Introducing STEM-ism

Since 1990, employment in STEM has grown by nearly 80%, and it’s expected that the number of STEM jobs will continue to increase by 8 percent year over year for the next 7 years. The coolest part about STEM though, is its intersection with activism. Young people around the world continue to make waves through their STEM discoveries, inventions, and advocacy, paving the way for future movers and shakers in the field, and we’re here for it!

However, without robust STEM education and opportunities in our lives, our activism journey wouldn’t be possible. That’s why STEM activism starts with equitable access to resources, so that brilliant minds (like yours!) can thrive.

Whether you’re already on top of your activism game or just starting out, these are some ways that STEM can be your fuel, your inspiration, or your roadmap to change the world. STEM is leading innovation to find solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues, and that means it goes hand in hand with activism. Here’s how:

You can promote diversity and inclusion in the field.

Words matter, and STEM professionals can flex their activist muscles by speaking up about how language is used to describe people and their identities. Alex Stutzman, a Ph.D. student in Genetics and Molecular Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, is leading efforts to promote diversity in science through inclusive language. In doing so, she is elevating the importance of intentional language in her field, especially with interpretations of ethnicity and race. Her field of genetics has a long history of racist language, which she is actively working to change.

Alex is a fabulous example of someone changing the STEM world for the better from the inside out. Without her activism in the field, harmful language would continue to further marginalize certain groups. It’s 2023, and intentional language is in, ya’ll.

You can leverage shared experiences to build community.

When Abinaya Dinesh was diagnosed with pelvic floor disorder, she used her smarts to create an app called Gastro at Home, which “help(s) others with gastrointestinal disorders learn more about their diagnoses and find at-home treatments and pain management for their disorders.”

Abinaya, who is a Girls Who Code alumna, is an example of how solidarity and creativity around our shared experiences can break barriers in the tech world by providing equitable resources to everyone who needs them. Before using her coding skills to develop Gastro at Home, robust solutions like the app didn’t exist for people with her diagnosis. There are so many ways that STEM innovation can change people’s lives, and hey, maybe you’ll invent the next game-changing technology!

You can create a field representative of you and your peers.

An uncomfy truth: it can be impossibly hard to pursue something you don’t see anyone else who looks like you doing. Why do you think we are always saying “representation matters”? Because it does! If we don’t see someone from a similar background already killing it in the field, it’s hard to envision ourselves there.

That doesn’t mean we can’t be the first person with a particular identity to make waves in our chosen field. There’s a first (person) for everything, so why can’t that be you? Plus, you’ll pave the way for those who come after you, just like Sejal Mehra, who uses art and engineering to raise awareness about harmful plastics in the ocean and their harmful effects on sea turtles.

Recently, she created a Save the Turtles flag out of plastic straws, plastic bags, and tape to raise awareness about the harmful effects of plastic on the environment, especially for sea turtles. Her mission to “change the face of STEM through art” was the first of its kind, which created a ripple effect of young people wanting to change the world themselves.

You can work to combat bias in STEM.

When it comes to demanding equitable resources and opportunities in STEM, change happens from the inside out. That means supporting initiatives to diversify STEM often trickles down into diversifying other fields and setting an example for all kinds of career opportunities.

For example, let's look at the Algorithmic Justice League. They are leading a cultural movement toward equitable and accountable AI (artificial intelligence). Right now, AI systems can perpetuate racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination. The Algorithmic Justice League was founded by Dr. Joy Buolamwini, who came face-to- face with discrimination through AI. While in grad school, facial recognition software struggled to detect her face; yet her peers with lighter skin had no issues. It wasn’t until she added a white mask over her face that she was detected. Dr. Buolamwini’s personal story exemplifies the need to combat bias in the field and remove the remnants of prejudice in technology.

You can use STEM to impact policy-making.

In recent years, the movement of scientists as engaged citizens has picked up even greater steam, as they think more critically about the roles they play as activists in critical social, political and environmental issues. In many ways, the STEM community is leading the charge in providing trustworthy information about important topics such as climate change, in order to motivate more people to act.

Groups like the Union of Concerned Scientists and People’s Climate Movement, use science and information to spread awareness on issues impacting our like the climate crisis, transportation system, fossil fuels and many more. Their work brings awareness to those in charge, with the ultimate goal of enacting policy change. Because STEM professionals are such trusted providers of reliable information, we look to them to inform our advocacy, which is also true for policymakers who are in charge of making the systematic changes we are pushing for.

You can find innovative solutions to complex problems.

The world of STEM is vast and full of people who tackle tough problems like gender inequality, education equity, mental health, and more with curiosity and the ability to think outside the box.

Take Nastasia Efremkina, for example. She’s a student at the University of Pennsylvania who patented her own technology for a firearm tracker in an effort to promote gun safety. If implemented, her invention could prevent mass shootings from happening, saving countless lives.

Nastasia’s innovative solution for gun safety is the intersection of activism and STEM that we’re all here for. You go, girl!

The coolest part of STEM and activism? This list is just the beginning! Our world is constantly changing, and young people like you are at the forefront of deciding the direction of STEM. Whether it’s standing up for more inclusive and intentional language like Alex or inventing a creative solution to gun violence like Nastasia, there are so many ways that STEM and activism intersect to make the world a better place for all. If you ask me, our STEM future looks pretty bright!