Empowering Female High School Students for STEM Futures: Career Exploration and Leadership Development at Scientella
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- RQ1. How does Scientella help female high school students prepare for future post-secondary education and careers in STEM?
- RQ2. What benefits do stakeholders receive from their participation in Scientella’s out-of-school programming?
- RQ3. How has Scientella addressed the challenges it faces when delivering its out-of-school programming?
2. Literature Review
2.1. The STEM Gender Gap
2.2. STEM Identities
2.3. Academic and Career Aspirations in STEM
2.4. Admissions into Post-Secondary Education
3. Methods
- RQ1. How does Scientella help female high school students prepare for future post-secondary education and careers in STEM?
- RQ2. What benefits do stakeholders receive from their participation in Scientella’s out-of-school programming?
- RQ3. How has Scientella addressed the challenges it faces when delivering its out-of-school programming?
4. Results and Discussion
4.1. Organizational Structure
4.2. Activities
4.2.1. Student Consulting Projects
4.2.2. Mentorships
4.2.3. Webinars
4.2.4. Scholarships
4.2.5. Chapter Activities
4.3. Benefits
4.3.1. Student Consulting Projects
4.3.2. Mentorships
4.3.3. Webinars
“As a sponsor of the ‘Sleepless in High School’ consulting project, we ran several webinars aimed at educating students about sleep science, disorders, treatments, and digital solutions. These sessions offered a platform for female STEM professionals like myself to share our career journeys. The webinars were aligned with ResMed’s mission to raise awareness about sleep health and the importance of effective treatments for sleep disorders. Introducing others early to sleep health ensures people place the right amount of attention to their sleep, improves their quality of life and ability to recognize when there is an issue to seek diagnosis and treatment.
Through these webinars, ResMed employees had the opportunity to present their diverse backgrounds in various STEM fields, including clinical, technological, and research disciplines. It was such a rewarding experience to connect with and introduce the younger generation to the wide range of STEM career paths available to them. I wish I had similar opportunities at their age to help guide me on my path!”
4.3.4. Leadership Development
“I gained a lot of benefits from my Scientella experience, especially with leadership skills. It was a new experience to manage a group of students across counties, and sometimes states, while also working with industry professionals. It presented a new set of challenges and required me to develop a different set of skills which have proven to be immensely useful. Determining how to structure a project and delegate work in a manner that played to everyone’s strengths, while pushing people to develop their own skills was an interesting and challenging task”.
4.3.5. College Readiness
“I definitely think it played a significant role in my college applications, as I was able to write about the specific impact I had on individuals in my community, both on a personal level and a larger scale”.
“Really nice resume boost & research experience. I love providing solutions for big companies, and I later am able to understand the company’s mission when I talk about them. The activities/work are great talking point for group projects experience, and nice to mention during interviews”.
“I learned the importance of networking. As a first-generation immigrant, I have no relatives, let alone connections in the country to help me professionally or personally. All of Scientella’s professional events and advising network opened my eyes to how valuable it is to know people coming from all walks of life. Now in college, as I am applying to internships, I still benefit from the rich network Scientella offers, being able to reach out to professionals and connect with them”.
4.4. Challenges
4.4.1. Scale-Up Challenges
4.4.2. Operational Challenges
4.4.3. Resourcing Challenges
5. Conclusions
Limitations and Future Research
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A
Date | Project Sponsor | Project Title | Participants | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | ResMed + GSK + Catalia Health | Social Robots for Pediatric Asthma | A team of 3 students | The team assessed the utility of social robots in the management of pediatric asthma. For primary research, the students interviewed asthma patients, a respiratory care/pharmaceutical expert, a pediatric asthma physician, and a social robotics expert. For secondary research, the students explored pediatric asthma, treatment, and existing digital technologies. The final report included summaries of research, a day in the life of an asthma patient with and without a social robot, and solution ideas specific to sponsor companies. |
2021 | Embodied | Expansion of Social Learning Robot Content | A team of 8 students | The team explored how Embodied could expand their social learning robot content beyond just children to also involve other family members, both inside and outside the home. |
2021 | BrainLeap Technologies | Sales Strategy for Attention-Training Video Games | A team of 6 students | The team investigated the parent decision-making process pertaining to the purchase of solutions for children’s attention deficit challenges. For primary research, the students interviewed parents of children with attention issues and the BrainLeap Chief Science Officer to learn about the scientific basis of the Attention Arcade (BrainLeap’s product). The final report included a summary of parent interviews, buyer personas, a customer journey map, and insights on solutioning for BrainLeap’s sales strategy. |
2021 | HP | Printing Behaviors and Attitudes Amongst High Schoolers | A team of 6 students | The team explored technology trends amongst high schoolers and solutioning for today’s major digital issues. For primary research, the students surveyed and interviewed other high schoolers. For secondary research, the students investigated current teenage technology trends and problems. The final report included a summary of survey results, identification of technology problems, and explanations of solutions for each. |
2021 | Quanterix | Demand Projections for COVID-19 Testing in Schools | A team of 7 students | The team assessed the demand for high-level COVID-19 testing in high school and college settings for the 2021–22 school year. For primary research, the students conducted surveys and interviews with high school students, college students, and school administrators. For secondary research, the students investigated COVID-19 testing situations across the country. The final report included summaries of research, major insights, customer personas, future scenario possibilities, and solution ideas for Quanterix. |
2021 | Illumina | Digital Trends in Pediatric Genetic Counseling | A team of 8 students | The team set out to investigate the future of Pediatric Genetic Counseling via the use of digital health technologies such as telemedicine, patient self-guided apps and AR/VR. For primary research, the students conducted interviews with genetic counselors at leading children’s hospitals. For secondary research, the students researched the proliferation of genetic testing and how it poses challenges and opportunities. The final report included summaries of research as well as the top problems and solutions that Illumina could look to address. |
2021 | ResMed | Sleepless in High School | A team of 7 students | The team sought to understand habits, awareness, and attitudes towards sleep amongst high school students. For primary research, the students conducted surveys and interviews with teenage peers, and kept their own daily sleep diary. For secondary research, the students researched sleep science and sleep performance facts and trends. The final reports included summaries of research, an affinity diagram, journey map, sleep-student personas, and solution ideas ResMed can consider. |
2022 | Qualcomm | The Future of NFTs | A team of 7 students | The team explored the future of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) including minting and selling their own. Through their research and a hands-on in-person experience at Qualcomm in San Diego, the students uncovered the technical aspects of NFTs, their role in society, how they are shaping digital media and what it would take for teenagers to embrace the concept fully beyond what could be a passing fad. |
2022 | Microsoft | The Future of the Metaverse | A team of 6 students | The team explored the future of the metaverse from the perspective of their generation. The students identified future possibilities, but also the associated challenges to ushering in the era of a mixed reality. Digging deeper, the students surveyed and interviewed their peers to find out which applications best resonated with teenagers and which concerns must be addressed to realize the potential of the metaverse in improving the human condition. |
2022 | ResMed | Sleepless in High School | 9 teams, 53 students | Teams sought to understand habits, awareness, and attitudes towards sleep amongst high school students. For primary research, the students conducted surveys and interviews with teenage peers, and kept their own daily sleep diary. For secondary research, the students researched sleep science and sleep performance facts and trends. The final reports included summaries of research, an affinity diagram, journey map, sleep-student personas, and solution ideas ResMed can consider. |
2023 | Microsoft | ChatGPT and The Future of Education | 7 teams, 26 students | Teams researched ChatGPT online, experienced ChatGPT directly for essay writing assistance, and conducted surveys with students and teachers. They drafted final reports on the pros and cons of ChatGPT and presented them to Microsoft and their respective schools. |
2023 | Illumina | Genomics of Cardiovascular Disease | 8 teams, 38 students | Teams created and presented a final report based on primary and secondary research to investigate cardiovascular disease, its intersection with genomics, awareness/interest amongst high schoolers, any problems with current screening methods, solution proposals including ways Illumina can be involved, and prediction of future trends. |
2023 | ResMed | Sleepless in High School | 13 teams, 87 students | Teams sought to understand habits, awareness, and attitudes towards sleep amongst high school students. For primary research, the students conducted surveys and interviews with teenage peers, and kept their own daily sleep diary. For secondary research, the students researched sleep science and sleep performance facts and trends. The final reports included summaries of research, an affinity diagram, journey map, sleep-student personas, and solution ideas ResMed can consider. |
2024 | aTyr Pharmaceuticals | Pharma Companion Apps: Therapeutic Benefits and Scientific Dissemination | 9 teams, 54 students | Teams sought to understand the pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS) patient journey including common symptoms, needs, and challenges. Through primary and secondary research methods, they assessed whether aTyr should develop their own companion app to accompany their drug Efzofitimod for the personalized treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS). They provided scientific dissemination examples on how aTyr should understandably explain Efzofitimod, basic tRNA synthetase biology, and the basic science of PS to general users. |
Year | Sponsor’s Company | Webinar Name | Description |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Exagen | College and Career Success | Students learned how to self-brand to secure opportunities, write their resume, craft a cover letter, and succeed in interviews. |
2021 | ResMed | Innovator’s Journey | Students learned about qualitative and quantitative user research methods, empathy in innovation, interviewing, and reflection through visualization techniques. |
2021 | ResMed | Sleep Science and Obstructive Sleep Apnea | Students learned about sleep science and Obstructive Sleep Apnea, including diagnostics and therapeutics. |
2021 | Embodied | Moxie: The Social Robot | Students learned the basics of making a social robot, including the robotics, artificial intelligence, and sensor technologies, and software rules required to enable social, emotional, and cognitive development for kids. |
2021 | Illumina | Genomics, Microarrays, and Next-Generation Sequencing | Students learned about the career journey of an Illumina R&D veteran, as well as explored the basics of genomics and DNA sequencing platforms. |
2021 | Microsoft | The Metaverse | Students learned about Microsoft, the basics of the metaverse, and how Microsoft engages with this field through AR/VR technologies. |
2021 | Slalom | Careers in STEM Consulting | Students learned about what it means to be a STEM consultant, including why companies seek consultants, education requirements, and the panelists’ experiences as women consultants in STEM. |
2021 | ResMed | ResMed, Sleep, and Career Advice | Students learned about the career backgrounds of ResMed professionals, received valuable career advice, learned about ResMed’s medical devices for chronic respiratory conditions, and were introduced to the upcoming Student Consulting Project titled “Sleepless in High School” to investigate sleep challenges/attitudes/behaviors amongst high school students. |
2022 | Qualcomm | The Future of NFTs | Students learned about the basics of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), including key enabling technologies, common applications, and challenges. |
2022 | LinkedIn Profile Building and Personal Branding | Students learned from a LinkedIn employee on how to strategically build their LinkedIn profile, create a strong professional online presence, and leverage the platform’s networking and job search benefits to bolster their career journey. Tips included turning one’s LinkedIn profile into a story, reaching out to recruiters at target companies, and posting engaging content. | |
2022 | Appia Bio | Careers in Cell Therapy | Students learned the career trajectories of Appia Bio scientists and operations managers. They received tips on how to discover the possibilities of college degrees and jobs in biotechnology fields. Students also received advice on how to succeed in their first job, including ensuring a good fit between the company and their personal strengths/aspirations. |
2022 | ResMed | ResMed, Sleep, and Career Advice | Students learned about the career backgrounds of ResMed professionals, received valuable career advice, learned about ResMed’s medical devices for chronic respiratory conditions, and were introduced to the upcoming Student Consulting Project titled “Sleepless in High School” to investigate sleep challenges/attitudes/behaviors amongst high school students. |
2023 | Microsoft | ChatGPT and The Future of Education | Students learned the basic technology premises behind artificial intelligence and new foundational models. They explored ChatGPT, ethical considerations, and what it could do to revolutionize schooling. Students were introduced to the upcoming Student Consulting Project on this topic. |
2023 | Illumina | Illumina, Genomics, and Cardiovascular Disease | Students learned about Alexa Tralla’s career background, experience with the American Heart Association, and Illumina’s involvement in cardiac disease genomic testing, and were introduced to the upcoming “Genomics of Cardiovascular Disease” Student Consulting Project. |
2023 | LinkedIn Profile Building and Personal Branding | Students learned from a LinkedIn employee on how to strategically build their LinkedIn profile, create a strong professional online presence, and leverage the platform’s networking and job search benefits to bolster their career journey. Tips included turning one’s LinkedIn profile into a story, reaching out to recruiters at target companies, and posting engaging content. | |
2023 | ResMed | ResMed, Sleep, and Career Advice | Students learned about the career backgrounds of ResMed professionals, received valuable career advice, learned about ResMed’s medical devices for chronic respiratory conditions, and were introduced to the upcoming Student Consulting Project titled “Sleepless in High School” to investigate sleep challenges/attitudes/behaviors amongst high school students. |
2023 | 5 physicians | Women in Medicine | Students heard from a panel of five physicians (working psychiatry, neurology, emergency medicine, and pathology) on their academic and career journeys, experiences as women in medicine, day-to-day life, biggest pieces of advice, and a Q&A. |
2024 | aTyr Pharmaceuticals | Pharma Companion Apps: Therapeutic Benefits and Scientific Dissemination | Attendees heard from an aTyr employee about aTyr as a pharmaceutical company and their use of innovative tRNA synthetase biology for new fibrosis and inflammation therapies. Students were introduced to Scientella’s upcoming aTyr Student Consulting Project called “Pharma Companion Apps: Therapeutic Benefits and Scientific Dissemination” set to investigate the pulmonary sarcoidosis patient journey, explore how companion apps accompany a drug to improve the therapeutic experience, and the importance of proper scientific dissemination. |
Year | Chapter | Initiative | Description |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Heritage High School | Battery Drive | Organized a battery drive and donated over 425 batteries to the City of Frisco Environmental Services. |
2022 | Valencia High School | “Down to a Science” Camp | Ran a free 4-week science camp at their local elementary school for students in 4th and 5th Grade. By providing lessons across a variety of unique STEM fields, Valencia members acted as positive role models and sparked fascination for STEM in younger students. |
2022 | Valencia High School | Beach Clean Up | Hosted a beach clean-up at their local Huntington Beach. |
2023 | Del Norte High School | Blood Drive | Organized a blood drive in partnership with the San Diego Sikh Foundation and American Red Cross. |
2023 | Del Norte High School | Webinar with a Pharmaceutical Professional | Recruited a pharmaceutical professional to give a virtual talk on their educational and career journey, job responsibilities, and advice. |
2023 | Doral Academy Preparatory High School | Family Expo with The Children’s Trust | Shared free school resources and information about resources and opportunities for children in their community, such as after-school enrichment programs, nutrition education, injury prevention, and programs for children with special needs. |
2023 | Doral Academy Preparatory High School | Clothing Drive | Hosted a clothing drive and donated 2300 pieces of clothing, shoes, bedsheets, and bags, worth an estimated USD 10,000+, to Goodwill South Florida for children and families in need. |
2023 | Doral Academy Preparatory High School | Holiday School Supply Drive | Gathered hundreds of school supplies, assembled 36 bags tailored for elementary students, and distributed bags to families facing financial challenges for support during the holiday season. |
2024 | Canyon Hills High School | Visit to La Jolla Institute of Immunology | Organized a visit to the La Jolla Institute of Immunology. They went on a tour and spoke to 5 female scientists about their careers, how it is to be in STEM as a woman, and various possible career paths. |
2024 | Canyon Hills High School | Visit to UC San Diego Women Who Inspire Conference | Attended the ‘Women Who Inspire’ Conference at UC San Diego on International Women’s Day. They gained industry exposure and heard from women professionals on a variety of STEAM topics. |
2024 | Canyon Crest Academy | STEM Showcase | Created a large poster and shared information on Scientella to fellow students at their local STEM Showcase. |
2024 | Canyon Crest Academy | Raffle Fundraiser | Hosted an online raffle fundraiser to raise money for Scientella through chapter member ticket sales and prizes. |
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Chapter Name | Location | School Type | Year Founded |
---|---|---|---|
Canyon Crest Academy | San Diego, CA, USA | Public | 2021 |
Del Norte High School | San Diego, CA, USA | Public | 2021 |
Valencia High School | Placentia, CA, USA | Public | 2021 |
The Rivers School | Weston, MA, USA | Private | 2021 |
Heritage High School | Frisco, TX, USA | Public | 2021 |
The Bishop’s School | San Diego, CA, USA | Private | 2022 |
Portola High School | Irvine, CA, USA | Public | 2023 |
Canyon Hills High School | San Diego, CA, USA | Public | 2023 |
Westview High School | San Diego, CA, USA | Public | 2023 |
Troy High School | Fullerton, CA, USA | Public | 2023 |
Pacific Ridge School | Carlsbad, CA, USA | Private | 2023 |
Allen High School | Allen, TX, USA | Public | 2023 |
Doral Academy Preparatory High School | Doral, FL, USA | Public | 2023 |
Ardrey Kell High School | Charlotte, NC, USA | Public | 2023 |
Millenium National School | Pune, India | Public | 2023 |
Independence High School | Frisco, TX, USA | Public | 2023 |
Project Phase | Activity | Description |
---|---|---|
Project initiation | Kick-off webinar | The project sponsor introduces themselves, their organization, and the consulting project challenge during a webinar. |
Student registration | Interested high school students register for the consulting project. | |
Team formation | Student teams are formed, with a preference for teams within the same high school chapter to allow for in-person communication. | |
Project execution (6–8 weeks) | Problem analysis | Teams begin exploring the challenge to understand the problem, its causes, and consequences. |
Data collection and analysis | Teams collect and analyze appropriate primary and secondary data to expand their understanding of the problem. | |
Solution development | Informed by the data collected and analyzed, teams identify potential solutions. | |
Team support | Throughout the project, teams receive support from a combination of the General Manager, up to two student project managers, and the project sponsor. | |
Project deliverables | Teams produce a final report that summarizes their understanding of the problem, their recommended solutions, and potential implications. |
Fiscal Year | Number of Mentorship Matches |
---|---|
2020–2021 | 16 |
2021–2022 | 9 |
2022–2023 | 7 |
2023–2024 | 11 |
Category | Theme | Example Student Quotes |
---|---|---|
Career exploration | Career discovery | “I also enjoyed how this project tied in STEM, business, and technology and it gave me an opportunity to learn about possible career paths”. “I was exposed to the field of pediatric genetic counseling and the intersection of counseling and technology”. |
Industry engagement | “[I] received guidance from an experienced industry professional”. “It was a really cool experience to be able to work with a company as famous as [the company]”. | |
Practical experience | “It was great gaining insight on the business world and gaining real world experience!” “Scientella provided me with an extremely rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the business world of the STEM field”. | |
Skill development | Collaboration | “I learned a lot about […] how to work with teammates”. “Throughout this process I learned […] the pros/cons of working in a fully digital team”. |
Communication | “It was very fun interacting with the team and I gained a lot of exposure not only related to the topic but also important skills of communication”. “I learned […] how to create a real presentation to present to real world leaders. I enjoyed this”. | |
Social research | “I learned useful information about conducting interviews […] and qualitative data analysis”. “I came into the project with minimal knowledge of market research, and I was surprised by how much I learned over the course of a few months”. |
College | College Major |
---|---|
Carnegie Mellon University | Chemistry and Mathematics |
Emory University | Biology and Mathematics |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Mathematics |
University of California Irvine | Dance and Psychology |
University of California Los Angeles | Bioengineering |
University of California Los Angeles | Neuroscience, Pre-Med |
University of California Santa Barbara | Data Science |
University of Chicago | Biological Sciences, Pre-Med |
University of Maryland | Mathematics and Computer Science |
University of Texas at Austin | Computer Science |
University of Texas at Austin | Computer Science |
Washington University in St Louis | Biology |
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© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Ford, S.J.; dos Santos, R.; dos Santos, R. Empowering Female High School Students for STEM Futures: Career Exploration and Leadership Development at Scientella. Educ. Sci. 2024, 14, 955. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14090955
Ford SJ, dos Santos R, dos Santos R. Empowering Female High School Students for STEM Futures: Career Exploration and Leadership Development at Scientella. Education Sciences. 2024; 14(9):955. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14090955
Chicago/Turabian StyleFord, Simon J., Raquel dos Santos, and Ricardo dos Santos. 2024. "Empowering Female High School Students for STEM Futures: Career Exploration and Leadership Development at Scientella" Education Sciences 14, no. 9: 955. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14090955