One giant leap: A million girls get a “moonshot” at STEM

It’s an unfortunate and damaging cultural narrative that has become deeply ingrained over generations: Girls don’t make good scientists or engineers. They’re not strong in math. They don’t understand tech.

While female students’ achievements in math and science are on par with their male peers, pervasive negative stereotypes about women and girls’ abilities may discourage them from reaching their full potential in these areas. In fact, the data would certainly suggest as much.

According to the National Science Board, women comprise just 28% of the current STEM workforce. Observing the issue through an intersectional lens creates even more urgency: of the few women in STEM fields, only about 5% are women of color.

So, what will it take for change? For over 35 years, the Panasonic Foundation has made its mission to address inequities in our educational system by bringing educational opportunities to under-resourced communities. In recent years, the foundation has launched coding institutes across the U.S. in Title I Schools - communities where computer science education is not offered in 90% of high schools.

It’s this same goal that led the Panasonic Foundation to work with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to introduce children from communities of promise to STEM education through his Camp Skyhook program. And it’s why we’re investing in partnerships that directly support student achievement – including our recent partnership with Million Girls Moonshot.

The one-million milestone

Million Girls Moonshot (MGM), an initiative created by STEM Next, hopes to give young girls the support and resources they need to combat the false narrative around women in STEM and redefine what’s possible. As a national leader in strategic guidance and policy, STEM Next aims to bring STEM education to one million middle-school girls through afterschool and summer programs by 2025.

As innovators and leaders in tech, Panasonic recognizes this issue as both profound and pressing. Technology continues to play a larger role in our daily lives, and it is imperative that the scientists and thinkers designing and building these technological solutions represent diverse perspectives so we can continue to deliver on our brand promise of a better world for all.

We strive to move the world forward and are proud to advance equity in STEM education, diversify and strengthen the tech talent pipeline, and build a more inclusive workforce.
Alejandra Ceja

In order to achieve a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture, tech innovators like Panasonic need programs like MGM as much as young girls and women need this window of opportunity. Representatives from Panasonic Energy North America’s Sparks, Nevada, headquarters are already supporting MGM participants on the ground, having delivered Panasonic TOUGHBOOK laptops to multiple out-of-school programs in the broader Reno area. Better still, several female engineers from our Nevada factory will work directly with students, guiding them through coursework and demonstrating that no career path is out of reach for girls.

As a sponsor of MGM, the Panasonic Foundation will also invest $1 million over the next three years to improve early access to STEM curricula, a critical factor in helping more girls reach their fullest potential and expand their career horizons.

Volunteers from Panasonic Energy North America volunteer with Million Girls Moonshot

Addressing the biggest roadblocks

The idea is to address the various barriers for young women, especially those of color, in their totality. Lack of access to programs, opportunities and inspiring mentors all set girls behind at a critical stage, the one in which they begin to consider the possibilities the world holds for them. Even young women in high school who decide to explore STEM careers may have a hard time closing the gap.

The idea is to engage these students in STEM sooner. This way, they can develop a roadmap for success including which classes to take, where to focus their energy, and discovering new possibilities for what they are capable of. Because the first step in any significant journey is believing that it’s possible.

“As a materials scientist and engineer, I know the importance of early access and exposure to remove barriers to entry in the STEM field,” said Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D., author of The Alchemy of Us and board member of the Panasonic Foundation. “By creating connections and building confidence in young girls, we’re also empowering them to reimagine their futures"

A future filled with potential

We live in a time when completely new industries are taking shape around us. This space creates a new type of frontier that can be built with foresight. It also offers an unimaginable opportunity for women in STEM to grab hold of the reins.

At Panasonic, we recognize this opportunity to create a new type of technology space. Our EV battery division, Panasonic Energy North America (PENA), is at the forefront of vehicle electrification, developing energy storage solutions for electric cars, trucks, buses and even boats. Leaders at PENA see firsthand the growing need for a diverse, bright talent pool. We know Panasonic can’t reach its goals of being carbon-free by 2030 without reimagining how technology gets developed - and who gets to develop it.

We can see this is a new world. As we see that, we can start to shape a culture and organization that behaves differently.
Allan Swan

In order to achieve a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture, tech innovators like Panasonic need programs like MGM as much as young girls and women need this window of opportunity. Representatives from PENA’s Sparks, Nevada, headquarters are already supporting MGM participants on the ground, having delivered Panasonic TOUGHBOOK laptops to multiple out-of-school programs in the broader Reno area. Better still, several female engineers from our Nevada factory will work directly with students, guiding them through coursework and demonstrating that no career path is out of reach for girls.

Equity is a shared responsibility

Ensuring that all students have equal access is vital if we are to make the most of our technological opportunities. As a global innovation leader, we see it as nothing short of our duty to help light the fire for the next generation of engineers, scientists, designers and advanced manufacturing professionals

Authors

Alejandra Ceja

Director, Office of Corporate Social Responsibility for Panasonic North America and Executive Director of the Panasonic Foundation

Allan Swan

President, Panasonic Energy of North America

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