These High School Girls Are Empowering The Next Generation Of STEM Superheroes

These EngineerGirl Ambassadors are changing their communities (and you can join them).

By Jackie Menjivar

Hot take: Women are pretty great. Throughout history, women have made meaningful contributions to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and you can thank female scientists and engineers for a lot of essential inventions. Yet, despite making up 46.8% of the overall workforce, only 26% of computer scientists and 13% of engineers are women.

It starts young. Research shows that girls lose interest in science and math around middle school, which means it’s super important to nurture these passions early so that girls feel confident in pursuing STEM fields later on. That’s exactly what EngineerGirl is trying to do.

EngineerGirl Ambassadors are high school students who design, develop, and implement a project in their local communities that will encourage younger girls to think about engineering and engineering careers and give them practical experience in engineering design. Read more about them and their projects below!

1. Madelyn Heaston, Sophomore

Issaquah, Washington

As a seven-year-old, Madelyn Heaston won her second grade science fair with a project on the effect of baking soda in cookies, and she’s been absolutely rocking it in the world of chemistry and engineering ever since. (Her latest project is going to literally be launched INTO SPACE.) Madelyn is encouraging other girls to shoot for the moon in their own endeavors by bringing STEM activities to homeless shelters.

2. Adun Oladeji, Junior

Alpharetta, Georgia

Adun is bringing together her experience teaching young students and her personal interest in engineering to hold STEM workshops for kids — especially girls and young people of color. Not only will students learn about engineering principles, they’ll also hear from professional engineers working in the field. (Plus, the program has possibly the best name we’ve ever heard: KidGineers!)

3. Ashley Lin, Sophomore

Vancouver, Washington

When it came to finding positive, female STEM role models in her community, Ashley had a tough time. Her solution? The internet, of course. Ashley’s digital exchange program will connect engineer mentors and mentees from around the world through video conferencing and online activities. The 10-week program will teach skills to activate community projects and make female STEM solutions go global.

4. Parvati Menon, Junior

Suwanee, Georgia

As tech evolves and “smart” objects become more popular, the so-called Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding — and Parvati wants girls to be at the forefront of these everyday tech solutions. She had her first foray into the IoT when she designed a smart irrigation system to conserve water (if that sounds super cool and impressive...it’s because it is). Her programming at underserved schools and public libraries will teach girls to design and build these kinds of devices.

5. Anastasia Cook, Junior

St. Charles, Missouri

STEM has been a part of Anastasia life since age eight, when she attended an advanced technology open house that ~sparked~ her interest in robotics (see what we did there?). Anastasia mentors FIRST LEGO League teams, and she saw firsthand how few girls join the robotics program in her area. So naturally, she’s creating her own — one that’s by girls, for girls.