Empowering Young Girls in STEM: A Summer Program Success

August 14, 2025 - 22:34

The City School District of Albany recently concluded its summer STEMinista program, designed to inspire and engage middle-school girls in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Running for two weeks in August, the program offered hands-on activities, workshops, and opportunities to connect with positive role models.

Participants explored various scientific concepts through engaging labs and a field trip to the Radix Center. They engaged in exciting experiments, such as the ‘Pipette-the-Rainbow’ lab, where they learned to make precise liquid measurements and use scientific tools. Additionally, students experimented with a centrifuge to separate chocolate from chocolate milk and delved into gel electrophoresis, a technique for analyzing DNA, RNA, and protein molecules.

The program also included creative projects like constructing beaded key chains to model DNA structures. Special thanks go to the dedicated science teachers and the district's Secondary Instructional Supervisor for Science and Technology for fostering an inclusive environment that challenges gender stereotypes and builds confidence among girls in STEM.