With demand for technology and engineering talent rising, not enough minority students are pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, some panelists said at a SXSWedu discussion March 5.
Highlighting professionals who are female, African-American or Hispanic role models in the community is one way to bridge the gap, according to Sonia Gaillard, who works as director of St Michael's Catholic Academy's Entrepreneurship Center for Economic and Social Innovation.
At the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference panel "Plugging the Leaks in the STEM Pipeline," Gaillard held up a printed copy of a photo meme that she said is circulating on Facebook. The image shows a group of African-American celebrities such as P. Diddy and Tiger Woods holding cell phones, and asks why children recognize their faces, but don't recognize the face of Henry Samson, an African-American inventor who pioneered cell phone technology. Showing images of these leaders can provide reinforcement to students that there are scientists "who look like them," she said.
Students at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin get to meet and work with such professionals firsthand, she explained, as students are required to take a pre-engineering course and complete an internship working with professionals in the field.
"In some scenarios, I believe [single-sex education] is definitely one of the best approaches," she said. "As far as best practices are concerned [Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders] has received accolade after accolade, and in their all-girls school they focus on sixth through 12th grade. STEM is a huge component of their curriculum."
Changing students' perception of science
A study by the National Science Foundation showed that in grades four, eight and 12, girls in particular were less likely than their male counterparts to agree with the statements "I am good at math" and "I am good at science."
But while women, African-Americans, Latinos and Native Americans have been historically underrepresented in STEM fields, the concept that minority students show a lack of interest in STEM is a myth, according to Raphael Travis, an assistant professor at the School of Social Work at Texas State University in San Marcos.
"The key is changing the perception so that people feel like 'I belong here,'" he said. To illustrate this, he said when students are asked to draw a scientist, they usually draw a white character resembling Albert Einstein. Because of this, highlighting scientists from a variety of ethnic backgrounds as role models and mentors should be a component of efforts to increase students' participation in STEM fields.
Kai Dup, owner and president of Kai Dupe Productions, added that motivating all students and challenging them to achieve their potential is crucial. Dupe's company provides corporate technology training and professional and personal development.
"Confidence needs to be built in these young people very early, and it has been written that this is even more important when it comes to African-American males," he said. "Billions of dollars are being made [in STEM fields], and minorities are locked out of that."
