BY UE STUDIO
Updated Friday, February 9, 2024-07:40
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The labor market demands new professional profiles. But also, equal opportunities when it comes to accessing the desired training. In many cases, it is the lack of knowledge itself that leads to a pattern that is repeated year after year: taking the most common subjects or careers. As the figures reveal, it is adolescents who, still interested in subjects such as mathematics, engineering or technology, access other types of training.
Given the growing interest of the labor market in hiring STEM profiles (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), numerous studies are warning about the lack of scientific and technological training in our young people. Studies that, in turn, highlight a worrying low participation of women in careers related to these disciplines.
Thus, women are underrepresented in university degrees in the STEM field: the percentage of women enrolled in STEM degrees in state public universities is 32%. This percentage is more than 20 points below the average for all degrees (56.1%).
Figures that have been working to modify for years, since these issues are presented as fundamental to achieving gender equality and, without a doubt, have a direct impact on its achievement. Thus, it is confirmed that the probability of having a job increases with the level of training; that educational level not only affects employment prospects, but also salary levels. And that the higher the educational level, the greater the capacity to protect against situations of risk of poverty or exclusion (Source: El Panorama de la Educación, OECD Spanish Report).
With the aim of eradicating this type of situation and providing the necessary incentives for them to be free when choosing the desired training, in 2019, with the help of the Aquae Foundation, Aquae STEM was born, a program created specifically to attract, enhance and awaken STEM vocations in girls while promoting awareness in their immediate environment, including teachers, classmates and, of course, their families.
The project aims to generate links with science among girls between 8 and 12 years old (from 3rd to 6th grade of primary school), since studies show that the creation of vocations occurs at increasingly earlier ages, when the permeability of the students Is superior.
Launched by the Aquae Foundation, together with the territorial companies of the Agbar group -Aquona, Hidralia, Hidraqua, Hidrogea, Viaqua and Aguas de Avilés-, this educational program is developed in seven Autonomous Communities: Andalusia, Asturias, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Valencian Community, Galicia and Region of Murcia.
Aquae STEM in numbers
Since its inception, five years ago, Aquae STEM has not stopped growing:
More than 80 schools from all over Spain have collaborated
More than 6,000 primary school students have participated
Nearly 2,500 students currently in the program
15 hours of program per student each course
More than 550 teachers have been trained to apply the program in classrooms
The program's methodology is based on four key principles: connect (spark your curiosity to learn how the real world works), build (improve your STEM skills through hands-on activities), contemplate (lead to reflection and share knowledge with your environment) and continue (consolidate acquired knowledge and skills by encouraging continued learning).
Since 2020, and as part of its commitment, Aquae Foundation has been part of the "STEAM Alliance for Female Talent". An initiative promoted by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training that seeks to unite efforts and create synergies that contribute to ending the gender gap in access to these disciplines. This alliance aims to encourage scientific vocations in girls and women, as well as promote female participation in these studies. The accession represented an important milestone in the recognition of Aquae STEM's efforts to promote quality STEM education, environmental awareness and gender equality in education.
Aquae STEM Contents
Since its launch, hands-on and water have been the foundation of Aquae STEM learning.
The girls from the schools that have participated in Aquae STEM have learned basic concepts about the physics and chemistry of everything that surrounds them, they have built basic structures linked to water or they have approached computer programming in a fun way. through riddles and enigmas.
Also due to the lack of visibility of female references in science, the students have attended webinars and digital content with women with prominent roles in STEM disciplines. On the other hand, through talks, visits to facilities and other activities, carried out by the Agbar group companies that support the program, the students have been given the opportunity to learn first-hand about the impact and relevance of women in the water management, serving as a source of inspiration and motivation for their professional future. In 2022, a new evolution of the program was launched that involved a greater commitment to digitalization.
Benefits of implementing Aquae STEM in classrooms
Aquae STEM offers the opportunity to apply new learning methods that enhance creativity and ingenuity.
The value proposition of the program aims to promote scientific and technological vocations among girls and raise awareness among their closest environment: classmates, teachers and family.
Regarding teachers, the aim is to promote a deeper awareness of the importance of STEM and promote a more inclusive and equitable educational environment. For classmates, the purpose is to normalize the presence of women in STEM-related professions, eliminating stereotypes. As for the girls' nuclear families, the goal is to prevent them from putting a brake on girls' interests in STEM.
DID YOU KNOW...?
This year, on the occasion of the
International Day of Women and Girls in Science,
which is celebrated today,
February 11
, the webinar "Science Fiction, Past and Present" was organized last Friday, aimed at participating schools. in the program and which was attended by nearly 1,000 students. The guest, on this occasion, was the physicist
Gisela Baños
. The science fiction expert, one of the great
female voices
on this subject on
Twitch
, brought this topic to the girls.
STEM disciplines are essential to meet the objectives set in the 2030 Agenda, because quality education will help us evolve towards a more innovative, inclusive and resilient society. The Aquae STEM program is one more step to achieve this.
Made by UE Studio
This text has been developed by UE Studio, the creative branded content and content marketing firm of Unidad Editorial, for AGBAR.