Project Scientist is an education nonprofit that creates joyful and engaging experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) for girls* from underestimated communities. While working as the Executive Director and Founder of The NASCAR Foundation, Sandy learned of the disadvantages that girls and women have in STEM majors and careers, and became committed to doing what she could to make a difference in her own community - Project Scientist had lift off! Personally Sandy had experienced gender stereotyping and a lack of role models as she pursued a STEM major in college and as a result changed majors. As a mother of two young girls with a passion for science, Sandy remains committed to changing the status quo for her girls as well as girls across the country. The need for Project Scientist was based off a vast amount of research that shows girls with a high skill, aptitude, and talent for STEM subjects are not currently served or identified at a young age. Underserved and unidentified girls are not provided STEM opportunities at a pace, depth, and breadth commensurate with their talents and interests. We created Project Scientist to change the world’s view of “who” a scientist is and “what” a scientist does. The vision of Project Scientist is to transform the face of STEM by nurturing today’s future scientists who will lead the world in solving tomorrow's greatest challenges! Every second of a girl's time with Project Scientist is intentional and based off of the latest research of what drives and sustains girl's interest in STEM. We diligently set goals and track the outcomes, outcomes that research has proven to affect girls with an interest in STEM. Studies from Harvard Medical School, UNC Charlotte, and Lunaria have all praised Project Scientist's impact. Project Scientist has developed partnerships with top STEM companies, from Trane Technologies to Google Fiber. Throughout the year, our online, after-school STEM Club is giving girls the hands-on learning they love. Membership gives young scientists access to a virtual community of like-minded girls, monthly STEM kit, and live programming with a Project Scientist certified teacher. We know that 78% of school-aged girls have an interest in STEM, yet women only make up 25% of the STEM workforce, and that somewhere along the lines we are losing these STEM girls. We are determined to reach STEM girls and hold their hand through PhD or as long as far as their STEM dreams take them. Finally highlighting our girls through public relations and marketing efforts, our hope is to overall change society's perception of girl's interest and aptitude in STEM, in the end helping all girls.
