Why is it important to support women in STEM?

"Supporting women science, technology engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students and researchers is not only an essential part of America’s strategy to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world; it is also important to women themselves. Women in STEM jobs earn 33 percent more than those in non-STEM occupations and experience a smaller wage gap relative to men. And STEM careers offer women the opportunity to engage in some of the most exciting realms of discovery and technological innovation. Increasing opportunities for women in these fields is an important step towards realizing greater economic success and equality for women across the board." - the White House Office of Science and Technology from 2016

Your generous donation is greatly appreciated!

How will AWIS-ND use the donations?

" Our goal for the 2017 - 2018 academic year is:

• Women in Science Conference - From your generous support on ND Day 2016, we hosted the first ever Women in Science Conference in the Midwestern Region. In 2016, we provided 10 travel grants for students in the Midwest who could not afford to attend the conference otherwise. For the next year, your donation will help us increase the travel grants to over 20.
• STEMentorship Program - One of the biggest issues women face in STEM is the lack of support and mentorship from childhood to late stage career; called the pipeline problem. Our STEMentorship program targets part of this issue by providing mentors to ND College of Science and College of Engineering freshmen and sophomores embarking on their undergraduate journey; offering guidance and advice, sharing our own struggles and stories and, most importantly, listening to theirs. We started this program 2015-2016 and grew in 2016-2017, where we matched over 80 female freshmen in STEM with female graduate students. We hosted multiple social events and provide mentoring materials for our mentors and mentees. Your donation will help us support more mentor and mentee matches.
• Monthly STEM Lunches - Our most popular event has become even more popular. For 2015-2016, we had an average of 40 - 50 students attending. For 2016-2017, we had an average of 60 - 70 students. At this rate, we will have to cap our event, because we cannot afford to support more students. With your generous donation, more students can attend without a cap!
• ND Pi Day 5K - We have raised over $10,000 for STEM and running programs at Harrison Primary (an economically disadvantaged school) through the Boys and Girls Club. Our biggest suggestion from ND Pi Day 5K participants for expanding this event (and raising even more funds for Boys and Girls Club) is incorporating chip timing. Unfortunately, chip timing cost at least $1,000, which, for the last three years, we believed could be better spent on supporting the Boys and Girls Club. If we raise enough money, we will provide chip timing at the 4th Annual Pi Day 5K.

Association for Women in Science-Notre Dame

MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to initiate, encourage, and engage women in science, technology engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in a welcoming and supportive environment, creating a sense of belonging and providing opportunities for success.

OUR MEMBERS: AWIS-ND members are female, STEM graduate students engaged in research at the University of Notre Dame. Many of our members are researching ways to cure cancer, study how stars work, protect your data privacy, develop personalize medicine, and improve education; to name a few.

For more information and to check out all our amazing activities, go to our website: AWIS-ND!