LEVELING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG WOMEN

JUDY PAVEL I definitely don’t think I knew what the word STEM meant before high school. I didn’t have any female role models in the STEM field. No, not till I came to college. Hi, my name is Judy Pavel. I will be a senior this coming fall and my master’s will be in mechanical engineering and my undergrad is in biomedical engineering.

SAMANTHA AMADEO I am Doctor Samantha Amadeo. I’m a research physical therapist. I participate in our research studies by working directly with our patients.

ALEXIS SIDIROPOULOS I am Doctor Alexis Sidiropoulos. I’m a research scientist and principal investigator in the BRAVO lab. So, our program is called BRAVO for STEM: Leveling the Equation for Young Women. The BRAVO for STEM program brings education to young students, specifically females, about STEM. What it is, how they can become involved, and encouraging them to remain involved if they're interested.

JUDY PAVEL I think it’s very special that I get a relationship with these doctors that are really doing really cool things.

ALEXIS SIDIROPOULOS The most significant obstacle for women entering STEM is the lack of education, and not the opportunity to become involved in STEM programs.

SAMANTHA AMADEO It’s helpful for those interns to have someone like me and someone like Doctor Sidiropoulos to be a mentor to them so that they can see that it is possible and there is a place for them in the field that they are looking towards.

ALEXIS SIDIROPOULOS I believe that being in a lab hands-on is definitely helpful for young women. It’s very important for them to understand what’s available and to also gain experience using it, so that you feel comfortable in what you may be getting yourself into if you continue along the STEM fields.

JUDY PAVEL I’ve learned a lot from the internship. I’ve learned a lot of technical skills I didn’t think I would pick up. It’s very interesting.

ALEXIS SIDIROPOULOS STEM is very broad, but it also provides a lot of niche opportunities. So, if there are some things that you're interested in, there is a career for you. I think in terms of remaining in STEM from personal experience, it’s that as you continue in your academic and even sometimes professional career, the number of women decreases, and you may find yourself standing alone. Our goal is to encourage them to be happy to stand alone, or to bring other women with them, but to continue in their pursuit of STEM.