Girls in STEM, or by its Hebrew name: Metkatekot (Hebrew slang for getting things done), is a program aimed to strengthen the sense of self-worth among female-identifying students as well as their self-confidence in STEM studies, with the ultimate goal that they continue to pursue STEM majors at the University level.
Data indicate that girls and women choose fewer scientific and technological subjects in high school, in the army, in academia, and in professions. The premise of our work is that through empowerment workshops, introductions to female role models in key positions in business and industry, and continuous open conversations, girls will be given tools and develop resilience to make empowered decisions when envisioning their future, and are more likely to include STEM fields.
Metkatekot focused on two groups – high school students in grades 10 and 11, who are already studying advanced science majors and mathematics at the highest level (five units), and middle schoolers in grades 8 and 9, who study mathematics at a high level. For the high school participants, the goal is to encourage them to pursue STEM graduate degrees. For the middle school students, the goal is to strengthen their skills and encourage them to move to advanced science and math majors in high school.
