RCNET's Girls In STEM: Insights and Recommendations for Future Projects and Community College Programs

The labor market demand for individuals with STEM skills and degrees continues to grow in the United States and other countries. However, the gap between men and women in these fields persists, with fewer women participating in STEM education or pursuing STEM careers. For years, programs have been implemented nationwide in school and after school to engage girls, foster interest in STEM, and increase participation in STEM education. However, these programs are often grant-funded, time-limited, and lack long-term sustainability. In 2020, the Regional Center for Nuclear Education and Training (RCNET), housed at Indian River State College, launched a Girls in STEM program. This program initially engaged three high school girls to work collaboratively to research, create, and disseminate short videos interviewing women working in STEM. Now, as college students, they share their perspectives on the project, its impacts, and recommendations for the future of this work.