital Gender Gap: Solène points out the alarming statistics about the lack of female representation in STEM fields and explains how Girls Go Circular is bridging this divide through education and mentorship.
• Practical Learning Modules: Laura discusses modules on food sustainability, such as vertical farming and circular economy practices, that inspire creativity and real-world problem-solving.
• Be Mighty Innovation: Daniela shares how Girls Go Circular sparked her interest in robotics and sustainability, culminating in her team’s creation of a robot to combat threats to honeybee colonies.
• Breaking Barriers in STEM: The panel discusses how diversity in STEM leads to more innovative solutions and why inclusive programs like Girls Go Circular are crucial to solving global challenges.
Calls to Action:
1. Teachers and Schools: Implement Girls Go Circular in your curriculum to empower your students.
2. Join the Movement: Advocate for gender diversity in STEM and sustainability by sharing stories of young innovators using #GirlsGoCircular and #EITFoodFight.
3. Support Innovation: Encourage young women in your community to explore STEM fields and connect them with mentorship programs.
4. Embrace Circularity: Adopt sustainable practices in daily life and support initiatives promoting circular economy principles.
Resources:
• EIT Food Learning Modules: Explore topics like food waste reduction, aquaponics, and vertical farming.
• Be Mighty Project: Learn about Daniela’s robot addressing honeybee colony collapse.
• Circular Economy in Food Cities Module: Discover how innovative technologies tackle food waste.
Subscribe and Connect:
Join the Food Fight Podcast to explore inspiring stories of innovation and transformation. Subscribe to never miss an episode and join the conversation using #EITFoodFight and #GirlsGoCircular. Together, we can empower future leaders to build a more inclusive and sustainable world.
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