Girls of Steel Robotics members are the future STEM workforce, future inventors, and future innovators. It's not just about building a robot---it's about building their futures.
"My experience on Girls of Steel provided me with the tools and confidence to be an effective and empathetic engineer, team member, and leader. To this day, that confidence is what empowers me to speak up at work- where I am often the youngest and only female mechanical engineer in the room. As I continue to learn and grow throughout my career, I am reassured knowing that Girls of Steel has prepared me to tackle any challenge head-on." Naoka G., 2014 Girls of Steel alumna
This program is an outreach effort at the Field Robotics Center at Carnegie Mellon University using the FIRST® robotics platform of K-12 programs. FIRSTis an international organization that provides the competitions to engage the students. More than a robotics team, Girls of Steel Robotics is a program of FIRST teams and community outreach.
At the high school level, students:
- lead the meetings
- make the big decisions
- build robots for competitions
- embrace near-peer mentoring of younger students
- run K-8 FIRST teams
- design and write promotional materials
- give presentations
- and more...
Striving to help to close the gender gap in STEMby empowering more females in STEM, we work hard to give girls leadership, teamwork, and communication skills in addition to technical skills like electronics, machining, and programming that will last far beyond their high school years.
"Being a part of the Girls of Steel Robotics team has changed my life because of the new skills I have learned from being on the team, including both technical and business. Even if I don't end up using the technical knowledge I gained, I will definitely apply the time management, leadership skills, and the understanding of trial and error." Ananya R., Girls of Steel FRC member.
The Girls of Steel pipeline (below) of FIRST robotics programs has multiple inputs, including FIRST teams, media, and outreach all ultimately leading to empower more women in STEM.
Each year the Girls of Steel program directly serves about 180 boys and girls in grades K-12 from over 30 different schools in the Pittsburgh area who participate in all 4 levels of FIRST robotics- FIRST LEGO League Jr. (FLL Jr), FIRST LEGO League (FLL), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams as well as local summer camps. The FRC level high school students volunteer as near-peer mentors and role models for the students in programs serving students in grades K-8. Near-peer mentoring provides role models close in age to the students who find it easy to relate to their student leaders.
"I'm glad to have them as mentors. They're never harsh. They're just great people." Patrick A., camper
Mentoring students at Girls of Steel summer camp.
100% of the girls in the program graduate high school, 100% attend post-secondary school, and 80% major in STEM, as shown in the figure below. In our annual survey we find 100% of the girls responding feel more confident in STEM at the end of the year and 100% are interested in having a career in STEM. The FRC level team member retention rate for 2019 was 94%, indicating the continuing interest and commitment of the girls in the program.
Sources: More Than Robots: An Evaluation of the FIRST Robotics Competition Participant and Institutional Impacts. Brandeis University (2005) High Schools in the United States: Quick Stats Fact. Argus. J. National High School Center at the AIR (2010) Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, AAUW, (2010)
Not only does the program have an impact on its members, but Girls of Steel reaches out to the community offering a variety of STEM activities for both adults and children. Their chassis project workshop is described below. Read about other outreach activities on the Girls of Steel Robotics website here.
Throughout the year the Girls of Steel program offers innovative robot chassis building workshops to hundreds of people of all ages from kids who drop in at Pittsburgh's Home and Garden Show or the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh during Remake Learning Days to executives who come together for an activity outside their field. Participants build and drive a completely functional robot chassis in less than two hours. Our goal for this project is to show people of all ages that robotics is fun and approachable, and that anyone can build a robot!
Robot Chassis Project participants and mentors
Girls of Steel does not discriminate in admission, participation, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information. Furthermore, as a part of Carnegie Mellon University, Girls of Steel does not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders.
