GIST INSPIRES GIRLS TO GET DEGREES IN STEM
GIST USES MEDIA TO USURP GENDER STEREOTYPES
GIST HELPS GIRLS ENTER MALE DOMINATED FIELDS
GIST AIMS TO EQUALISE THE MEN TO WOMEN RATIO IN STEM
MEDIA
Media is incredibly powerful. It shapes our thoughts, ideas, politics and worldview. GIST is trying to leverage the power of media to bridge the gender gap in STEM. We create cartoons, articles, short stories, animations and other media that challenge gender stereotypes, feature female STEM role models, and inspire girls to take up STEM. The hope is that this content will trigger widespread social change by confronting the tired, gendered beliefs that hold girls back. This is our dream: A girl reads a story about Marie Curie discovering radioactivity or Jennifer Doudna creating CRISPR, and realizes that ‘Hey! Girls CAN do STEM!‘. She then decides to take an advanced physics course in school even though there are no other girls in that class. She discovers just how fascinating and empowering STEM can be, and goes on to pursue a thrilling, rewarding, independent career as an innovator.
WORKSHOPS
We go to schools and engage the next generation in the conversation around girls in STEM. We do thought experiments (What would happen if all doctors were male? Is it possible men are inherently better at STEM than women? What would change if all the famous scientists were women instead of men?), talk about overlooked female STEM role models, and discuss what students can do to bridge the gender gap in STEM.
MENTOR PROGRAM
Inspired by the million women mentors program, we’ve created a program that connects school girls with STEM mentors. Over the course of a month, the mentor and a small group of mentees work closely to complete fun STEM projects. Along the way, the mentor teaches the mentee about female role models in STEM, career opportunities in STEM, and the sheer joy and beauty of STEM subjects.