Science and our daughters: what can parents and guardians do?

As we celebrate the 102nd International Women’s Day, we should all bear in mind that the 21st century requires a new kind of learner who can think expansively and solve problems resourcefully. As a scientist and writer, a longtime tutor and mentor, a mother of two girls who has always been passionate about getting girls excited about science, I believe that the key to this goal is to improve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. These disciplines are rooted in the kind of thinking that is now critical. One of the most important aspects of this shift is to fix the false presumption that girls are not as good as boys in science and math. Girls just don’t mix well with science or math. At least that’s the message that continues to emerge from studies on the under-representation of women in the STEM fields. Researchers have found that when girls perform poorly in math and science, the cause is environmental.If it’s nurture not nature that affects your daughter’s ability, what can you do? Here are some important tips;Emphasize that we live in a scientific world: “Science” is not just something taught at school. What we eat, methods of transportation, the electronics that fill our houses to mention but a few, are all areas of science that surround your daughter. Cooking, especially while following a recipe, uses both math and science. Weighing, measuring and timing are all mathematical exercises. Baking in particular, where the action of X on Y causes Z, is a scientific activity. If you encourage your daughter to experiment in the kitchen, she will be more comfortable experimenting in the school laboratory.So, make your domestic scenario more mathematic and scientific. Shopping is filled with math problems, particularly if your daughter wants something that is too expensive.Never accept language such as “I can’t do this” or “I’m bad at math” and so on. She can do it. Math is meant to be hard. Tell her that. It stretches her brain, just as physical exercises (PE) stretch her body. The more she stretches the easier it gets.Present your daughter with positive role models: Find a female pediatrician. Girls often say they hate science but they love medicine. Maybe this is due to the empathic nature of medical science. And never put down your own ability as parents and guardians. Don’t tell your daughter that she is poor at math, or anything else along those lines. Do you really need me to explain why?The relationship between girls and science has never been a question about their skill, but more a reflection of how society views them. The fallacy that girls can’t do math and science, which has become an accepted belief, begins with the negative messages they receive every day. Imagine seeing a girl’s T-shirt that says “Math class is tough.” or “I am Allergic to Algebra.” As much as we want to protect them, our girls see these stereotypes beginning in primary school.So, the ball is in our hands as Rwandan female scientists. We must make a change. We need science role models to inspire the next generation. And, most importantly, we need STEM programmes outside of schools to motivate and encourage the next generation and increase the number of female scientists in our country. Wishing you all a HAPPY 102nd Women’s Day.The writer is a Rwandan scientist and writer, a longtime tutor and mentor for girl