Mission: 

Students want to see themselves represented in the historical STEM figures they learn about in school. It is our responsibility to advocate for a more diverse future. We want to make it clear to New York State that their curriculum should prioritize teaching us about STEM greats spanning more than just white men. There are so many others from minority groups that have contributed integral discoveries to STEM fields. Unveiling these stories will help more students across the state become motivated to pursue STEM disciplines in school and beyond.

Some Facts:

• Women make up only 28% of the STEM workforce
• Women in STEM make nearly $15,000 less per year than men
• 69% of STEM workers in the U.S. are White, 13% are Asian, 9% are Black, and 7% are Hispanic
• 42% of STEM workers believe that the lack of racial diversity in the STEM field may be due to certain groups not being encouraged to pursue STEM from an early age

Background & Problem:

It is essential to introduce relatable role models during a student’s educational journey because of their tendency to imitate traits of those who they identify with. For students interested in STEM, exposure to role models involved in these fields has the power to maintain their interest and increase the likelihood they will innovate in the future (National Inventors Hall of Fame). 

1. The under-representation of particular demographic groups being presented as STEM role models contributes to the shortage of STEM workforce candidates (Technology and Engineering Teacher - Vol 79, Issue 3 - Nov 2019). 
2. Female students and minority students often report lower levels of self-efficacy in relation to their male and/or racial majority contemporaries; especially in regards to their capabilities in STEM (Biomed Sci & Res. 2019 - 5(6)). 

To reverse this way of thinking, educators must teach about a more diverse array of role models. This way, we can begin to challenge stereotypes around careers where some groups may be traditionally under-represented. Schools can include the contributions of female engineers and black computer scientists within their curriculum to unequivocally assert that everyone can belong in STEM (National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity). These aren’t just empty words. 

1. Recently, Microsoft found that when girls had a STEM mentor that inspired them, ​their interest in pursuing STEM nearly doubled​.
2. A research study conducted by Stony Brook University found that reading about STEM role models increased students’ sense of belonging in their academic environment. 
3. Most importantly, research has found that inclusive and equitable teaching practices boast a greater influence on STEM performance and confidence in students’ abilities to pursue STEM careers than even the students’ own background characteristics (Cabrera et al., 2001).

Solution:

This petition aims to show the NYS Education Department (who is responsible for laying out K-12 STEM curriculum) that students want to learn about role models in science, technology, engineering, and math that are more representative of them. The Committee on STEM Education’s report outlining “America’s Strategy for STEM Education” mentions the word “diverse” many times. The government aims to create a “diverse federal STEM workforce” and acknowledges that “diverse groups outperform more homogeneous groups, especially when it comes to creativity and innovation.”

However, to retain a diverse set of learners, you can’t just rely on community organizations and outreach programs. Incorporate that spirit into the school curriculum that we all engage with. Many students, including us at Saturday Scholars, aren’t aware of the contributions of scientists not introduced in our school environment. This is why we urge you to teach more about groundbreaking STEM figures hailing from traditionally under-represented minority groups; that is how you create a truly inclusive environment.

DON'T FORGET TO SHARE THIS PETITION WITH YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS, FELLOW ADVOCATES, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. 

"To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try." ~ Rosa Louise McCauley Parks