Make the space for youth experiential learning and leading
Renton Public Library, youth workshop, 8/15/19, Pictured Tarini, Roshni, Esther, Dilini, Shivank
When Geena Davis was honored at the 2022 Emmys for her work for Women in Media, she quoted the adage “if you can see it, you can be it” (2022, 74th Annual Emmy Awards). It is very true that we are seeing representation in media and social spheres now more than ever, but we can do better. These women featured here have long been supporting this premise by leading in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) community even before they started high school. They can tell you experiences of being the only girls in workshops and robotics clubs, and even rising as leaders where they did not see any women leading before them. Roshni, and Tarini Srikanth and Vidhi Jain had been hosting events at local libraries when they were middle schoolers. Dilini (2nd from the right) had been coached by Tarini and Roshni (1st and 2nd from the left). Dilini came to STEM with engineered prototypes for competitions and a strong background in programming micro-electronics. Both featured writers have been in STEM since middle school, and they have continued this work as women in STEM through summer internships and opportunities to lead in the community. Another shared experience is that both worked in the summer with other women in STEM. They are powerful voices of women in STEM who are also building community in these fields of study, paving the way for current younger learners to see that they too can “see it and be it.”
Roshni
Hi everyone! My name is Roshni Srikanth. I am a junior majoring in informatics at the University of Washington and interested in pursuing a custom track combining data science and software engineering.
I have always been interested in technology, particularly in terms of outreach. As a woman of color in tech, it can be intimidating and difficult to find access and acceptance, let alone support and mentorship. I have been fortunate to have always had that support and encouragement from my parents and teachers at a very early age, and I know how life-changing it can be.
After conducting multiple outreach workshops in high school under the guidance of Ms. Wrenchey, I wanted to continue conducting these outreach workshops during my college year. As soon as I got to the iSchool, I connected with WINFO – Women in Informatics, where the then Director of Diversity, Harkiran, took me under her wing and mentored me. As the WINFO Director of Diversity, my priorities were to increase access and mentoring of computer science and technology to students in underprivileged areas. Along with my fellow student officers, I was a product manager for the 2021 FearLess Tech More Innovation Challenge, which is a week-long online hackathon for outreach to regional BIPOC/URM middle and high school students. We led 10 teams of students and their undergraduate mentors, to create tech solutions to real-world problems, all of which had a focus on equity and inclusion. This year’s FearLess Hackathon is happening from October 10th to the 14th, and if you are interested, you can learn more at https://www.tinyurl.com/fearlesstechmore!
In addition to conducting outreach, I have also been the recipient of outreach through some amazing mentors. This past summer, I interned at Amazon, and have learned so much about what working as a Software Developer in the workplace is like. Even though there is a lot of focus on women in tech, the gender disparity still exists. I was one of a few women on the team, and it was a stark contrast to what I had seen in school. However, one of the upcoming highlights of my year will be attending the Grace Hopper conference in Orlando, where I will get to meet hundreds of women working in tech (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6980287146339291136/)! Outreach has been a chance for me to give back to the community that has given so much to me, but it has also been a chance for me to meet a number of diverse, creative, and passionate people working in similar spaces.
Dilini
Dilini on the left, Katie on the right. Picture from the 2022 STEMReach club fair
Hello everyone! My name is Dilini. I am an incoming freshman at the University of Washington, majoring in computer science.
I recall the first outreach event I went to with the encouragement of Ms. Wrenchey. I found it fulfilling teaching the kids at the Renton KCLS library. I distinctly remember helping one of the attendees fix a circuit they built with a thermistor. Over the many events I would teach at, I collected countless memories like that one.
I looked up to Roshni and Tarini in my first two years of high school and was inspired by the initiative they took in setting up outreach events and making curriculum.
After Roshni and Tarini graduated, my friend, Katie, and I continued their STEMReach club throughout the rest of high school where we provided educational material to younger students and underrepresented groups. The club hosted 200+ hours of outreach events to interest younger students in computer science and engineering. Despite having to face the adversity of COVID-19, we increased awareness of the club by hosting online events through local organizations that we partnered with. We wrote grants and received funds to host events. Microsoft’s Education Exchange also invited us to discuss STEM education and the Micro:Bit with Pauline Maas, an MIEE (Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert) from the Netherlands. We were able to reach an international audience and provide teachers with information about the educational uses of the Micro:Bit!
Alongside the many opportunities I have had to educate the younger generation, this past summer I received an amazing opportunity to learn about research and fields beyond computer science. I worked with a PhD student, Zerina Kapetanovic, and helped with her research on cosmic backscatter: a novel method of sending data packets between two antennae, utilizing the power of the hydrogen line in space. I was also given the opportunity to create a paper proposal for a survey on battery free wireless sensor networks and presented it to a distinguished audience of PhD students and professors. This initial work exposed me to wireless communication and paper writing. I received a learning experience that allowed me to grow technically in different ways.
I am excited to continue my journey with STEM outreach in college and one day do my own research in the STEM field!
Dr. Melissa Wrenchey teaches STEM content at a magnet high school in Redmond, WA. She is also an i2E Learning Specialist who enjoys teaching teachers about STEM hands-on applications in classrooms.
Interested in learning more about women in STEM? Check out our other blogs: Engage us in STEM! Sincerely, The Girls – insight2execution (i2e LLC) (i2e-llc.com) & How to get girls into STEM – insight2execution (i2e LLC) (i2e-llc.com)
