In line with the government’s push to build a more inclusive society and encourage more women to foray into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, global science company 3M and Science Centre Singapore (SCS) launched 3M Girls Can Tinker, a year-long science outreach program targeted at girls from low-income families. Through a series of art- and science-themed tinkering workshops, 300 underprivileged girls aged five to 16 will get to learn through play, exploration, and experimentation.
Mr Kevin McGuigan, Vice President and Managing Director, 3M South-East Asia Region and Country Leader, 3M Singapore, and Dr Lee Song Choon, Director, KidsSTOP™ and Events & Engagement, Science Centre Singapore kicked off the partnership and program. Guest-of-Honor Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Health & Member of Parliament, Pasir Ris - Punggol Town Council, was also present at the MOE Kindergarten @ Northshore, where the launch and first workshop were held with safe distancing measures in place.
“We believe in an equitable and inclusive world, so we think, work, and act to drive meaningful change that endures,” explained Mr McGuigan. “3M Girls Can Tinker builds on the success from our previous science education programs, and we hope the lessons learnt will continue to spark interest in science outside the workshops and classrooms.”
“In line with Singapore’s shift towards applied and inquiry-based learning, we aim to give young girls greater exposure to STEM by providing them with tinkering tools and equipment to nurture their creativity. The program will ensure that every girl recognizes her own potential and right to carve a future for herself in the STEM field,” added Dr Lee.
Using science to light up a ‘village’
During the workshop, 24 six-year-old beneficiaries had their first taste of the 3M Girls Can Tinker program. Armed with tech tools such as Light-Emitting Diodes (LED), the girls were tasked to ‘rebuild’ a miniature neighbourhood experiencing a power outage. They learnt about simple electric circuits and tried their hand at lighting up the village using design thinking principles, all under the close guidance of science outreach volunteers from 3M.
The girls can also document their learning in a Playshop Diary provided to them during the workshop. Upon completion, they will receive a certificate along with a take-home kit so they can continue learning beyond the classroom and encourage parents to join in the fun.
Future workshops for other age groups will similarly incorporate design thinking skills and hands-on learning approaches. Beneficiaries will be given problem statements and challenged to solve them using various workshop materials, supplies, and tools.
Encouraging the next generation of diverse STEM talent
3M Girls Can Tinker program answers an urgent call for increased equity and diversity in STEM, an important priority for Singaporeans, as revealed by 3M’s global study on science perceptions.
According to the 3M State of Science Index 2021, 92% of Singaporeans thought it was important to increase diversity and inclusion in STEM fields while 88% acknowledged that more was needed to be done to encourage and keep women and girls engaged in STEM.
This also builds on Singapore’s momentum toward building a more equitable society for women. In March, the government presented a white paper on women’s development for the first time in parliament, laying out action plans for the workplace, communities and wider society. Increasing the share of women in STEM industries and tackling stereotypes against women in the sector were key priorities included in the plan.
Supported by 3Mgives
3M Girls Can Tinker was organized by Science Centre Singapore and fully funded by a grant from 3Mgives. 3Mgives is 3M’s primary social investment arm and supports numerous initiatives in areas across education, environment, and community vibrancy to improve lives and provide solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges.
The partnership was also the most recent science education initiative by 3M and SCS, both of which have a history of sustained collaboration. For example, last year, they launched the 3M Tinkering Headstart program, which featured 15 science workshops throughout the year, engaging a total of 600 primary school children from underprivileged families. The two organizations also joined forces to roll out the 3M Science at Home kits initiative. Over 280 simple science kits were distributed to students from low-income families, so they could enjoy and experiment with science from the safety and comfort of their own homes.
Additionally, 3M and SCS also organized a publicly accessible panel event to release and discuss results from the 3M State of Science Index in June 2021. This year, 3M participated in Science Centre’s DiscovHer event to encourage interest in science amongst young girls. Through a hands-on activity booth, participants were able to learn more about 3M’s innovation and technology.
Mr McGuigan concluded, “We need to do more to encourage and inspire future scientists and engineers from all backgrounds, and we believe this effort starts with access to good education. The skills and abilities that young people acquire through scientific exploration are essential to success in life and we’re always challenging ourselves to find new and better ways to support STEM.”
This is a press release distributed by 3M.
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