Thesis Proposal Presentation by Kam Yee on May 1st
Space Studies master’s student, Kam Yee, will give her thesis proposal presentation as follows. All Space Studies students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend.
When: Friday, May 1st at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Ryan Hall, Room 111
Title: STEM Education for Girls of Color: Organizational Practices and Cultural Responsiveness
About the topic: Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields struggle to increase recruitment and retention of girls of color. Informal education or complimentary learning STEM programs offer alternative opportunities for students to explore outside of rigid school academic and social systems. The dominant framework in STEM education is the pipeline model which assumes girls in general lack motivation and interest to persist in STEM fields. Recent discourse shifts to address institutionalized discrimination and systemic barriers in STEM culture that filter out underrepresented populations.
Few articles look specifically at STEM complimentary learning programs, and even fewer focus on the effects on girls of color. This research is a quantitative study to categorize existing organizational practices that produce culturally responsive STEM programs that recognize students, families, and communities as resources. The results will provide a better understand of the relationship between organizational practices behind STEM organizations and the programs they create. The findings will contribute to the body of knowledge for STEM education leaders to increase recruitment, services, and retention of girls of color in STEM education paths.
About the presenter: Kam Yee is currently a Space Studies graduate student in the University of North Dakota’s distance learning program. She lives in Seattle, Washington. She has a decade of experience in K-12 and community outreach in aerospace science. Kam believes all fields of studies can relate to space and it takes an interdisciplinary approach to achieve goals in space exploration. Kam loves creating innovative ways to incorporate space into education programs to promote scientific literacy.
Kam is an alumna of the University of Washington Bothell and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences with a focus on Science, Technology, and the Environment. She also hold a minor degree in Human Rights. As an immigrant and first-generation college student, she is a strong advocate for youth to reach their dreams through science education.
******Those unable to attend in person may view the live webcast******
1) A simple live webcast is available here.