The REC Foundation works to make robotics reflective of the diverse world we live in, and the one we want to leave behind.
We're committed to showing how exciting it is to be involved with STEM, showcasing examples of how women are changing the world, providing tools for success, and enabling comfortable environments where all students' confidence and abilities can flourish.
Girl Powered means supporting all your teammates, classmates, friends and family to try new things and reach outside their comfort zone. Being Girl Powered means finding people who you don’t see in robotics, getting them to try it, and making them feel like they belong. It is about encouraging others, both girls, and boys, to actively embrace a more diverse culture. We want to encourage new experiences, a diverse culture, and a more encompassing definition of what a roboticist looks like.
Studies have shown that girls and boys show equal interest in science and math in elementary school, and show that girls lose this interest in middle school for a variety of reasons¹ , yet women represent 30% of the STEM workforce². Our mission with Girl Powered is to work to change this reality and to re-define the face of STEM by including diversity and all humans to the table.
This initiative is intended to bring all students who are interested together, to show them that they are welcome in the robotics community. We believe in the power of diverse creative teams, and want to make sure our programs attract as many students interested in STEM as possible. We want to create and engage communities of support for inclusive environments to break down societal obstacles, and provide opportunities for everyone to decide if robotics and STEM is right for them.
Does this mean Girl Powered excludes boys? Absolutely not, we are not pushing boys out. We think robotics is for everyone. The world needs a diverse cast of problem solvers and engineers. No two people see things the same way. We all have different backgrounds and different approaches to creative thinking.