MakerGirl Goes Mobile 2022

MakerGirl Launches National Road Trip to Educate 600 Girls STEM in 6 Weeks

July 1, 2022

MakerGirl, the national not-for-profit working to bridge the gender gap in Science Technology, Engineering and Math has announced their fourth MakerGirl Goes Mobile summer mobile road trip to educate 600+ students in 6 weeks. The trip will head to 15 different cities across 8 midwest and southern states to bring 3D printing and computer-aided design (CAD) education to girls ages 7-14. 

The trip takes their Future Makers on the road for an opportunity of a lifetime. Future Makers sessions include three major parts: 1) introduction to 3D printing and how it is used in real world application 2) learning how to use basic CAD design skills and 3) learning about famous women in STEM and sharing about their designs with the other students. After hosting virtual sessions since March of 2020, this trip marks the return of MakerGirl’s in-person programming. #MakerGirlGoesMobile aims to make 3D printing more accessible to girls in underserved rural areas and marginalized communities throughout the United States. This summer’s 2022 road trip is supported by Platinum Sponsors Stanley Black & Decker and Flip/Microsoft, as well as Silver Sponsor Bishop-Wisecarver and backed by the support of over 75 individual donors. 

“MakerGirl's dedication to democratizing STEM resonates brilliantly with Flip and Microsoft's mission to empower every individual,” says Adam Parker Goldberg, Flip Community Strategy at Microsoft. “Combined with the innovative, community-driven approach of the MakerGirl team, we are proud to partner with an organization who empowers girls and makes learning social.”

MakerGirl believes 3D printing builds on young girls’ natural creativity. Technical skills become less intimidating when employed as a tool for self-expression. By focusing on CAD design MakerGirl works to improve students’ spatial skills (an early indicator of later achievement in mathematics) which has a gap that’s been identified in boys & girls in later grades. MakerGirl will continue to work towards its 3 goals: educating 10,000 girls by the end of 2023, establishing 10 MakerGirl Academies, and maintaining girls’ commitment to STEM involvement throughout their entire lives by 2023. 

“We have been a fierce advocate for many years to help students learn about STEM and the exciting career opportunities that await them in the manufacturing industry," says Pamela Kan, Bishop-Wisecarver President. “We have found that many girls don’t know these job paths even exist or don’t think they could ever be qualified to pursue them. Giving them the confidence and exposure to STEM at such a young age can be a life changing event when they start seeing themselves in these careers and have the guidance to pursue them academically. That ‘awakening’ is what we are most excited about in partnering with MakerGirl again and kicking off this amazing road trip.”

MakerGirl’s #MakerGirlGoesMobile kicked off last Friday June 24th in Chicago, Illinois and will run through August 6th. To learn more about the mission or register a MakerGirl in your life visit makergirl.us/makergirlgoesmobile.

About MakerGirl:

MakerGirl is working to bridge the gender gap in STEM through providing educational sessions to girls across the country led by high school and university ChangeMakers. Since its founding in 2014, MakerGirl has educated over 5,500 girls in 28 states with half from underrepresented and rural communities.They have created a movement of makers with three different models: University Academies, #MakerGirlGoesMobile, and online curriculum. MakerGirl is on a mission to educate 10,000 students and establish 10 MakerGirl Academies by 2023. Follow the organization on social media @_MakerGirl.