Princesses to Astronauts:Getting girls into science and technology

Why do I care?

We encourage girls in science and technology becausefreedom to fulfil personal potential without cultural or

social restrictions is a human right I am passionate about.

Why should you care?

Lack of women in technology and science is not just a problem for women, it’s an

economic and social problem.

Why should you care?

Women are key to economic growth

Some solutions

Women in senior management increases company ROI.

More women in the labor force improves a country’s GDP.

More women in science and technology means more minds addressing key humanity problems such as global warming and disease control.

Let’s achieve that!

Girls need their own table

• Sheryl Sandberg, COO Facebook – Lean In.• Marissa Mayer, President and CEO of Yahoo.• Lynn Good, CEO of Duke Energy, and • Mary Barra, CEO of GM. • Melanie Perkins, cofounder Canva.com• Leaning in is a great start for women to get a seat at the

corporate table, but... • Women need their own tables! Teach girls more than

technical skills, teach girls to be entrepreneurial leaders.

Build Global Communities

• Girl Scouts USA - girlscouts.org/STEM added attention to introducing girls to STEM.

• Girls Who Code - Girlswhocode.com / @girlswhocode

• A Mighty Girl - @amightygirl• FITT – fitt.org.au (Sydney, Australia)

Tailor Play for Girls • Games, play toys can create new stories and mythologies that present girls as

technology heroes.• Listen to what girls think is fun, let them help design the games.• Don’t be stereotypical, encourage girls to be creative. Let them imagine being

astronauts and not only princesses (not that there’s anything wrong with princesses!)

• Create games, toys, books, clothing that include girls in technology• Create toys for girls that encourage experimentation and creative problem solving.

Conclusion• Technology is the future. Girls and women need to get on board. It’s not happening enough. • Individuals, organizations and society benefit from women participating in science and

technology.

5 things to encourage girls into science and technology:

1. Help girls get their own table. Teach more than just technical skills, also teach entrepreneurial and leadership skills.

2. Girls can join great communities around the world. They are growing.3. Women in technology and science should consider becoming mentors and

mascots to young women and girls.4. Through games and toys, create new mythologies and stories for girls about

science and technology heroes.5. Listen to girls when designing games and toys. Girls can engage in

technology through play when games are tailored to what girls think is fun.

References • What’s so special about stem- Jennifer L.Jennifer L. Glass, Sharon Sassler, Yael Levitte, Katherine M.

Michelmore Social Force, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4279242 /• Sandberg, Sheryl (2013) Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, on Amazon Kindle,

http://www.amazon.com/Lean-In-Women-Work-Will• http://www.unfoundation.org/blog/female-entrepreneurs.html?referrer=https://www.google.com.au/• http://time.com/money/3942145/science-games-goldieblox-roominate-stem/• http://www.edutopia.org/blog/5-ways-girls-involved-STEM-karen-purcell• http://www.fastcompany.com/3045104/the-future-of-work/a-look-inside-the-new-trends-in-business• http://

www.forbes.com/sites/women2/2012/04/09/why-women-continue-to-lag-behind-men-in-the-startup-community-and-what-we-can-do-about-it

• girlscouts.org/STEM• https://www.ncwit.org/sites/default/files/resources/girlsinit_thefacts_fullreport2012.pdf• Amightygirl.com• Girlswhocode.com• Fitt.org.au• http://www.roominatetoy.com• http://www.goldieblox.com

Princesses to Astronauts:Getting girls into science and technology

Thanks for listening