In conjunction with International Day of Women and Girls in Science, recognized on February 11, SciGirls soars into its fourth season on PBS, inspiring bright and curious kids to explore science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. But this new season has a special twist: while still firmly focused on STEM, these six new episodes celebrate the language and culture of the fast-growing and youngest racial/ethnic group in the United States: Latinos! The brand-new season of the Emmy-winning show debuted this month on local PBS KIDS and online at http://pbskids.org/scigirls.
This season’s SciGirls’ bright, relatable, creative girls—not actors—team up with adult female science professionals to solve STEM challenges, improve their communities and make new friends. But in these groundbreaking episodes, the real-life SciGirls and their mentors tackle their STEM adventures in both Spanish and English, honoring their Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Guatemalan, Argentinian, Colombian, Ecuadoran and Salvadoran heritage. Subtitles for both languages are provided, making sure all viewers can join in the STEM learning.
“SciGirls has spent over a decade addressing a challenging reality: girls face greater obstacles to STEM success than their male peers,” said SciGirls episode director Maria Agui Carter. “These barriers are even greater for young Hispanic girls. SciGirls fourth season, with its Spanish-first, culturally responsive approach, is nothing short of groundbreaking.”
“SciGirls has spent over a decade addressing a challenging reality: girls face greater obstacles to STEM success than their male peers. These barriers are even greater for young Hispanic girls.”
Maria Agui Carter
And as always, SciGirls’ brand of STEM learning is all about collaboration, exploration and flat-out fun. Hailing from all over the United States, the bilingual STEM superstars code light-up dance costumes in New York, engineer an urban chicken coop in Colorado, design NASA-inspired water bottles in Texas, explore tree ecology in Puerto Rico, engineer a streamlined process for an Arizona food bank or create a fitness boot camp to promote community health in California. SciGirls’ animated character Izzie is also back, sharing her favorite activities and her Hispanic family’s customs, goals and adventures.
In addition to these high-energy, Spanish-first episodes, the SciGirls educational outreach team is partnering with Latina/o-facing youth organizations nationwide to deliver standards-based bilingual STEM programming to children, families and educators. All outreach resources and activities are in both English and Spanish on the SciGirls CONNECT educators’ website (www.scigirlsconnect.org/). Kids can check out all bilingual videos, grab great STEM activities and connect with fellow STEM superstars on the SciGirls PBSKids website.
SciGirls’ Director of Cultural Competency, Alicia Santiago, echoes these sentiments, “Our research underscores that girls must see STEM role models who mirror their heritage and experiences. In partnership with Latino educators, parents and community leaders, SciGirls selected exceptional Latina female STEM professionals to inspire and empower this season’s girls—in a language and style that feels uniquely theirs.”
The series is proud to shine a spotlight on our nation’s emerging Latina STEM innovators, thinkers and explorers. Whether girls are interested in pursuing STEM studies, becoming future STEM workforce leaders, or just exploring their world, SciGirls’ new bilingual Spanish/English episodes welcome everyone to the fiesta de la ciencia! Watch SciGirls on pbskids.org.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science will be hosting the fourth annual Girls & Science event on March 3, 2018. Explore a variety of Science Clubhouses, where girls (and boys) and their families will meet female Career Mentors in STEAM and experience the many diverse opportunities a future career in science, technology, engineering, art, and math can bring. Tickets are $4 (ages 3-18) and includes general Museum admission. Free admission for Military, SNAP Access, and members. Scholarships available for families that need financial assistance. For more information contact 303.370.6000 or visit www.dmns.org/learn/families/family-events/girls-science/.
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