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STEM Advocacy


STEM is for Everyone! Read on for ways to be an advocate for STEM
 
      In General

    Support ALL students. Be inclusive. Give everyone a chance. Encourage curiosity, innovation, and going after STEM careers.

     Support STEM activities in the workplace. Ask your manager for an hour to support a program, if you are a manager, encourage, allow, and participate if possible.

     Utilize existing resources: attend career day at the local school or partner with existing organizations’ activities.

     It is often as simple as a phone call or e-mail to connect with and support existing opportunities.

     You can host your own STEM in the spotlight but you do not need to reinvent the wheel!

     Find something you love! It can be working with kids, working with curriculum, working with community members, creating a website, etc.

     Your talents benefit STEM! There are many ways to donate them to STEM

      With One Hour

     Call your local school and attend their career or science day.

      Most counties have a central website that lists all their schools, locations, phone numbers, etc.

     Local organizations will have an evening to showcase community members and their activities- this is a great way to spend an hour as well.

     Spend around an hour talking to kids about STEM, yourself and your career.

     You can also give them an activity that demonstrates STEM related concepts, such as a color vision test (or whatever is appropriate to your field).

     You can go by yourself or with your colleagues as a team.

      With One Day

     If you have a day to spare, you can

      Volunteer with a local organization’s science fair, career fair, youth day, or other day long activity aimed toward youth development. See the last chapter of this presentation for organizations.

     You will typically spend several hours introducing and leading an activity that demonstrates STEM related concepts, (for example in my field) the basics of vision science, a color vision test experiment, and fun facts. You may also spend time talking about yourself and your career.

     If you volunteer as a science fair, robotics, or science judge, you will spend the day evaluating projects, talking to kids, and possibly talking a little bit about yourself.

     You can go by yourself or with your colleagues as a team.

      With One Month

     If you have more than a day’s worth of time available to you, you can:

      Mentor kids (via public schools or existing organizations)

      Develop STEM curriculum for non profits to use in their programs

      Teach STEM, diversity, or advocacy

      Participate as a leader in existing STEM organizations

      Organize or host a career or science day

      With One Year or more

      Mentor kids (via public schools or existing organizations)

      Develop STEM curriculum for non profits to use in their programs

      Teach

      Participate as a leader in existing STEM organizations

      Organize or host a career or science day

      Create your own STEM initiative

      Become a voice for STEM in your local community

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