The Girls Advisory Board is made up of young women that review and provide feedback on current NGCP initiatives and assist in informing the future direction of the NGCP.

Caroline S. is a junior in high school from North Carolina. Her STEM passions include math and computer science. This year she earned the Jane Street American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 12A and Akamai AMC 12B Certificate of Excellence, and she is a member of the North Carolina team at the American Regions Mathematics League competition. She is one of only three girls on a 35-person team. As a member of the Girls Advisory Board, Caroline has participated as a role model in STEM conferences for youth and in the "Ask a Paleontologist" video series. She serves as a student ambassador for the PLANETS Foundation and contributed to their recent children's book, Lana and Tardi. She is also a Foldscope Ambassador, launching social media campaigns to ensure youth have access to STEM education to discover their passions.

Each month, this spotlight will highlight new programs, resources, and role models that are part of IF/THEN®, an initiative from Lyda Hill Philanthropies designed to activate a culture shift among young girls and introduce them to STEM careers.

In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day (June 23, 2021) we are spotlighting IF/THEN® resources featuring inspiring women engineers working in fields from nuclear to biomedical engineering. Here are some of our favorites:

NGCP is hosting a series of webinars featuring the IF/THEN® Collection that will highlight ways to use the resources to support equity, increase representation of women in STEM, and engage girls in STEM.

GoldieBlox educates and empowers girls by creating engaging content, fun toys, and resources, including Curiosity Camp. Learn how to use the IF/THEN® Collection and Curiosity Camp resources to support gender equity, and hear from some of the stars of Curiosity Camp.

Participants will learn more about the many IF/THEN® Collection resources specifically designed for afterschool and informal STEM programming.

NGCP Collaborative leads and local educators will showcase how they utilize the IF/THEN® Collection resources in their programming to engage girls in STEM.

Managed by NGCP, the IF/THEN® Collection includes thousands of images, videos, posters, and materials available at no cost to educators across the U.S. to use in classrooms, social media, camps, museum exhibits, and more. Stay connected to IF/THEN® on social media:

NGCP is a proud partner of The Franklin Institute and the Institute for Learning Innovation on the Leap into Science initiative with support from the National Science Foundation. Leap into Science integrates open-ended science activities with children's books, designed for children ages 3-10 and their families. Educators are empowered to offer workshops in community settings like libraries, museums, and out-of-school time programs to engage underserved audiences in accessible and familiar settings.

Leap into Science workshops are offered in 21 states. Find a Leap into Science workshop by visiting The Connectory or contact leapintoscience@fi.edu. We are proud to welcome a new cohort of states joining the Leap into Science National Network, which include: Alaska, Michigan, Montana, and New Mexico.

Leap into Science Week is a celebration of science and literacy learning for all participating educators, state leaders, and organizations across the country, to increase awareness for science and literacy learning in community settings.

Educators across the country are celebrating by hosting science and literacy workshops with their communities. Join in the fun by reading your favorite children’s book or engaging in a hands-on STEM activity. Share your stories and use the hashtags #leapweek and #leapintosciecne. Be sure to tag @TheFranklin and @NGCProject on social media.

Calling all California girl-serving organizations! The California Girls in STEM Collaborative is hosting a virtual event to foster collaboration amongst girl-serving organizations and to promote equity in Makerspaces. Participants will hear from Makerspace advocates on equitable and inclusionary practices in “Making,” invention, and engineering. The event will also provide a chance for organizations to connect and share ideas, resources, and challenges. Register.

The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is conducting a special four-part, interactive, virtual miniseries. Participants will gain resources and strategies for motivating and enhancing the participation of traditionally underrepresented students in science through the lens of equity and social justice. Register.

Attendees will explore innovative learning and best practices in geospatial technology, and learn about the role of geographic information system (GIS) technology in teaching problem solving and design thinking. Learn, collaborate, and get updated on all things GIS for both inside the classroom and across disciplines. Register.

A leadership conference for both those who create serious games/simulations and those who implement game-based learning programs. Speakers are experienced developers and designers in the industry, the top academic researchers and senior program heads from education, corporate, healthcare, government/military, museums, and other emerging areas. Register.

This year's summit, Can't Stop, Won't Stop: Leading the Way to Social Change, celebrates girl leaders, youth activists, and thought leaders committed to gender equality. Participants will gain leadership skills, training in community-building and advocacy, and interact with diverse changemakers. The Summit strives to empower, educate, and embolden the potential of every girl in attendance. Register.

The CSTA conference is a professional development opportunity for CS and IT teachers and administrators who need practical, classroom-focused information to help prepare their students for the future. Participants will have the opportunity to learn, network, and interact while exploring issues and trends relating directly to the classroom. Register.

Centered on the theme of "Your Connection to Water", attendees will have the opportunity to make professional connections, share innovative ideas, and learn about new resources, tools, and technologies for use in classrooms, laboratories, and education programs. Register.

Bringing together informal and formal educators and exhibiting companies interested in, and have tools and resources to share to ensure successful implementation of STEM education in schools and communities. It is intended to provide resources for educators and organizations seeking to learn more about STEM education, associated outreach programs, partnerships, schools, and curricula. Register.

The Connectory showcases STEAM opportunities for youth to families and is a free online collaboration tool for providers to help find partners based on interests and needs.

Kick-off summer reading with Leap into Science. NGCP is a partner in this nationwide program for children ages 3-10 and their families, which integrates open-ended science activities with children’s books. Libraries, museums, and out-of-school time programs offer workshops and drop-in activities year-round. During Leap into Science Week (June 7-13, 2021), dozens of local events are planned. Visit The Connectory to see if there’s one being held near you.

No matter where you are located, you are invited to join the Virtual/Hybrid Light and Shadow Leap into Science event on June 9, 2021 hosted by the Chino Valley Public Library. Simply gather the household items noted at the opportunity link above so you can join in the fun!

Get Started and stay connected to The Connectory:

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums provides a collection of links including Educator Resources. Many of the websites have educational resources such as videos, wildlife facts, lesson plans, and activities.

This free online summer program will take place August 9-20, 2021. Organized by the DO-IT Center and Center for Neurotechnology at the University of Washington, this program focuses on neuroscience, neural engineering, neuroethics, and scientific communication. Applications are open for high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who identify as neurodiverse learners. Learn more.

This National Science Foundation (NSF) report, issued every two years, provides statistical information about the participation of these three groups in science and engineering education and employment.

This Pew Research report highlights the statistics of women underrepresented in math, physical sciences, computing, and engineering, underscoring that women make up a quarter or fewer of workers in computing and engineering, while women make up the large majority of all workers in health-related jobs.

America After 3PM provides a detailed account of children in the afterschool hours, identifying: trends of participation in, and unmet demand for, afterschool programs; the experiences and opportunities programs afford; and which children and families are missing out, and why. This special report, Time for a Game-Changing Summer, With Opportunity and Growth for All of America’s Youth, is based on the 2020 America After 3PM survey results. In addition to national data, the Afterschool Alliance provides state-specific data live at aa3pm.co/summer. View the data dashboards to find your state's breakdowns of grade-level participation, average cost of programs, and demand for summer enrichment opportunities for youth.

World Oceans Day is a global day of celebration and collaboration for a better future. This year there is a conservation focus to protect at least 30% of our blue planet for a healthy ocean and climate. The website includes free, newly designed resources available in 20 languages.

International Women in Engineering Day is an international awareness campaign to raise the profile of women in engineering and focus attention on the amazing career opportunities available to girls in this exciting industry. It celebrates the outstanding achievements of women engineers throughout the world. Visit their website for #INWED21 Resources.