Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)

NCRW is continuing to identify best practices and optimal strategies for building pipelines to encourage women and girls’ advancement in the STEM fields. Pipeline programs, such as Girls Inc.’s after-school Operation SMART and MIT’s Women’s Techno logy Program are prime examples of initiatives that work under the assumption that girls are interested in math, science and technology. Mentoring programs are also becoming increasingly common in academic, advocacy and business sectors to strengthen the leadership pipeline. Women mentors serve as role models who reinforce young women’s perceptions of their own potential to advance in their studies and careers. Effective pipeline programs rely on partnerships across organizations and sectors, such as the STEM Accelerator Initiative administered by the National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions.