G-Steam Academy

👩‍🔬 Women Who Lead in STEAM #3
Answer: Gladys West — the mathematician behind GPS 🌍

Dr. West joined the U.S. Navy in the 1960s and played a pivotal role in the development of global positioning systems by modeling the geoid — the true shape of the Earth — with unprecedented accuracy.

In the 1980s, she used the IBM 7030 Stretch computer to program complex algorithms that factored in sea levels, gravitational pull, and tidal forces. Her work became the backbone of the modern GPS.

🗺️ Today, whenever you hear “Keep left at the fork,” you're hearing the legacy of Gladys West.

📰 G-STEAM Monthly Spotlight
Each month, the G-STEAM Academy highlights key topics, insights, and developments in gender-inclusive STEAM education — straight from our partners across Europe.

This month’s article explores:
📌 What Is a Community of Practice? G-STEAM Is Building One
🖊️ Authored by: Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
🔗 Read it here: www.gsteam-academy.eu/article-10-what-is-a-community-of-practice-g-steam-is-building-one/

Stay informed. Stay inspired. Let’s reimagine STEAM education — together.

Another inspiring milestone for the G-STEAM project!✨

Our 3rd Transnational Project Meeting in Bologna, hosted by the University of Bologna, brought partners together for a productive day of collaboration, planning, and innovation in gender-sensitive STEAM education. From advancing the mentor-driven Community of Practice and preparing the mentor training programme, to shaping the G-STEAM Toolboxes, mobility scheme, pilot implementation, and dissemination activities — the meeting marked significant progress across all work packages.

A huge thank you to all partners for the insightful discussions, shared expertise, and collective commitment to creating more inclusive STEAM learning environments across Europe. 💡🚀

Special thanks to the University of Bologna for the warm hosting and excellent organisation!

Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di BolognaFederica ZanettiDuru Bayram Stimmuli for social change, TU Eindhoven, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Smart Venice srl, VIM - Vzdělávací institut pro Moravu, Școala Gimnazială Nr. 29 Galați, UA - Universitat d'Alacant / Universidad de Alicante, University of Helsinki, RECTORAT de l'académie de Nancy-Metz GRETA-CFA de Lorraine, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)

During the G-STEAM international training in Bologna, mentors participated in the “Supernove” laboratory led by Carlotta Vitale — an inspiring arts-based STEAM experience combining storytelling, theatre, and multimedia narratives to explore the visibility of women in science and gender equality in STEAM education. ✨

Through creative and participatory methods, the workshop invited participants to reflect, connect, and reimagine the relationship between science, art, and society.

✨ The International Mobility Training Programme for G-STEAM Mentors has successfully taken place in Bologna, Italy (29–30 April 2026)!

Over two inspiring days at the University of Bologna, mentors from across Europe came together to explore gender-sensitive and intersectional approaches in STEAM education, while strengthening their skills in mentoring and co-creation methodologies.

From critical reflections on inclusive pedagogy and decolonial perspectives to hands-on activities and collaborative toolbox design, the programme offered a rich and meaningful learning experience.

💬 We are very pleased to have received highly positive feedback from participants, highlighting the relevance, practicality, and impact of the training.

🚀 We now look forward to continuing this journey together through the upcoming online training phase, further supporting educators in building more inclusive STEAM lea

Partners:
Stimmuli For Social Change, Eindhoven University of Technology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Smart Venice, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, VIM - Vzdělávací institut pro Moravu, Școala Gimnazială Nr. 29 Galați, Universitat d'Alacant, University of Helsinki, RECTORAT de l'académie de Nancy-Metz GRETA-CFA de Lorraine, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)

👩‍🏫 Teachers play a key role in shaping how students perceive science and technology.

By using gender-inclusive teaching approaches, educators can help ensure that every student feels confident exploring STEAM subjects.

Through the G-STEAM Academy, we support teacher educators and teachers across Europe with:

🔹 innovative training programmes
🔹 inclusive pedagogical frameworks
🔹 resources for gender-aware STEAM teaching

Together, we can create classrooms where everyone feels they belong in science.