Harriet S. Mosatche - Breaking Through!: Helping Girls Succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

Harriet S. Mosatche, Ph.D.,
Elizabeth K. Lawner, and
Susan Matloff-Nieves

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Mosatche, Harriet S., 1949- author. | Lawner, Elizabeth K., author. |
Matloff-Nieves, Susan, author.

Title: Breaking through! : helping girls succeed in science, technology,
engineering, and math / by Harriet S. Mosatche, PhD, Elizabeth K. Lawner, and Susan Matloff-Nieves.

Description: Waco, Texas : Prufrock Press Inc., 2016. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015044131 (print) | LCCN 2016004984 (ebook) | ISBN 9781618215215 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781618215222 (pdf) | ISBN 9781618215239 (ePub)

Subjects: LCSH: Science--Study and teaching--United States. |
Mathematics--Study and teaching--United States. | Girls--Education--United
States. | Sex differences in education--United States.

Classification: LCC Q183.3.A1 M68 2016 (print) | LCC Q183.3.A1 (ebook) | DDC
507.1/073--dc23

LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015044131

Copyright 2016, Prufrock Press Inc.

Edited by Lacy Compton

Cover and layout design by Raquel Trevino

ISBN-13: 978-1-61821-523-9

No part of this book may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

At the time of this books publication, all facts and figures cited are the most current available. All telephone numbers, addresses, and website URLs are accurate and active. All publications, organizations, websites, and other resources exist as described in the book, and all have been verified. The author and Prufrock Press Inc. make no warranty or guarantee concerning the information and materials given out by organizations or content found at websites, and we are not responsible for any changes that occur after this books publication. If you find an error, please contact Prufrock Press Inc.

The girls and women who are involved in STEM whom we interviewed for this book shared their experiences and insights frankly and enthusiastically with us. We are grateful to them for inspiring us and hopefully, you, the readers of Breaking Through! They captured the reality of what its like to study and work in science, technology, engineering, and mathboth the struggles and the rewards. Although we quoted only a couple of men, they represent thousands of fathers, teachers, and others who recognize the importance of encouraging girls to get involved in the exciting world of STEM.

We also thank Lacy Compton, our wonderfully supportive editor, who understood our vision for this book. She was a joy to work withalways responsive, encouraging, and open to our ideas.

We also appreciate the many people who helped us connect with STEM professionalstheir introductions allowed us to reach individuals we might not otherwise have learned about. Finally, we acknowledge our debt to the researchers who understand the importance of collecting data about the barriers to female involvement in STEM and developing strategies for breaking through those obstacles.

Just a few years ago, if the acronym STEM had appeared in the title of a newspaper article, some might have speculated that a new government agency had just been established. And if the term STEM had been used in conversation, many people would have been puzzled, wondering why the discussion suddenly included a reference to the stalk of a plant. Today, however, STEM is widely used and understood, a reflection of the growing recognition of the critical importance of science, technology, engineering, and math for dealing with the complex issues that face us.

We hear about STEM breakthroughs almost every day. Yet women face obstacles in breaking through in certain STEM fields and in reaching leadership positions. This book describes the obstacles that have prevented females full participation in STEM, but also focuses on the actions we can all take to make sure that girls have opportunities to be successful. Not only do an increasing number of jobs require knowledge of and experience with STEM fields and methods, but most aspects of everyday life rely on some degree of competence in those same areas. STEM provides us with a framework for understanding and interpreting the world and offers the opportunity for lifelong enrichment and engagement with learning, cultivating an attitude of curiosity and a sense of wonder.

STEM is important for every person, not just girls, because so much of our society is based on STEM principles and ideas. Theres so much technology in our world. There are issues that we vote on, even hearing the news, that require an understanding of science and engineering.

Stacy Klein-Gardner, Ph.D., director of the Center for STEM Education for Girls at the Harpeth Hall School and faculty member in biomedical engineering and radiology at Vanderbilt University

I love that I can take a property that was completely derelict and return it to function. I do the construction draws for all of our projects. I love seeing new homeowners walk into their house for the first time after it has been completed.

Nancy Hohmann, construction engineer, Director of Development for Lemay Housing Partnership, Missouri

On a typical day, you may use your smartphone to set an alarm, calculate a tip at a restaurant, and send a text to your best friend. Using your laptop computer or tablet, you might keep a budget on a spreadsheet, pay your bills online, and check out the latest photos posted by your cousin. You may not understand all aspects of the technology youre using, but they have become an integral part of your everyday life.

When the news covers climate change, an oil spill, the dangerous condition of a local bridge, or the beginning of clinical trials for a new drug, your knowledge of STEM allows you to understand the information and to make educated decisions about your actions. You use math skills to decide which size breakfast cereal is the best buy at the grocery store, and your engineering know-how empowers you to fix a leaking toilet. When you integrate STEM experiences into your childs life, you will find your own life enriched by being exposed to discoveries that have pushed the frontiers of knowledge.

More and more people are working for companies that are directly related to science, technology, engineering, and math. In 2015, General Electric employed 307,000 people in 170 countries around the world, while 55,000 people were working at Google and 98,000 at Apple. Pharmaceutical companies employ more than 800,000 people; in 2015, Johnson & Johnson and Novartis each employed more than 120,000 individuals. Companies such as Estee Lauder, Avon, and LOreal, which focus on the development of beauty products and cosmetics, employ thousands of chemists to create and test their products.