The Saint Louis Science Center Community STEM Showcase honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others who fought tirelessly to create equitable change for oppressed people. The event, held on Jan. 17, featured hands-on activities with diverse STEM role models from the region. Youth Exploring Science (YES) had a variety of exhibits set up around the science center.
Kerry Stevinson, the Science Center’s STEM content for the Community Science Department Manager, said the showcase has been around for over 25 years. The goal is to get the community involved with the Science Center. Community partners are a part of the Divine Nine Black sororities, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
“PEW Research Center shows only 9 percent of STEM workers are Black. This number has remained the same since 2016. Even though Black people represent around 11 percent of the total workforce, our representation in STEM fields is significantly lower”
The showcase helps people realize that science is for everyone while introducing YES to the larger community.
“We want to represent the diverse community in STEM in St. Louis,” Stevinson said. “The organizations that are a part of this year’s showcase have diverse people in STEM.”
PEW Research Center shows only 9% of STEM workers are Black. This number has remained the same since 2016. Even though Black people represent around 11% of the total workforce, our representation in STEM fields is significantly lower. The data also shows that only 5% of engineers are Black. The only STEM job cluster where Black workers are represented at the same level as their share in the total workforce is health-related STEM occupations.
The racial and ethnic earnings gaps among STEM workers are substantial and have recently increased. Black full-time workers ages 25 and older have a medium income of $61,500, while the medium income for white workers in STEM is $78,000. In 2016, the Black-to-white earnings gap in the STEM workforce was 81%.
According to the National Science Board NSB, a diverse STEM workforce is vital to the country’s innovative capacity (Bell et al. 2019; Hsieh et al. 2019). Broadening the representation of different social and demographic groups in STEM occupations contributes to diversity and helps create a robust workforce that will meet future demands. A local organization, Black Girls Do STEM, is helping close that gap by offering free STEM programs to local families. BGDSTEM provides access to science, technology, engineering, and math resources. BGDSTEM provides scholarships, STEM workshops, and programming for middle school-aged girls.
In an article with St. Louis Public Radio Cynthia Chapple, founder of Black Girls Do STEM said, “When we think about the basic skills of technology, Black students have them. We are simply not highlighting that for them well enough … and then telling them, ‘Hey, you can go and do this as a full-time career and make this amount of money.”
Laela Gains, a Hazelwood East student, and YES participant, says the program helps educate youth about the different types of science available to them. For example, cyber security and entrepreneurship in science. “YES likes to help students like me, we like to show other kids you can do whatever you put your mind to,” said Gains.
Emma McNeil, a junior at Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, likes that the activities they participate in are STEM-led. For instance, aerospace or agriculture and computer science. McNeil has learned other skills in the program–communication, active listening, and leadership. “This program sets you up for a lot of opportunities for future jobs,” said McNeil who said she plans to return to St. Louis to teach other kids about STEM after college.
YouScience, a student career guidance technology company data shows Black female students are less likely to be exposed to STEM careers compared to Black male students. The report shows 88% more Black female students have an aptitude for careers in advanced manufacturing than an interest; while 73% more Black female students have the aptitude for careers in computers and technology than interest. In addition, 72% more Black female students have the talent for architecture and construction jobs than there is interest.
Rose Jean is a senior at Mehlville High School who likes the YES program because she has the opportunity to learn about sciences that she wouldn’t otherwise know about. She says being a part of a STEM program brings all types of kids together, which creates diversity and community. “We have ideas that other people wouldn’t think of,” Jean said. “We have different experiences than other people so we bring new ideas to STEM.”