Texas Women and Girls in STEM Summit
Lightning Talks
9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m

Hosted in Gatherly

Empowering Women in STEM to Become Community Leaders through Mentorship: The SAGES Mentorship Program at UT Austin
Learn about the student-run annual mentorship program organized by the mentorship committee of the Society for Advancing Gender Equity in STEM (SAGES) at UT Austin. Currently, in its second cycle, this program matches women mentors from positions in academia (graduate students, postdoctoral associates, faculty members) and industry with women mentees that are at different levels in their academic training at UT Austin (undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral associates). Not only do we serve women at different career stages, but we also have a program that includes women from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
Presented by Damla Cinoglu, The Society of Advancing Gender Equity in STEM (SAGES), The University of Texas at Austin

Gender Stereotypes about Interests Start Early and Cause Gender Disparities in Computer Science and Engineering
This presentation describes recent research findings from our lab showing the negative impact of stereotypes on girls' interest in STEM. We surveyed thousands of K-12 students. Students from elementary school through high school from diverse racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds believed that boys are more interested than girls in computer science and engineering. The more that girls believed these stereotypes, the less interested they were in computer science and engineering. Our experimental studies showed that these stereotypes can cause girls to feel a lower sense of belonging and lower interest in computer science activities. We will discuss ways that teachers can counteract these stereotypes to promote girls' interest in STEM.
Presented by Allison Master, Assistant Professor, University of Houston

Developing Problem-Solving Skills in STEM: Building Confidence through Competence in Operational and Strategic Planning
Women and girls gain confidence and success by learning and applying problem-solving skills in STEM. We learn how to plan and execute experiments, develop engineering designs, or software code in our fields, but with less emphasis on strategic thinking and strategic planning capabilities. Learn a logical 4-step process to teach structured problem-solving skills to women and girls in STEM. Learning to apply these critical skills early in our academic and professional careers provides a foundation that enables women to successfully deliver operational plans as Individual Contributors and Technical Team Leads, and progress to delivering strategic plans as Technical or Business Managers in STEM.
Presented by Kathleen Horkowitz, Technical Planning Advisor, Resource Analysts

Focusing On Strategic Engagement
This lighting talk will highlight ways to help students connect to STEM fundamentals. This talk shares practical ways to engage students in STEM Programs. Learning how to keep students focused and engaged in STEM in elementary school will be beneficial in future years. The variety of methods can be used in different combinations to fuel the child’s interest and help them to continue long term. Through these methods, organizations can recognize and assess ways to develop their program to increase girls’ longevity and interest in STEM.
Presented by Greta Newman, Elementary Teacher, Dunwoody Christian School

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