A CASE FOR RAISING THE NEXT GENERATION OF STEM CHANGE MAKERS
It was May 2015 and I was chaperoning my 15-year old son, representing Australia at the world's largest pre-college science competition in the USA. Watching teenagers present their solutions to real world problems and having watched my own son’s journey through the school system, I realised there was a much needed opportunity for change. Students that experienced the benefits of mentoring, demonstrated better understanding of the world around them.
Furthermore, scanning the exhibition hall and witnessing the lack of diversity and equity in STEM, at an international scale, was troubling.
Wanting to remedy the situation, I established BrainSTEM as a nonprofit in 2016. The initiative helps reduce the STEM gender gap, targeting a critical time-point when the number of girls engaged in STEM pathways declines. The 12-week team-based mentoring program helps high-school students develop and build their STEM skills. Researching, problem solving and critical thinking, students learn about the Sustainable Development Goals and solve some real community challenges.
Since then, BrainSTEM continues to have a positive impact on the lives and future of hundreds of young Australians. Supported by Federal and Local government as well as corporate partners BrainSTEM is inspiring young Australians everyday.
Sid Verma
Founder, BrainSTEM
Furthermore, scanning the exhibition hall and witnessing the lack of diversity and equity in STEM, at an international scale, was troubling.
Wanting to remedy the situation, I established BrainSTEM as a nonprofit in 2016. The initiative helps reduce the STEM gender gap, targeting a critical time-point when the number of girls engaged in STEM pathways declines. The 12-week team-based mentoring program helps high-school students develop and build their STEM skills. Researching, problem solving and critical thinking, students learn about the Sustainable Development Goals and solve some real community challenges.
Since then, BrainSTEM continues to have a positive impact on the lives and future of hundreds of young Australians. Supported by Federal and Local government as well as corporate partners BrainSTEM is inspiring young Australians everyday.
Sid Verma
Founder, BrainSTEM
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