Suffolk Reporter

As Women's History Month continues, Stony Brook University is actively engaging high school women in STEM through its High School Women in STEM Career Awareness Series. The initiative aims to provide 22 students from Longwood High School in Middle Island, NY, with a comprehensive introduction to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The program consists of four sessions designed for sophomores and juniors. It includes interactive workshops and mentorship opportunities led by faculty and industry professionals. Students explore fields such as energy engineering, healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI), user experience (UX) design, and science communication.

In January, the first session introduced students to the energy sector with support from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and WhyMaker. Participants engaged in practical exercises to understand power generation and distribution.

February's session took place at Stony Brook’s School of Health Professions. Students interacted with clinical healthcare workers and gained hands-on experience with medical tools. Kimberly Amaya, an 11th-grade student, expressed how the program helped clarify her career aspirations: “I want to go into a STEM-based career...this program has helped me see the different options available to me.”

On March 21st, students learned about AI and UX design at CEWIT under Dominique Lee's guidance. Lee emphasized the importance of representation in STEM: “It’s always challenging finding your career pathway...The opportunity to help young women connect with a possible journey...is very rewarding.”

The series will conclude on April 23rd at CEWIT with a keynote speech by Judith Brown Clarke from Stony Brook University. Alexandra Eleanore Nelson White found that the experience clarified her interest in software engineering: “This program has opened my eyes to different careers...It’s exciting to see how many different fields are part of STEM.”

Scott Schuster from Longwood School District noted the excitement among students: “We can cast a net and select kids that have already developed an aptitude or an interest in STEM.” Abigayle Gersbeck added that exposure is crucial for students: “Many of them didn’t realize just how many options exist...Being on campus makes STEM more tangible.”

Derek O’Connor highlighted the broader mission of keeping talent within New York’s STEM ecosystem: “Our goal isn’t just to guide students down a single career path but to expose them to as many opportunities as possible.”

Longwood High School was chosen due to its large student population committed to STEM initiatives like its hackathon event. The program was supported by a Stony Brook Presidential Mini Grant along with contributions from various university departments.