East Hill Notes: On growth and inclusive power in 4-H STEM

By Sandy Repp

 

While women continue to make gains across the broader economy, they remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) fields and among STEM degree holders. A recent update on this topic from the U.S. Department of Commerce shows that women filled 47percent of all U.S. jobs, but held only 24 percent of STEM jobs. Encouraging youth to explore STEM fields is a national 4-H mandate. While 4-H programs do not specifically target participants by gender, girls and young women comprised more than 50 percent of Tompkins County youth involved in 4-H STEM programs in 2017.

“The intent of our STEM programming is for young people to see that they can have fun doing science,” says Brenda Carpenter, 4-H Educator with CCE-Tompkins. “As they build interests and skills in the STEM area, youth can begin to see themselves as ‘science people’ and may consider pursuing careers in the sciences.”

Here in Tompkins County, 4-H offers STEM content through 4-H clubs, after-school activities, and a variety of public programs that are open to youth ages 5 to 18. All use hands-on activities based on the 4-H experiential learning model, a.k.a. “learning by doing.”

Programs in agriculture, animal science, biotechnology, computer science, electrical engineering, environmental science, robotics, rocketry and veterinary science teach problem-solving, creative and critical thinking, and enhance interest in engineering, technology, and the natural sciences.

Carpenter offers several examples of 4-H programs popular with young women. In this year’s Namaste Friends Club, 11 members belonged to a FIRST Lego League Robotics Team, and six of those members were girls.

An annual “Kritter Kamp” gives youth aged 8-to-13 a chance to work with a sheep, dairy calf, poultry, dog or rabbit as they learn about animal behavior, health and nutrition, basic animal care and safe handling practices. In 2017, 29 youth enrolled in this program, of which 14 participants were female.

Another annual program – Animals and Medicine – is taught by graduate students at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine for high school students. Over six sessions, youth conduct a physical exam, learn anatomy and physiology and take part in a dissection. They also learn about animal science careers and how to prepare for a career in veterinary science. In 2017, 78 percent of participants were female.

The presence of women STEM role models is the final important component for success for young women in the 4-H program. According to a former Tompkins County 4-H member who now is a design engineer of wind-energy turbines, “Having strong female role models is important in building excitement for the STEM field. In my club, female leaders and volunteers included a chemical engineer, a biochemist, chemist, and a dietitian.

“I had enough female role models and enough good experiences with STEM-type activities that engineering felt like a natural option for me. Leadership opportunities gave me confidence as a leader, which is an important trait when one is a female in a male-dominated field.

“As a young, female engineer, it can be intimidating to defend my ideas and design decisions, but the experience I gained in 4-H has helped me to project confidence.”

For more information about 4-H STEM offerings or to volunteer with the program, contact Brenda Carpenter of Tompkins County 4-H at (607) 272-2292 or btc6@cornell.edu

 

Sandy Repp works in Communications & Marketing for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County. East Hill Notes are published the second and fourth Mondays of each month in Tompkins Weekly.