Project Brain Light’s Mission is
to provide students from underrepresented communities with novel, interactive science experiences centered on introductory exposure to neuroscience and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) fields.
Our graduate student team provides experimental science stations where students can actively learn about neuroscience and STEAM.-related research and phenomenon. Additionally, our graduate students will provide personal accounts and experiences of navigating the path toward higher education and a career in STEAM.
Why is STEAM Outreach Important?
Beginning around middle school, minorities initially interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) opt out of these fields at disproportionate levels compared to white males (Settles, et al., 2006; Singh, Mishra, & Kim, 1998; Trower & Chait, 2002). Despite recent efforts to increase and sustain diversity in STEM domains, these fields are no more diverse than they were in the last few decades, even with rising interest (changetheequation.org).
A staggering 84% of working professionals in STEAM fields are White or Asian males. Furthermore, more women are enrolled in U.S. undergraduate institutions then men, yet only 18% earn bachelors degrees in engineering. This number drops significantly for students of Hispanic and African American descent, with only 8% and 4%, respectively, earning bachelors degrees in engineering (National Science Foundation).
With the increasing complexity in problems that STEAM fields are trying to answer, this lack of diversity presents a serious problem. Diversity of background, lived-experience, and knowledge in STEAM provides additional tools and insight into critical research questions. This allows individuals in STEM fields to expand and improve upon initial solutions proposed by a group of more like-minded scientists. Forwarding scientific and STEAM discoveries requires individuals from many different backgrounds, demographics, and cultures.