This article from IEEE describes a collaboration with Girl Scouts of the USA, specifically the Heart of New Jersey council, to draw more girls into STEM fields. The program, called See Her, Be Her, runs annually (formerly under the name “What a G.I.R.L. Can Be”) and aims to build a stronger pipeline of female talent for science, technology, engineering, and math careers.
At the most recent event, held in May at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, over 100 girls participated. Roughly 30 exhibitor booths, staffed by IEEE volunteers from the North Jersey Section and its Future Networks technical community, offered hands-on science and tech activities. Girls explored areas such as cloud computing through child-friendly demonstrations scaled for career exposure rather than technical depth.
Organizers highlight the importance of role models. Many girls choose STEM when they meet women already working in engineering or tech; seeing someone “like them” helps them believe they can succeed. That personal connection, mentors say, often matters more than formal outreach campaigns.
For the Girl Scouts, STEM is one of four foundational program pillars, alongside life skills, outdoor skills, and entrepreneurship. The association believes exposing girls to STEM early helps build confidence, critical thinking, and a sense of possibility.
The collaboration with IEEE also matters because of a persistent gender gap in STEM: women made up just 28% of the global STEM workforce last year. Programs such as “See Her, Be Her” aren’t just about raising awareness; they’re about offering a sense that a technical career path is real, accessible, and welcoming for girls from all backgrounds.
This story underscores a simple but powerful idea: closing the gender gap in STEM begins with giving girls hands-on exposure, real role models, and a sense that they belong.