Saint Paul, Minn. (May 11, 2017) – The National Science Foundation (NSF) has granted Twin Cities PBS’s STEM Media & Education Department $2.9 million in support of a new season of SciGirls focused on coding and computer science. SciGirls combines an Emmy award-winning nationally broadcast PBS television show, multiple websites, and community-based programming to engage girls ages 8-13 in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning and career paths.
Code: SciGirls! Media for Engaging Girls in Computing Pathways will foster greater awareness of and engagement in computer science studies and career paths for girls. The new PBS SciGirls episodes will feature girls and female computer science professionals using coding to solve real-world challenges. The project’s digital component will leverage the television content into the online space in which much of 21st century learning takes place. A new interactive PBSKids.org game will use a narrative framework to help children develop coding skills. The project includes professional development for informal educators and female coding professionals to host programs for girls and families in diverse STEM learning environments. This project also includes extensive third-party evaluation and research.
The SciGirls educational network includes 175+ partner organizations in 34 states and Puerto Rico. More than 3,000 informal educators have been trained in SciGirls’ principles of gender equitable STEM education, who have engaged more than 60,000 diverse young people at SciGirls-themed classes, camps, clubs, afterschool initiatives and more.
“Although coding and computer science expertise is increasingly critical in our workforce, girls have far fewer opportunities than their male peers to learn about these topics,” said SciGirls’ Executive Producer Rita Karl. “We are grateful for this opportunity to inspire diverse girls to become creators, not just consumers, of technology.”
About Twin Cities PBS
Twin Cities PBS (TPT)’s mission is to enrich lives and strengthen our community through the power of media. Established in Saint Paul 58 years ago, TPT now operates as a public service media organization that harnesses a range of media tools to serve citizens in new ways — with multiple broadcast channels, online teaching resources, educational outreach and community engagement activities.
For over thirty years, TPT has been public television’s national leader in inspiring young people, especially girls and youth of color, around the pursuit of STEM studies and career paths. Landmark media projects such as the long-running series Newton’s Apple and DragonflyTV have also provided parents, educators and community leaders with the resources they need to teach, support and empower the next generation of STEM superstars. We have continued that tradition of excellence with SciGirls. For more information, visit TPT online, follow TPT on Facebook and Twitter. Watch SciGirls on pbskids.org, follow SciGirls on Facebook and @SciGirls on Twitter.
About the National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports education and research across all fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). In addition to providing major support for SciGirls, the NSF supports other science and math programs on PBS and pbskids.org, including DragonflyTV, Peg + Cat, Design Squad Nation and Plum Landing. Visit here for more information on NSF activities.
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Contact:
Kristin Pederson, Director of STEM Project Development and Communications
651-229-1288 | [email protected]
© Twin Cities Public Television - 2017. All rights reserved.
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