STEM 4 Kids: Improving Gender Diversity in STEM through a Collegiate Student-led Organization

Abstract Gender diversity has always been a low statistic in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. To see change, improvements must be made at every point - from the selection of children's play toys, to the recruitment of students from historically marginalized groups to pursue STEM degrees, to the pay disparity in career fields today. A student-led organization at a collegiate university focuses on improving the diversity gap at one of those points in the development of future engineers: at the middle school level. The organization is open to all middle school students, but focused specifically on marginally underrepresented groups such as young women and non-binary identifying students. Middle school students are invited to participate in free hands-on activities to encourage creativity and foster confidence. In an effort to introduce students to a variety of activities and topics, the organization partners with other student-led groups on the same campus. These other groups can volunteer to host an event, which entails teaching the students about their specific STEM field as well as leading the activities. By the end of the 2023 spring semester, the organization had hosted 22 events with a total of 86 registrants. This paper will discuss the process of establishing such an organization at the collegiate level and partnering with other student groups.