Girl Scouts of the USA and Netflix Come Together to Empower Girls to Explore STEM Subjects
Committed to encouraging the pursuit of STEM career paths for young girls, GSUSA and Netflix are providing resources inspired by the Netflix original series Project Mc2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Girl Scouts of the USA Press Room
media@girlscouts.org
212-852-8525
Netflix Press Room
pr@netflix.com
NEW YORK, NY and LOS GATOS, CA (October 5, 2016)—Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and Netflix are joining forces to empower young girls to envision their futures in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. Centered around Project Mc2, a Netflix original series from MGA Entertainment Inc., the collaboration takes STEM beyond the small screen with hands-on experiences for Girl Scout troops at Netflix headquarters and the debut of a STEM Superstars Guide (PDF), an online resource that encourages Girl Scouts across the country to discover just how exciting, fun and rewarding STEM can be.
Despite initial interest in STEM fields, nearly 50 percent of girls feel that STEM isn’t a typical career path for them, and interest fades as they move through middle and high school. 1 To celebrate the organization's focus on leading like a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ and encourage the pursuit of STEM subjects like those featured in Project Mc2, leaders from GSUSA and Netflix were joined by female representatives from Google, Instagram, and Twitter to kick off She Rules: STEM on Tuesday evening, October 4. Girl Scout troops from Silicon Valley, representing Girl Scouts of Northern California, were invited to Netflix headquarters in Los Gatos, California to hear from real-world STEM experts and learn how their pursuit of STEM fields led to rewarding and unexpected careers. Additionally, the Girl Scouts got a sneak peek of season three of Project Mc2 and put their STEM skills to the test through hands-on experiments inspired by the show.
“As a lifelong Girl Scout who grew up to pursue rocket science, I know the impact our program can have on girls interested in STEM,” said Sylvia Acevedo, interim CEO of Girls Scouts of the USA. “My Girl Scout experience was a key element in empowering me to enter the engineering field when most females didn’t pursue STEM. I am so thrilled to work with Netflix to ensure more girls have the interest, drive, and determination to pursue and lead in STEM-related fields.”
From showing girls how STEM subjects are woven throughout their everyday lives to introducing girls to STEM enthusiasts like the cast of Project Mc2, the new STEM Superstars Guide provides Girl Scout volunteers nationwide with the tools they need to keep girls’ passions and curiosity for STEM subjects alive. The guide shows just how easy it is to make STEM matter for young girls with conversation starters, troop activities, and examples of STEM role models.
“As a mother of two Girl Scouts, I’m especially proud that there are shows on Netflix like Project Mc2that celebrate young girls’ enthusiasm in STEM subjects,” said Shauna Spenley, vice president of North America Marketing, Netflix. “By working with an organization like GSUSA to extend the girl power message that is so central to Project Mc2 off the screen, we are able to inspire the next generation of gadget gurus and culinary chemists.”
Netflix is proud to support girls in STEM with shows that authentically reflect real girls and women by elevating individuality and giving empowering characters a place to be seen. Project Mc2 aims to encourage girls to embrace their passions for learning and exploring like McKeyla McAlister (problem solver and leader), Adrienne Attoms (culinary chemist), Bryden Bandweth (tech genius), Camryn (engineer extraordinaire), Devon D’Marco (artist and creative) and Ember Evergreen (green thumb).
Girls can also continue to explore STEM subjects by participating in unique G.I.R.L.-led experiences and other opportunities offered through Girl Scouts. To learn more about joining or volunteering, please visit www.girlscouts.org/join.
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who believe girls can change the world. It began over 100 years ago
with one woman, Girl Scouts' founder Juliette Gordon "Daisy"
Low, who believed in the power of every girl. She organized the first
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