STEM ResearcHER Newsletter: September

2024 Edition

Happy September! Hope you all are having an amazing start to the school year.

STEM ResearcHER is a 501c3 nonprofit organization working to bridge the gender and accessibility gap in STEM research fields through speaker workshops, mentorship programs, and other community events.

Welcome to our New Executive Board Members!

We are so excited to welcome Charlee, Riya, Amelia, Clarina, and Samayra to the STEMResearcHER Executive board team. Looking forward to a great year!

STEMStravaganza 2024 in Chicago

Exciting news! Our STEMStravaganza 2024 is coming to Chicago at the end of this year! STEMStravaganza is an event for middle-high school girls to explore STEM and meet like-minded students. Stay tuned for more updates and details to come.

Summer Bootcamp Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined our online summer boot camp! Attendees got to learn more about biology, chemistry, engineering, and genetics. We want to give a special shoutout to our guest speakers at the boot camp, Dr. Sanjeev Bhatia and Ms. Roshanak Farshidpour. They gave valuable insights into their journeys in biotech and genetics. Be sure to stay on lookout for future events and opportunities, like the boot camp!

General Volunteer Applications

STEM ResearcHER is currently accepting applications on a rolling basis for volunteers. We have positions on our marketing, sponsorships, and ambassadors team. If you’re interested in contributing to our mission and working with STEM ResearcHER, please consider applying with this link! Email us at [email protected] if you have any additional questions!

Networking Tips for High Schoolers

1. Start with Your School Community:

• Build relationships with teachers and counselors: They can provide guidance, recommendations, and introduce you to opportunities or other professionals.

• Get involved in extracurriculars: Join clubs, sports teams, or student government. These activities help you connect with peers who share your interests and can lead to new opportunities.

2. Attend Local Events and Workshops:

• Community events: Participate in local workshops, seminars, or networking events in your area of interest.

• School-sponsored events: Attend career fairs, college nights, and guest speaker events at your school and in your community. These are great opportunities to meet professionals and learn about different career paths.

3. Leverage Social Media:

• LinkedIn: Start building a LinkedIn profile. Connect with classmates, teachers, and professionals you meet. Join groups related to your interests.

• Twitter and Instagram: Follow professionals, organizations, and companies in your field of interest.

4. Seek Out Mentorship:

• Find a mentor: Look for mentors in areas you’re passionate about. This could be a teacher, coach, or someone you meet through extracurriculars or community events. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for advice or guidance.

• Use online platforms: Local mentorship programs for high schoolers can help you find mentors who are willing to offer advice and share their experiences.

5. Practice Your Communication Skills:

• Be approachable: Develop strong interpersonal skills. Smile, make eye contact, and be confident in introducing yourself to new people!

• Learn to ask good questions: Show genuine interest in others by asking thoughtful questions about their experiences and advice.

6. Volunteer and Intern:

• Volunteer: Engage in community service. Volunteering not only helps others but also allows you to meet people from various backgrounds and industries.

• Pursue internships: Look for internships or part-time jobs in fields that interest you. Even informal work experiences can help you build connections and learn about different professions.

7. Follow Up:

• Send thank you notes: After meeting someone or attending an event, send a thank you email or message. It shows appreciation and helps you stand out.

• Stay in touch: Keep in regular contact with people you’ve met, whether it’s through email, social media, or occasional meetings. Building a relationship takes time and consistent effort.

8. Be Open to New Experiences:

• Try new things: Don’t limit yourself to your current interests. Be open to exploring new activities, hobbies, and industries. This can lead to unexpected connections and opportunities.

• Network across different areas: Don’t just focus on one field. Building a diverse network can help you in unexpected ways in the future.

These relationships can open up amazing opportunities in the future. It’s never too early to start building connections with mentors and peers!

Tools for this School Year

Utilizing study tools can help you be productive and efficient this school year. These are some of my personal favorites, but find what works best for you!

• Fivable: Study guides and practice questions for high school, college, and AP classes.

• Notion: Track assignments, create lists, write notes, and more!

• Quizlet: Create and study flashcards for any subject.

• Google Calendar: Keep track of classes, assignments, extracurriculars, and events.

• Knowt: Study guides and resources for all your AP classes.

• Khan Academy: Supplement your schoolwork with video lessons and practice exercises.

Organization Spotlight

Scientific Adventures for Girls

Scientific Adventures for Girls (SAfG) is a nonprofit organization that delivers after school programs for TK-6th grade students. Their mission is to, “To remove systemic barriers to all girls’ participation in STEM.” They host an afterschool STEAM program for TK-6th graders at various Bay Area schools as well as other events. Learn more about how you can support Scientific Adventures mission here.

Join Scientific Adventures for Girls STEM Scholar Club! 

The STEM Scholar Club for Girls is designed to ignite and sustain the passion for STEM among middle school and high school girls and gender expansive youth. This club aims to provide an enriching and enjoyable space that nurtures their STEM interests well into college and their future careers. Sign up for their newsletter to stay up to date on STEM resources, internship and scholarship opportunities, STEM Career Events, and more.

Careers and Tips for Students Interested in Engineering

These are some potential paths and careers in engineering that you can start exploring even while in high school!

Mechanical Engineer:

• Path: Focus on math and physics → Take AP courses in Calculus and Physics → Join robotics or engineering clubs → Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.

• Fields: Automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, robotics, etc.

Civil Engineer:

• Path: Focus on geometry and environmental science → Take AP courses in Calculus and Environmental Science → Get involved in school or community projects that involve infrastructure → Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.

• Fields: Infrastructure design, urban planning, environmental projects, etc.

Electrical Engineer:

• Path: Focus on math and computer science → Take AP courses in Physics and Computer Science → Participate in electronics or programming clubs → Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.

• Fields: Power systems, telecommunications, electronics, renewable energy, etc.

Computer Engineer:

• Path: Focus on math and coding → Take AP Computer Science → Participate in coding competitions or hackathons → Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering.

• Fields: Embedded systems, computer networks, cybersecurity, AI, etc.

Environmental Engineer:

• Path: Focus on biology, chemistry, and environmental science → Take AP Environmental Science → Join environmental clubs or participate in sustainability projects → Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering.

• Fields: Renewable energy, environmental consulting, policy-making, etc.

Aerospace Engineer:

• Path: Focus on physics and math → Take AP Physics and Calculus → Join space or aviation clubs → Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering.

• Fields: Aircraft design, space missions, defense systems, etc.

Advice and Opportunities

Build a Strong Foundation in Math and Science:

• Focus on excelling in subjects like math (especially calculus), physics, and computer science. These are the building blocks of engineering.

Get Involved in Extracurricular Activities:

• Join or start a robotics club, participate in science fairs, or enter engineering competitions. These activities will give you hands-on experience.

Seek Out Internships or Job Shadowing:

• Look for summer internships or job shadowing opportunities with local engineering firms or technology companies. This will give you insight into the field and valuable experience.

Explore Online Resources:

• Use online platforms like Khan Academy, Coursera, or YouTube to learn more about engineering topics and software tools like CAD.

Develop Problem-Solving Skills:

• Work on projects that challenge you to think critically and solve problems. This could be anything from building a simple robot to designing a small app.

Join Engineering Competitions:

• Participate in competitions like FIRST Robotics, VEX Robotics, or MATE ROV (Underwater Robotics Challenge).

Explore Summer Programs:

• Explore summer programs like MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI), Stanford’s Summer Engineering Academy (SEA), or NASA’s High School Aerospace Scholars.

We would love to hear your feedback!

Contact Us:

Email [email protected]

Or connect with us on social media!

@stemresearcher on Instagram
@stem.researcher on TikTok
STEM ResearcHER on LinkedIn and Facebook