ChangeMaker’s Guide to STEM: The Champion of Curiosity

By: Naomi Pieczulewski

As a student of Materials Science and Engineering, I wanted to share the first key steps for anyone interested in learning more about STEM and how MakerGirl can assist in the process.

1. What makes you curious?

“MILLIONS SAW THE APPLE FALL, BUT NEWTON ASKED WHY.”

-Bernard Baruch

The world of STEM is driven by asking questions. In a world driven by technology, we have grown accustomed to taking innovations for granted. Yet, there is so much to question and understand. The first step into STEM is asking yourself what you are curious to learn. Examples of these questions include: How does a computer work? Why do cars use gasoline? Where does electricity come from? Why do all animals need water? How does your microwave or fridge work? How was Earth made? Or how does 3D printing work?

2. Dig deeper

“THE MIND THAT OPENS TO A NEW IDEA NEVER RETURNS TO ITS ORIGINAL SIZE.”

-Albert Einstein

Once you find something that makes you curious, now is your chance to learn something new!  Using your newfound knowledge, you can always dive deeper. For example, say you know the basics of how 3D printing works. Plastic filament is heated and melted, then extruded on a surface layer by layer to create a 3D structure. But do you know about its application in space missions or fashion? Can different materials be used to print? How does the 3D printer know what to print? What constraints exist? 

In our sessions at MakerGirl, we introduce girls to new applications, design processes and constraints to broaden the mind to new possibilities. I am always happy to see when girls that challenge themselves in our sessions to design something more complex than the time before. Since the basic shapes apply constraints, building a complex design requires more creativity and spatial understanding that forces deep thought.

3. Don’t be afraid of mistakes

“DON’T LOOK AT YOUR FEET TO SEE IF YOU ARE DOING IT RIGHT. JUST DANCE”

-Anne Lamott

Diving deeper into STEM inevitably leads to complex topics and concepts that you struggle to grasp, making you want to stop. The only way to get through it is to learn to make mistakes. By seeing misunderstanding or mistakes as an opportunity, we can overcome the fear and embrace our curiosity. As we gain experience through repetition, the initially hard task becomes second nature. I see this play out often in our sessions when girls first try to design on Tinkercad. The fear of making a mistake or doing something wrong stops them starting a design at all. However, I have been able to see girls learn to dive into the action on Tinkercad despite their initial hesitance and ultimately create a truly unique design.

I encourage everybody to be curious about the world around them and discover something new for themselves. Following these steps, my curiosity has led me to conduct research in energy technology. As a ChangeMaker, I hope to inspire others to tackle the challenges of the world together.

Inspired by Naomi’s guide?

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