Student’s Girl Scout project emphasizes female science education
Cinnaminson High School senior Emma Schrier saw a void in education and wanted to fill it – with her Girl Scout Gold Award.
The student had one goal in mind for her award project: to create opportunities for other girls and young women to study the sciences on an advanced level and in an unconventional way.
Although there are various small clubs already dedicated to the sciences, such as robotics and coding, Schrier realized there were other untapped resources that weren’t being explored, including medical research, engineering, environmental science and chemistry.
“In a world where almost half of the workforce is women, sadly, women comprise only about 28 percent of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) field,” she noted, referencing information from the American Association of University Women.
Schrier believes in the importance of STEM research. Her Scout project involved developing an after-school program for middle-school girls and making reusable STEM boxes for donation to local libraries, camps and youth centers in the community.
Rather than introducing scientific topics in traditional classroom settings with features like notes and tests, Schrier’s project implemented a more interactive approach to scientific learning, giving students challenges to complete in an entertaining and approachable manner, such as building a tower out of toothpicks and marshmallows.
“Encouraging girls to get involved with STEM at an early age is essential for creating equal opportunities and helping bridge the wide gender gap that exists in this sector,” she explained. “With increased programming to expand their scientific knowledge, girls can see the fun and engaging sides of science, hopefully leading to a future career in the field.
“I wanted to bring a similar program back to my community,” Schrier added, “to encourage students, especially girls, to get involved in the sciences.”
The Gold Award is the highest a Scout can reach, and Schrier’s project to accomplish that made her confidence soar.
“I not only demonstrated my leadership skills and knowledge of the (Scout) organization,” she said, “but also showed that I am committed to making a positive impact in my community.
“Throughout my experience in Girl Scouts, I have learned how to communicate with others, plan and lead projects, and manage tasks efficiently,” Schrier added. “My Gold Award project allowed me to use all these skills to work towards achieving this important award.”
Along with Scout work, Schrier’s purpose was clear: educational opportunities in science.
“As a young woman in STEM myself, I have experienced a lack of opportunities first hand,” she noted. “I always had an interest in science and math, but I could not imagine a world of science beyond my classroom lectures and basic activities.
“In my sophomore year, I participated in the Immersion Science Program at (Philadelphia’s) Fox Chase Cancer Center, which was an opportunity to perform guided research on fruit flies,” Schrier recalled.
“This experience opened my eyes, not only to the power of research and exploration, but the impact that a singular opportunity can have on an individual.”
For more information, visit Schrier’s website at https://gs26040.wixsite.com/my-site
