Project Synopsis

This year our 11th-grade students will be creating a Literary Science Symposium targeting the Linda Vista Community in which we will showcase interdisciplinary pieces that incorporate science, art (poetry, multimedia) and history products under one roof. As a part of our symposium, we are asking our students to work in production teams with women and other underrepresented groups in STEM to produce mini film biographies (1.5-2 minutes in length) and biographical story cards (print media model). Each biography will profile one individual from an underrepresented group in the field of STEM; the content will feature his or her inspiration and motivation to work in STEM, his or her struggles and/or the highlights of being part of an underrepresented group in a STEM profession. As educators, empirical research shows us that individuals who are a part of underrepresented populations and have a mentor of similar gender/ethnic background tend to seek higher level education in STEM fields, which then allows for access to higher level STEM jobs. Therefore, one of the goals of this project is to provide our students with opportunities to develop relationships with women and other minorities in STEM with the hopes that they will ultimately be more apt to consider STEM careers.