Women Supporting Women in the Sciences: Outcomes from design and delivery of low-cost science laboratory kits for primary- and secondary-level classrooms in eastern Africa*

Of women students in higher education globally, only about 30% select science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related subjects, with particularly low enrollment in engineering, manufacturing, and construction (8%) and in natural science, mathematics, and statistics (5%).¹ Improving this representation is a multi-faceted challenge. Women Supporting Women in the Sciences (WS2) has been focused on spurring K-12 girls' interests in STEM and promoting women scientists as mentors to younger students. With the support of a 2020 APS Innovation Fund,² WS2 spearheaded the Lab Kit Initiative during which low-cost physics and materials science laboratory kits for K-12 students were designed and distributed to schools in eastern Africa. During the design phase, seven international teams composed of 59 volunteers (over 70% women) created 3 lab kits for primary level students and 4 lab kits for secondary level students on the topics of food science, electrostatics, light and color, and energy transfer. A key feature of the lab kits is the use of easy-to-source materials to ensure low-cost and wide accessibility. Working with eleven partners in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, WS2 provided lab kits that engaged over 5100 students at over 40 school sites in hands-on science learning, with 62% being girls. This talk will discuss the outcomes of the Lab Kit initiative which concluded in early 2023 and future endeavors in which WS2 has been involved that are broadening the reach of our lab kits.

 

Women Supporting Women in the Sciences (WS2)³ is an international organization unifying and supporting graduate and professional-level women and allies in STEM.

 

1.           Cracking the code: girls’ and women’s education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) - UNESCO Digital Library. at https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000253479.

2.           APS Innovation Fund. at http://www.aps.org/programs/innovation/fund/index.cfm

3.           Women Supporting Women in the Sciences. at https://ws2global.org/