Author: Paulina Bocaz
Affiliation: Associated Universities, Inc. / National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Country: Chile
Title: A Campaign to Promote STEM Vocations among Girls
This presentation will describe a campaign to promote STEM vocations among girls in Chile. Despite hosting many of the largest international observatories in the world, Chile lags behind most OECD and Latin American countries in terms of female participation and retention in STEM careers. The PROVOCA campaign focuses on role models to inspire girls and show them, and others who influence their career choices such as teachers and parents, that science is open to all and STEM careers are rewarding and within reach. Short videos were produced after a face-to-face experience that brought together women STEM professionals and girls from underserved communities. These videos are being used in social and traditional media to showcase female role models in STEM, mirroring their stories with those of girls who aspire to pursue careers in these fields. A sample of these videos will be shared to illustrate the kinds of biases that need to be addressed to increase interest and participation of girls and women in STEM.