Billings, Montana – Girls in grades K–12 will now be exposed to STEM experiences thanks to the Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming, who have finished their Mobile STEM Learning Center project.
This important resource will start being made available by GSMW to close to 80 towns in both Montana and Wyoming.
Solar panels are installed on the cargo-style truck to power the extensive array of youth-accessible technology, such as 3D printers, microscopes, virtual reality headsets, drones, and more.
The Mobile STEM Learning Center’s mission includes exposing young girls to STEM opportunities, imparting information, and providing them with practical STEM experiences.
Less than one-quarter of STEM occupations are held by women, despite the fact that women make up more than half of the U.S. workforce.
The objective is to pique the interest of more girls in professions in STEM fields.
The second objective is to remedy the STEM “deserts” that have been caused by the country’s unequal distribution of STEM possibilities.
Rural areas make up about 67% of the populations of Montana and Wyoming. This translates to challenges like limited access to rigorous and interesting math and science classes, a lack of access to honors courses, exposure to high-level technology businesses, and more.
For the past few years, Briana Rickman, the director of fund development for GSMW, has been working on her passion project, the Mobile STEM Learning Center.
“Not only is STEM a strategic priority of the Girl Scout organization but for myself as well. Having grown up in rural Wyoming, I realize the barriers and lack of resources available to those smaller communities. This project can help us bridge both gender and geographical gaps by ensuring that girls of every age in rural areas have opportunities to explore STEM possibilities as a future career.” Rickman said.
Visit the website of Girl Scouts of Montana & Wyoming to see the van’s tour schedule or to learn more about this initiative, or get in touch with Briana Rickman at brianar@gsmw.org or 406-252-0488.
