7/28/2021 1 Comment Inspiring the next generation of STEM, Susanne Lettner talks science outreach in GermanyBy Lauren Koenig & Susanne Lettner Around the world, there has been a growing focus on building science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities in education. Yet each country approaches these programs from a slightly different angle. To get a look at how STEM education is being developed in other parts of the globe, I spoke with Susanne Lettner, a major contributor to science education outreach in Germany. Lettner cofounded DigiMINTKids (MINT in German is equivalent to STEM in English), which focuses on digital STEM education for children ages 2-10. She is also a STEM Ambassador for MINT Zukunft schaffen, a non-profit association founded by German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel in 2008. The association seeks to motivate, promote, and award schools in the STEM fields, thereby helping to increase the quality of STEM education and the number of aspiring scientists, especially women. Lettner has served as a juror that awards schools different accreditations, such as best “Digital School” or “STEM friendly school.” Considering that Lettner’s own background is in journalism and public relations, her enthusiasm for STEM education goes to show that programs like MINT Zukunft schaffen have a broad appeal. Lauren Koenig (LK): How did you first become involved in science outreach? Susanne Lettner (SL): I’m a Marketing Specialist (focus: Corporate Communications) and I work at an industrial automation company. Through communications, I promote our company’s goals and achievements in e-mobility, autonomous driving, power electronics, or Industry 4.0. I’m interested in new technologies and I really like that I have the ability to work together with engineers and developers to promote future technologies. LK: Scientists in media are often portrayed as one-dimensional figures, wearing white lab coats and working at the lab bench. But there are many jobs in STEM that overlap with roles traditionally relegated to the arts. How do you see creativity and art fitting into STEM? How do you think STEM can be more realistically portrayed to the public? SL: STEM opens a world of opportunities for careers. There are so many paths you can follow within STEM and numerous ways in which you can have a real impact on the world. In order to get a positive image for the STEM field, good examples from practice are helpful. Media coverage can show that a STEM job is creative and diversified. This requires reporting on outstanding, innovative projects or ideas from people who authentically present their professional activity - like your Interview Series. Accurately representing women in STEM will help girls especially to become more confident to pursue their interests in this area. When children realize that a STEM job is exciting and varied, they will decide to pursue a STEM career. LK: What does a STEM Ambassador for MINT Zukunft schaffen do? SL: Being a STEM Ambassador gives me the opportunity to encourage the next generation of scientists and engineers. STEM Ambassadors bring a fresh perspective to STEM subjects through career talks, as well as by providing support during exhibitions, events, or enrichment days. We also serve as mentors for students and share hands-on practical work and activities to engage them with STEM subjects. LK: What do you most enjoy about being a STEM Ambassador? Do any particular moments stand out from your work? SL: There are many great and defining moments! As a STEM Ambassador, I have planned and organized different STEM events for students. Age-related STEM events are a great way to spark young people's interest in various STEM professions. I always appreciate when the participants tell me that they left the event motivated and positively impacted from the experience. That feedback motivates me every time to keep doing my work as a STEM Ambassador! LK: You are a cofounder of DigiMINTKids. Can you tell me more about this project? SL: STEM based learning for kids can and should start as early as two years of age. And that is the reason why we founded our Project DigiMINTKids, which focuses on Digital and STEM education for children (2-10 years). Situations in which kids can learn about STEM happen everywhere! Kids observe their environment, experiment, and do stuff to adapt to their surroundings. They are curious learners, who explore their surroundings, make discoveries and try new things out. Just like a scientist, they ask “Why is it like that? What could possibly happen? Can I change how it works?” This habit of questioning and trying new things out, is typical in early childhood. At DigiMINTKids, kids are encouraged to investigate and to ask questions about their surroundings. School isn’t where learning starts - the early years are important to the rest of the academic career. Giving children hands-on STEM learning opportunities in early childhood education helps to build a positive attitude towards education. LK: How do you see STEM outreach projects, like DigiMINTKids, growing in the future? SL: Good cooperation between companies, schools, and universities are important for successful STEM events. On one hand, potential employers must make the effort to coordinate and welcome events like these on their time. Concurrently, it is necessary that motivated teachers from schools/universities participate and make the experience fun. Therefore, companies, as well as schools and universities should develop more partnerships in this area, because it will mutually benefit both parties in the long run. So my wish is that we find more motivated people working at companies, universities, and schools who support our STEM activities. In turn, I hope that our participants are motivated to pursue training in STEM as a result of these events. LK: Can you give us some background on how Germany is working to reduce the gender gap in STEM? SL: I’m happy to give you an overview. Every year, there is one day in April called “Girls Day,” which is an event held all across Germany. Universities, research centers, and technical companies and training facilities organize an open event for girls, ages 10 and up, where they can learn about a wide range of professions. Their schools and families also often get involved in the campaign. It is the largest career orientation project for female students. As mentioned earlier, the association Mint Zukunft schaffen works with schools throughout Germany and encourages them to build and offer STEM related activities. Schools apply to specific awards to receive accreditation (e.g. the awards for STEM friendly school or Digital school in which I am a juror). The award helps to attract the attention of professional recruiters and help schools set their students up for careers with technical companies. “Komm mach MINT” ("Come On, Do Stem") is a network for young women in the STEM fields, which is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany. It helps women with networking and keeping up-to-date on STEM activities/programs in Germany. Other STEM networks in Germany include Think ING, Begabungslotse, Club MINT, Initiative Klischeefrei, the Competence Center for technology-diversity-equal opportunities (Kompetenzz), Excellence-school network (MINT-EC), Wissensfabrik, World Robot Olympiad, Körber Stifung or Hacker School. In Austria, the initiative Young Science is a program that helps schools actively expose their students to STEM related endeavors. It is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. Young Science works with education facilities all over Austria. It also aids in the organization of the annual “Citizen Science Award” for schools. I was there as a Young Science Ambassador and I visited schools in Vienna to conduct science outreach. LK: Impostor syndrome is a pervasive problem among early career scientists and can be extremely challenging for female scientists in particular. Based on your experience working to promote science education and professional opportunities among students, do you have any ideas on what we can do to overcome it? SL: You should talk with others about your feelings. They can help you clearly see your strengths as well as weaknesses. Also, you should avoid criticizing yourself harshly, as encouraging yourself is actually a much healthier and more productive way to achieve your goals. It is important to recognize positive feedback when it’s given to you, and to recognize and celebrate your talents! LK: Do you have any other advice for young people interested in pursuing STEM? SL: Age-related STEM events are a great way to spark young people's interest in a STEM profession. I advise young people to get a first impression of STEM fields through reaching out and asking questions. Informational interviews and internships are good opportunities where you can talk to professionals who can give you tips for success, help you know what you’ll need to study in school to achieve the career you're interested in, and what career prospects are out there after you graduate. Sampling the field through a short-term position also helps you test whether this is the right job for you. And don’t give up! Truly, you can succeed in STEM despite your gender, racial background or your economic situation. Believe in yourself! LK: Are there any upcoming projects that you’re looking forward to working on? SL: I’m a Juror for the awards "STEM-friendly school” and "Digital School” for MINT Zukunft schaffen. Every year, schools can apply for the awards and I have the honor of helping to evaluate those schools that best put emphasis on STEM values. Many schools offer amazing STEM and digital concept programs, and host wonderful projects for boys and girls to get them exposed to different aspects of digitalization and STEM. Digitalization and STEM play an increasingly important role in the realm of education and will have an even larger impact in the near future. I’m looking forward to being involved in the development of ideas to improve STEM opportunities and recognition in education.
1 Comment
9/27/2021 03:41:08 am
Absolutely! STEM is an important field and it helps to shape our future through technology. For that we need smart, creative and bright people working on solutions.
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