The territorial delegate of the Bit Foundation in Menorca, José María Seguí Gómez de Olea, delivered the award this Thursday, December 21, to Anna Coll Bosch, a student of third of ESO of IES Biel Martín de Ferreries, winner with the highest score of the contest “Women STEM references”, organized by Bit Foundation in the framework of the initiative “Science and technology in female” aimed at all students from first to fourth of ESO of the Balearic Islands.

The student has been awarded a diploma and a smartwatch.

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IES Biel Martín de Ferreries

This contest is part of the day “Science and Technology for Women”, a day that was held last November simultaneously in the ParcBit of Palma and CentreBit Menorca with the participation of nearly 200 students in which they could also participate via the Internet.

During this day, organized by the Department of Economy, Finance and Innovation, students of the third year of ESO of IES Alcúdia and IES Biel Martín de Ferreries participated in a series of activities that included, in addition to this contest, a round table, workshops and exhibitions around STEM studies (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), to promote vocations in these areas, especially among girls.

A total of 140 students participated in the contest “Women STEM references”, which consisted of filling out a form with questions about current women scientists and women in the history of science and technology, the contents of the round table on “Science and technology in women”, and a question about a woman STEM reference of the same around the participants.

The Bit Foundation will soon announce the names of the rest of the winners of the contest, both those who participated in person during the November event and those who participated virtually.

STEM Girls Program

The Autonomous Secretariat for Innovation and Digital Society and the Bit Foundation have been promoting since 2021 the program aimed at fostering among girls and young women vocations related to the academic disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, known by the acronym STEM.

This initiative has been a great success in terms of participation since its launch; thus, between 2021 and 2023, 6,431 young people attended the 108 awareness-raising activities organized during these two years.

The plan to awaken STEM vocations among young women and girls is aimed at reversing the fact that the number of women graduates in these areas is lower than that of men, due to the lack of interest of young women in these subjects, according to data from recent studies such as “Influencias en los intereses por las materias STEM, con perspectiva de género, en las Illes Balears” (Influences on the interests in STEM subjects, with a gender perspective, in the Balearic Islands), prepared by the Bit Foundation last year.

The study, made to students in the fifth and sixth grades of primary school and first and second of ESO of the Balearic Islands, reveals that girls in the Balearic Islands show a lower interest in STEM subjects, especially in technology and engineering. Despite this, it highlights the importance of female referents with STEM professions in influencing educational preferences.

Likewise, the study confirms that the presence of mothers or other female figures in this field contributes to improving girls’ perception of STEM careers. In addition, it highlights the need to increase interest among girls through specific activities and educational strategies that encourage participation in these areas and overcome the low-interest trends identified in the study.

Among the main actions carried out this year within the framework of this program, it is worth mentioning the conference “Science and Technology in Women” and the travelling exhibition “Women Who Changed the World and Women Who Change the World”, through which the work of prestigious women scientists and technologists throughout history and in the present is shown, to make visible their work and create female references to encourage STEM vocations.

The exhibition can be requested by any educational centre of the Balearic Islands, although it is especially aimed at students from the first to the fourth year of ESO, through the form: https://ja.cat/exposicioitinerantdones. More information here: https://www.fundaciobit.org/material-didactic-alineat-amb-la-lomloe-per-les-vocacions-stem-a-labast-dels-centres-educatius/. The centres that host the exhibition can also participate in the contest “Mujeres references STEM” until May 24, 2024 (you can consult the rules here: https://www.fundaciobit.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/bases-concurs-referents-stem-proximitat-2023.pdf).

Additionally, the Bit Foundation has published several pioneering studies in the autonomous community, such as the research “Influences on interests in STEM subjects, with a gender perspective, in the Balearic Islands” or “ICT Women in the Balearic Islands 2021”, which have allowed to know updated figures and make recommendations for improvement. All studies can be downloaded here: https://www.fundaciobit.org/observatori/#1584527386382-1a5ebbc5-a44b.