2.1 ROLE MODEL IN STEM

This  activity celebrates influential women in STEM, focusing on their groundbreaking achievements and the ways they shaped science and technology. 

Participants use clues to identify pioneering women, such as Marie Curie, the first female Nobel Prize laureate, and Rosalind Franklin, who contributed to DNA structure discovery. Other clues highlight figures like Fei-Fei Li, known for advancing AI with ImageNet, and Jennifer Doudna, co-developer of CRISPR gene-editing. 

Designed with clues, the activity engages participants in discovering each role model’s unique contributions. This activity not only teaches scientific history but also emphasizes the critical impact of female role models, sparking inspiration and interest in STEM among participants. 

ACTIVITY  

"STEM Role Model Profiles" Research and Presentation” 

Objective: Students will research and present about a female STEM role model to understand their contributions, challenges, and impact on the field. 

Instructions: 

• Divide the class into small groups. 
• Each group will select a prominent female figure in a STEM field (scientist, engineer, mathematician, or technologist). 
• Research their background, challenges they faced as women in STEM, their career achievements, and how they serve as a role model for future generations. 
• Create a presentation (slides, poster, or video) to share with the class. 
• During the presentations, each group should also discuss why role models are important for closing the gender gap in STEM. 

Discussion Questions: 

• How did the role model inspire others in STEM? 
• What challenges did they face related to gender bias, and how did they overcome them? 
• Why is visibility important for young women interested in STEM? 

Extension: Students can create a classroom “wall of STEM role models,” posting short bios and quotes from the women they researched.