Da Vinci Science Center receives $100K

The Da Vinci Science Center announced it is the recipient of a $100,000 sponsorship from Evonik Corporation in support of its Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Initiative.

Evonik Corporation, a leader in specialty chemicals with a significant footprint in the Lehigh Valley, is dedicated to gender equality in the workplace and recognizes the importance of supporting community partners with the same commitment.

The WISE Initiative is dedicated to creating a supportive community of women employed in STEM fields and encouraging girls who aspire to follow a STEM career path. Through a federally funded research study, the Science Center has worked to identify barriers for girls and women in STEM and redefine how the Science Center offers and markets opportunities to girls. Girl participation in many Science Center programs begins to drop off in middle school. Changing program descriptions and how programs are marketed aim to increase middle-school and high-school girl participation.

The Science Center continues to focus on key areas to address the findings from its research: mentorship, professional networking opportunities and creating strategies for developing girls’ interest and achievement in STEM. The Da Vinci Science Center introduced the WISE Initiative in 2014 in response to the ongoing need to close the gender gap in STEM careers. Women make up only about 28% of the STEM workforce, yet these fields offer some of the fastest growing, and highest paying, jobs of the future.

Evonik’s support of the WISE Initiative will help fund additional staff time and resources available to support WISE activities including the WISE Forum to be held in November. This signature event features a networking reception for girls and women with an interest in STEM followed by a panel discussion featuring successful women in STEM careers that will be simulcast online. Details and registration information can be found at davincisciencecenter.org/ wise-initiative/.