Dr. Lina Germann

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM >>LORENE: HELLO, I AM LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

OUR GUEST TODAY IS DR. LINA GERMANN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>>GINA: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>LORENE: YOU HAVE CREATED THIS PROJECT THAT I AM ABSOLUTELY FASCINATED WITH IT.

YOU HAVE A PH.D.

IN PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, AN MBA, BUT YOU ARE THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF SOMETHING CALLED STEM SANTA FE.

>>GINA: YES.

>>LORENE: SO TELL US WHAT IS STEM, WHAT DO PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTAND ABOUT STEM AND WHAT IS YOUR MISSION, BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING SO WONDERFUL THAT I HAD TO ASK YOU HERE TO TELL US ABOUT IT.

>>GINA: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

STEM STANDS FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH AND IT IS ALL ABOUT THE DISCIPLINES THAT INVOLVE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH.

ONE OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS IS THAT THEY SEPARATE LIKE, OH, YOU'RE A SCIENTIST, AND YOU'RE AN ENGINEER, AND YOU'RE A MATHEMATICIAN, AND YOU ARE A COMPUTER SCIENTIST.

AND THAT IS NOT TRUE, THEY ARE ALL CONNECTED.

YOU CANNOT DO SCIENCE WITHOUT MATH AND WITHOUT A LITTLE BIT OF ENGINEERING, YOU CANNOT DO ENGINEERING WITHOUT KNOWING THE SCIENCE AND THE MATH AND THE TECHNOLOGY AND NOW THE TECHNOLOGY IS IN EVERY CAREER AND IN EVERY AREA OF STUDY.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS THAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES SEPARATE, THEY SEPARATE SCIENCE SUBJECTS FROM MATH SUBJECTS.

SO THAT IS ONE.

THE OTHER ONE IS THAT REALLY STEM IS ABOUT LEARNING THE SKILLS OF PROBLEM SOLVING, OF BEING DIGITALLY LITERATE, OF KNOWING HOW TO TAKE A PROBLEM, BREAK IT DOWN, LEARNING ABOUT HOW TO WORK TOGETHER IN TEAMS.

THAT IS THE OTHER MISCONCEPTION.

PEOPLE THINK THAT SCIENTISTS ARE SOLOS OR COMPUTER SCIENTISTS WORK BY THEMSELVES AND IT IS NOT TRUE, IT IS ALL ABOUT TEAMWORK AND ABOUT SOLVING PROBLEMS TOGETHER.

SO THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DO IN STEM SANTA FE, IN STEM SANTA FE WE HAVE HANDS-ON PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IN AN INFORMAL SETTING WHERE WE BRING KIDS TOGETHER TO WORK TOGETHER AND PROBLEM SOLVE AND PRESENT AND LEARN SKILLS.

IT IS ALL ABOUT STEM SKILLS THAT ARE NEEDED IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND IN EVERY CAREER.

>>LORENE: NOW YOU TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO SEPARATE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE TRYING TO ADD IT AND TO TURN STEM INTO STEAM.

>>GINA: TRUE.

>>LORENE: BY ADDING AN A FOR THE ARTS, WHICH IS A PERFECT VEHICLE TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

>>GINA: YEAH, I MEAN SOMETIMES WE USE ARTS AS THE WAY TO OPEN UP TO ATTRACT KIDS TO COME IN AND DO A STEM PROJECT OR STEAM PROJECT LIKE BUILDING LASER HARPS AND LASER GUITARS WITH MUSIC AND CODING AND ENGINEERING.

BUT ALSO, ART IS PART OF OUR PROGRAMS IN THE PROJECTS WHERE THE KIDS HAVE TO BE CREATIVE AND DEVELOP SOME TYPE OF VEHICLE FOR THEIR PROJECT.

HOWEVER, OUR MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND INSPIRE STUDENTS TO GO INTO STEM CAREERS THAT ARE HIGH PAID JOBS AND THAT THERE ARE SO MANY JOBS NEEDED AND IT IS NOT OUR MISSION TO PRODUCE MORE ARTISTS EVEN THOUGH I THINK ART IS DEFINITELY PART OF LIFE AND PART OF THE CREATIVITY.

NOW THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON WHO ONCE TOLD ME YOU DO STEAM WHERE A STANDS FOR THE ARTS OF COMMUNICATION AND THE ARTS OF SOCIAL INTERACTION, SO WE HAVE THAT, TOO.

>>LORENE: WE HAVE THAT, TOO.

BUT THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED THE STEM GAP.

>>GINA: YES.

>>LORENE: AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO TALK TO US ABOUT.

SO, ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING A STEM PERSON IS THAT THEY ARE VERY HIGHLY PAID.

AND WE ARE LOSING IN THE STEM GAP A WHOLE LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME REASON, THEY ARE NOT ATTRACTED TO THIS, I NEED TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT HOW WE CAN FIX THAT, HOW WE CAN CHANGE THE REPRESENTATION.

LET ME GIVE SOME FIGURES HERE.

SO NATIONALLY, WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE, 46.9% OF THE WORKFORCE, BUT ONLY 27% OF THE STEM WORKERS NATIONALLY ARE WOMEN.

THE OTHER ONE IN NEW MEXICO, 53% OF ALL WORKERS ARE FEMALE BUT ONLY 25% OF THE STEM WORKERS ARE FEMALE.

>>GINA: THAT CAN BE EVEN LOWER DEPENDING IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PHYSICAL SCIENCE OR CODING.

>>LORENE: OH YEAH.

>>GINA: YEAH.

>>LORENE: YEAH, THEN IT GETS WORSE NOT ONLY GENDER, BUT IN TERMS OF UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, MINORITIES, NATIVE AMERICAN ARE LIKE 10% OF STEM.

HISPANICS ARE 16% OF THE WORKFORCE BUT ONLY 7% OF ALL STEM WORKERS AND THEN WHEN YOU GET TO HIGHER ED, WORKERS WITH A BACHELORS OR HIGHER ONLY 7% ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND 6% OF THE STEM WORK FORCE WITH HIGHER DEGREES ARE HISPANIC.

WE ARE MISSING THE BOAT!

>>GINA: YEAH, I MEAN DIVERSITY IN STEM IS SO IMPORTANT.

DIVERSITY IN FINDING SOLUTIONS THAT ARE INNOVATIVE AND THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE WILL ONLY HAPPEN WHEN WE HAVE ALL THESE GROUPS WHETHER THEY ARE DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS, RACIAL GROUPS, OR WHETHER WE ARE TALKING GENDER DIVERSITY, WE NEED THE INPUT OF ALL OF THEM IN ORDER TO HAVE THE SOLUTIONS FOR PROBLEMS WE HAVE.

A QUICK EXAMPLE IS LIKE WHEN THEY CLOSE DOWN SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF COVID EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THE FAMILIES WITH YOUNG KIDS THAT THIS IS NOT A GOOD SOLUTION FOR THEM.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>GINA: THEY DON'T HAVE INTERNET AT HOME, THEY DON'T HAVE TECHNOLOGY.

MAYBE INSTEAD OF SHUTTING DOWN SCHOOLS WE SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT OPENING SOME KIND OF INTERNET CAFES WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING.

YOU KNOW IT IS JUST THAT THEY DON'T LOOK AT THE, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, THE SOLUTIONS COME FROM TOP DOWN, AND THEY DON'T LOOK AT THE POPULATION THAT IS BEING SERVED.

>>LORENE: THE SOLUTIONS... >>GINA: I DIGRESS.

>>LORENE: OH NO, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE SOLUTIONS COME FROM WHAT WE HAVE DONE BEFORE FOR OTHER PROBLEMS.

>>GINA: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: NOT LOOKING AT THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THIS AND WHAT WE STAND TO LOSE IF WE DON'T SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, THIS.

IT IS LIKE WITH FOOD, I AM SO HAPPY THIS YEAR THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR VOTED FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR EVERY KID AT SCHOOL.

THAT DOESN'T START UNTIL JULY BUT THAT MEANS THAT YOU KNOW AND SOMETIMES, THEY SEND HOME SNACK PACKS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

>>GINA: THIS IS THE REASON WHY ALSO OUR PROGRAM ARE FREE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN CLOSING THE OPPORTUNITY GAP.

THESE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES NEED TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE TO ALL, WITHOUT ASKING, OH, SHOW ME YOUR TAXES AND WE ARE GOING TO DO A SLIDING SCALE OR WE ARE GOING TO THINK ABOUT IT.

THE FAMILY IS GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT TWICE.

I WANT EVERY KID IN NEW MEXICO TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE STEM IN A VERY EXCITING, INSPIRING, NONFORMAL WAY.

IT IS NOT LIKE, OH, YOU ONLY NEED TO STUDY THIS FOR A GRADE, BUT REALLY GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY AND THEN IT IS AMAZING WHEN THE KIDS BUILD A PROJECT WHERE IT WORKS AND THEY BUILD THAT CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES AND THEN WHEN THEY EXPLAIN THE PROJECT AND USE NEW VOCABULARY AND PRESENT IT TO THEIR FAMILIES, THERE IS AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION THERE AND PARENTS START SEEING THEIR CHILD, THEIR CHILDREN IN A NEW LIGHT.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>GINA: SOMEONE WHO CAN REALLY GO TO COLLEGE AND GET A GOOD JOB.

>>LORENE: IT IS A MATTER OF EDUCATING PARENTS.

>>GINA: YES.

>>LORENE: AS WELL AS KIDS ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

>>GINA: YES.

>>LORENE: AND THE GENDER THING HAS ALWAYS INTERESTED ME BECAUSE I COME FROM A FAMILY OF SCIENTISTS, BUT BY THE AGE OF 11, IT IS SAID THAT GIRLS LOSE INTEREST IN MATH AND SCIENCE BECAUSE IT IS NOT COOL.

>>GINA: EXACTLY, WE LOSE A LOT OF THEM.

>>LORENE: AND BY 11 TO 15, IT'S TOO LATE, THERE IS NO SUPPORT FOR THEM WANTING TO BE NERDS OR GEEKS, YOU KNOW.

>>GINA: YEAH.

>>LORENE: IT BECOMES A PEJORATIVE THING, ALTHOUGH I KNOW MANY NERDS AND GEEKS THAT WEAR THAT BADGE OF HONOR PROUDLY.

>>GINA: YEAH.

>>LORENE: BUT YOU WORK WITH BOYS AND GIRLS AND SO I WANT YOU TO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR SUMMER PROGRAMS AND THE WORKSHOPS AND THEN WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE FALL CONFERENCE WHICH IS FOR GIRLS ONLY.

YOU PROVIDE, IT IS SO WONDERFUL THERE IS A REGISTRATION FEE AND THEN THESE WORKSHOPS ARE ALL FREE.

TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU SET THEM UP, WHO IS INVITED AND HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE.

>>GINA: YES.

SO OUR SUMMER PROGRAM, EACH PROGRAM IS ONE WEEK LONG, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND NINE TO THREE WHERE WE IMMERSE THE STUDENTS IN ONE TOPIC OR IN A PROJECT.

AND SO WE HAVE AND THE KIDS GET TO MEET EACH OTHER, WE USUALLY HAVE A VERY SMALL CLASS SIZE, NO MORE THAN 20 STUDENTS AND THOSE ARE ALL STUDENTS ENTERING MIDDLE SCHOOL AND GOING INTO HIGH SCHOOL.

WHICH IS A VERY CRUCIAL AGE THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT THESE KIDS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN STEM BEFORE THEY GO THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WE LOSE A LOT OF THEM.

SO THE TOPICS WE HAVE, EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A RANGE OF TOPICS BECAUSE AGAIN ONE OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS OR THE INFORMATION THAT PARENTS DON'T KNOW SOMETIMES IS THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT STEM DISCIPLINES OUT THERE.

AND THE THING I TELL THE PARENTS AND THE KIDS IT IS LIKE DON'T CORNER YOUR CHILD SAYING, "WELL MY SON OR MY DAUGHTER IS GOING TO BE A DOCTOR OR A NURSE OR A BASKETBALL PLAYER," BUT LET THEM EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT TOPICS IN STEM AND THEN THEY WILL FIND OUT WHAT THEY LIKE AND THEY DON'T LIKE.

SO WE HAVE AN ENGINEERING AND CODING CAMP WHERE THEY LEARN TO BUILD CIRCUITRY AND TO CODE THEM AND THE LASER HARP IS ONE PROJECT, WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER ONE CALLED THE SOLAR SUN TRACKER.

SO IN ONE WEEK, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, THEY END UP LEARNING HOW TO BUILD AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT THAT CONTROLS THE SOLAR PANEL AND THAT MOVES IN TWO DIMENSIONS AND FOLLOW THE SUN OR THE LIGHT AND THEY LEARN HOW TO CODE IT.

WE HAVE ANOTHER CAMP THAT IS GOING TO BE CALLED PATTERNS, THE INTERSECTION OF MATH AND ARTS.

AND SO THEY ARE GOING TO SEE MATH IN A COMPLETELY NEW LIGHT AND IT IS ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT WE DO WHICH IS CALLED "MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE M IN STEM."

>>LORENE: OH, I WOULD CALL IT MAKING FRIENDS WITH FRACTALS, BUT... >>GINA: WELL FRACTALS WILL BE PART OF THAT.

DEFINITELY.

WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT IS CALLED STEM PATHWAYS FOR ALL AND IT IS GOING TO BE EVERY DAY A DIFFERENT TOPIC.

ONE IS A RANGE OF WORKSHOPS ON ENGINEERING, ONE WILL BE A RANGE OF WORKSHOPS ON ALGAE FARMING AND SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES AND THEN SOME ROBOTICS AND SOME COMPUTER PROGRAMMING.

SO, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED, EVERY YEAR WE BRING IN NEW TOPICS AND WE ADD SOME, WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL, SO WE DO THEM AGAIN, LIKE THE AVIATION AND AIR SPACE CAMP.

BLAST OFF!

>>LORENE: JUST LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE OF ALL, I MEAN I WAS FLOORED THAT ONE INDUSTRY WOULD BE SO POORLY REPRESENTED, AVIATION AND AEROSPACE ONLY SIX PERCENT OF LICENSED PILOTS ARE WOMEN, ONLY FIVE PERCENT OF COMMERCIAL PILOTS, ONLY 6% ARE MILITARY PILOTS, ONLY 13% ARE AEROSPACE ENGINEERS AND ONLY 3% ARE AEROSPACE CEOS.

>>GINA: YES.

>>LORENE: SO HOW DID THEY GET KICKED TO THE CURB, WHO DROPPED THE BALL WITH AVIATION?

>>GINA: I DON'T KNOW, SOMEONE DREW MY ATTENTION TO IT TWO YEARS AGO.

THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STUDENTS MAJORING IN THE DIFFERENT AVIATION JOBS WE HAVE.

IT IS NOT JUST FLYING PLANES, IT'S AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, IT IS AIRPLANE MECHANICS.

>>LORENE: WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH DR. LENA GERMANN AND YOU ARE HOLDING THAT IN AN AIRPLANE HANGAR, AREN'T YOU?

>>GINA: YES.

AT THE SANTA FE AIRPORT, YES.

SO YES, THAT IS HOW IT STARTED.

FROM ONE WOMAN PILOT THAT I KNEW INTRODUCED ME TO A WHOLE GROUP OF OTHER WOMEN AND WE PUT ON AN AWESOME AVIATION CAMP LAST YEAR.

IT IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE SANTA FE AIRPORT AT THE JET CENTER WHERE A LOT OF PRIVATE PLANES ARE PARKED.

AND, YEAH, WE DO IT AT THE HANGAR AND LAST YEAR WE GOT LUCKY, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A LOT OF WILDFIRES GOING ON AND THE SCOOPER PLANES, WHICH THERE ARE ONLY EIGHT PLANES IN THE COUNTRY, WERE PARKED AT THE JET CENTER AND WE GOT A PRIVATE TOUR OF IT, WE GOT TO GO INSIDE, WE GOT TO LEARN AND HEAR FROM THE PILOTS OF, HOW DO YOU FLY THIS PLANE THAT IS FILLED WITH WATER AND SUDDENLY IT FLIES AND BUCKETS AND IT SCOOPS WATER FROM THE RIVER.

SO IT IS A VERY UNIQUE CAMP BEING HELD AT THE AIRPORT AND IT IS A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE TO BRING IN A LOT OF SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS AND IT IS AT THE AIRPORT WE ARE NOW EVEN MORE CONSTRUCTION IS HAPPENING THERE AND I AM ALWAYS HAULING THINGS THERE, IT IS A LOT OF WORK.

BUT IT IS SO IMPACTFUL THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN.

NOT TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE THE WHOLE SPACE INDUSTRY THAT IS HAPPENING IN NEW MEXICO, SO WE DEDICATE A DAY JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE SPACE TRAVEL AND CAREERS WITHIN SPACE AND VIRGIN GALACTIC PRESENTED LAST YEAR, THEY ARE GOING TO PRESENT AGAIN.

WE ARE TRYING TO SHOW THE GIRLS ALL THE DIFFERENT CAREERS IN AVIATION.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE NURSES SPEAK, NURSES WHO OPERATE IN THE AIRPLANES.

>>LORENE: OH MY GOODNESS.

>>GINA: EMERGENCY NURSES.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE HOT AIR BALLOON.

>>LORENE: OH, WONDERFUL.

>>GINA: AN ASSOCIATION AND THEY MIGHT BE LANDING OR HAVE A HOT AIR BALLOON THERE TO SHOW THE GIRLS HOW THEY FLY IT.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>GINA: SO IT IS NOT JUST FLYING PLANES BUT FLYING GLIDERS AND HOT AIR BALLOONS, IT IS EXCITING.

>>LORENE: WELL YOU HAVE ALL THESE SUMMER CAMPS AND SUMMER CIRCLES, HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE THE TIME NOW TO REGISTER YOUR KIDS.

>>GINA: YEAH, THE TIME TO REGISTER IS NOW.

>>LORENE: OKAY, DO YOU HAVE A WEBSITE?

>>GINA: YES.

IT IS WWW.STEMSANTAFE.ORG.

>>LORENE: OKAY.

>>GINA: AND YOU KNOW, YEAH, REGISTRATION IS OPEN RIGHT NOW AND IT IS REALLY FREE.

WE HAVE A $25 REGISTRATION FEE BUT WE FUNDRAISED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE IT FREE FOR ALL AND THEY GET TO SEE.

>>LORENE: BECAUSE YOU ARE NEW MEXICO NON-PROFIT.

>>GINA: YES, WE ARE A 501(C) NON-PROFIT IN NEW MEXICO.

AND THE KIDS GET TO HAVE LUNCH AND HAVE A TEE-SHIRT AND IN ADDITION TO ALL THE EXCITING STUFF THEY GET TO EXPERIENCE.

>>LORENE: IT IS SO WONDERFUL WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND I AM SURE THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO TALK, THE HOT AIR BALLOONISTS ARE WOMEN.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN MODELING AND MENTORING TO ALWAYS SEE ALL THESE INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND HIGHLY GIFTED WOMEN ARE DOING ALL THESE JOBS.

>>GINA: EXACTLY.

SO I WORK VERY HARD TO FIND WOMEN ROLE MODELS WHO ARE STEM PROFESSIONALS AND WHO ARE THE ONES WHO PROVIDE THE WORKSHOPS AND THE PRESENTATIONS.

SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY WITH THE AVIATION AIRSPACE IT IS VERY HARD TO FIND ENOUGH WOMEN TO SPEAK ABOUT AVIATION JOBS BUT I TRY TO BRING MEN AND WOMEN TOGETHER SO THEY CO-LEAD THE WORKSHOPS.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>GINA: AND THEY WORK TOGETHER, THAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO SEE.

>>LORENE: SO YOUR SUMMER CIRCLES AND CAMPS ARE FOR BOYS AND GIRLS BUT IN THE FALL YOU HAVE THIS BIG CONFERENCE FOR ABOUT 150 GIRLS.

>>GINA: YES.

>>LORENE: AND THEY SOCIALIZE AND THERE ARE WORKSHOPS WITHIN THAT CONFERENCE.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.

>>GINA: YEAH.

THE STEM PATHWAYS FOR GIRL'S CONFERENCE IS OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM FOR GIRLS FIFTH TO EIGHTH GRADE, WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT AGE GROUP TO REALLY KEEP GIRLS INTERESTED AND INSPIRED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH WHAT THE PROFESSIONS HAVE TO OFFER.

WE CAN REGISTER UP TO 200 GIRLS BUT AROUND 150 SHOW UP AND WE HAVE A KEYNOTE SPEAKER WHO IS USUALLY A PROMINENT WOMAN IN STEM WHO IS ALSO AN INSPIRING SPEAKER.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ENGINEER FROM SANDIA LAST YEAR WHO WAS THE SPEAKER THIS YEAR IT IS GOING TO BE AN EXECUTIVE FROM ASTRO ZENECA ACTUALLY WHO IS FLYING HERE ON THEIR OWN FUNDING TO BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER.

THEN THE GIRLS GET TO CHOOSE ONE, THEY CHOOSE TO GO TO TWO DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS OUT OF TEN, AND AGAIN WE HAVE USUALLY A VARIETY OF TOPICS IN STEM AND THEN THEY HAVE LUNCH TOGETHER AND THEY GET TO SOCIALIZE AND A LOT OF THE WOMEN IN STEM WHO PUT ON THESE WORKSHOPS, STAY FOR LUNCH AND EAT WITH THE GIRLS AND THEN WE HAVE A BIG STEAM FAIR IN THE AFTERNOON.

THIS YEAR WE MIGHT DO IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE LOS ALAMOS CHALLENGE TOMORROW TRAILERS TO COME TO THIS CONFERENCE AND SO WE ARE GOING TO ROTATE THEM THROUGH THAT, TOO.

AND WE TRY TO MAKE IT VERY EXCITING AND INTERESTING BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WITH 150 GIRLS THERE ARE USUALLY AROUND 70 WOMEN VOLUNTEERING AT THAT CONFERENCE TO PULL IT OFF.

AND MOST OF THEM ARE WOMEN IN STEM.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

SO THIS IS SUCH A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM AND YOU ARE NOT ONE TO BLOW YOUR OWN HORN, BUT YOUR WORK HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED, YOU HAVE GOTTEN SO MANY AWARDS.

>>GINA: YES.

>>LORENE: SO TELL US A COUPLE OF THEM BECAUSE MY LIST WAS TOO LONG.

>>GINA: OH, IT REALLY IS SWEET THAT SOME PARENTS AND VOLUNTERS HAVE NOMINATED US FOR AWARDS.

WE JUST WON IN 2022, THE PINON AWARD, FROM THE SANTE FE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

>>LORENE: OH, THAT'S HUGE, THAT'S HUGE, THE PINON AWARD.

>>GINA: THE PINON AWARD IN A VISIONARY CATEGORY WHICH I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING.

>>LORENE: PERFECT.

>>GINA: IT WAS PERFECT, BECAUSE THEY WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT GAVE ME A GRANT AND SAW THE VISION AND IT IS NOT EASY IN THE BEGINNING OF STARTING A NON-PROFIT TO WIN ANY GRANTS, SO THAT WAS AWESOME.

AND THEN IN 2018, WE ALSO GOT A STATE-WIDE AWARD THAT IS WHAT THEY UNOFFICIALLY CALL THE STEMI AWARD AND IT IS THE NEW MEXICO NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR IN STEM EXCELLENCE.

>>LORENE: OH GREAT.

>>GINA: BY THE AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB.

AND I PERSONALLY HAD JUST WON AN AWARD, TOO, AS THE MENTOR OF THE YEAR IN STEM EXCELLENCE.

>>LORENE: OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL, INDEED.

>>GINA: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: YEAH, IT IS SO WELL DESERVED.

>>GINA: IT IS HUMBLING, AND IT IS HUMBLING TO SEE THE LETTERS THAT PARENTS WRITE AND THE VOLUNTEERS AND WHAT THEY OBSERVED.

THERE WAS ONE LETTER THAT ONE OF THE NOMINATION LETTERS THAT ACTUALLY BLEW ME AWAY BECAUSE I WASN'T EVEN AWARE OF IT AND THAT IS THAT ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO EVERYONE AND WHAT THAT IS CREATING IS FRIENDSHIPS BETWEEN THE GIRLS FROM DIFFERENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND THAT WAS AN OBSERVATION THAT A VOLUNTEER NOTICED AND SAID, WOW, YOU ARE HELPING THESE KIDS REALLY SOCIALIZE AND BUILD THEIR SOCIAL CAPITAL, WHICH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE EDUCATION CAPITAL.

>>LORENE: ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, I NEED TO JUST STEP BACK, WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT BUT I WANT PEOPLE IN MY AUDIENCE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN FIX THIS.

WHERE DOES IT START, HOW DO WE JUST PUT THOSE GENDER STEREOTYPES DOWN AND LET EACH CHILD DISCOVER THEIR OWN GIFTS AND FOLLOW THEIR OWN GIFTS WITHOUT THE GENDER LIMITATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS.

AND I KNOW THAT MENTORING AND MODELING IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT WHAT ARE OTHER THINGS THAT PARENTS CAN DO AND THAT TEACHERS CAN DO TO HELP REMOVE THE STRUCTURES AND THE BARRICADES AND BARRIERS?

>>GINA: YEAH.

IT TAKES A COMMUNITY, AND WE COULDN'T DO THE WORK ALONE AND YOU KNOW, I WORK WITH HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO REALLY WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF THESE KIDS.

I COLLABORATE A LOT WITH THE SCHOOLS AND THE SANTA FE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND THE NORTHERN NEW MEXICO COLLEGE, WE HAVE PROGRAMS IN ESPANOLA TOO AND IN SANTA FE.

KIDS COME TO US FROM ALL OVER THE STATE BUT MAINLY FROM NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AND WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT ALL THE COLLABORATIONS, THE SUPPORT OF TIME AND ENERGY AND EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY BELIEVE IN WHAT WE ARE DOING BECAUSE WE REALLY TRY TO SHOW THE KIDS THAT THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

THERE IS SUCH A BRIGHT FUTURE IF THEY WOULD JUST STICK WITH THEIR EDUCATION.

WE SUPPORT THE TEACHERS, WE SUPPORT THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

WE ARE ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR HIGHER STANDARDS OF EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND OUR STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW THAT COLLEGE IS THE PATH AND WE SHOW THEM DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS THAT WAY, TOO.

THE SECRET SAUCE FOR US IS PROJECT BASED LEARNING AND STEM PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE THE MENTORS FOR THESE PROJECTS.

>>LORENE: WHEN YOU SAY THE SKY IS THE LIMIT, LET ME PUT A SHOUT OUT FOR AVIATION AND AEROSPACE, LETS GET MORE GIRLS IN THERE, MORE WOMEN IN THERE, BECAUSE THE SKY IS THE LIMIT, AND WE INDEED NEED TO HAVE THEM UP THERE.

I LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT IT DOES FOR MY SENSE OF HOPE IN THE FUTURE AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SO MUCH, THIS IS A BRAIN TRUST, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN SUPPORTING IT AND DEVELOPING IT ENOUGH AND SO TO THINK THAT JUST THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE, THE RIGHT WORKSHOP, LASER HARPS WHATEVER THEY ARE, I MEANT TO ASK YOU THAT, BUT TO CREATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND TO KNOW THAT YOU DID IT AND THAT THERE IS SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES AT WORK THAT YOU CAN APPLY TO OTHER THINGS.

THAT IS SO EMPOWERING TO MAKE A SWITCH AND BE ABLE TO TURN CURRENT OFF AND ON.

>>GINA: YEAH AND IT REALLY COMES FROM MY UPBRINGING OF NOT KNOWING ACTUALLY, NOT HAVING SOME CAREER GUIDANCE, BUT SOMEHOW STUMBLED ON STEM AS SOMETHING THAT I ENJOYED, AND IT OPENED SO MANY DOORS FOR ME.

I REALLY CROSSED OCEANS BECAUSE OF MY STEM EDUCATION AND THIS IS THE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE TO OUR NEW MEXICO YOUTH, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO HAVE MORE GIRLS, MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR, MORE STUDENTS OF COLOR INTERESTED IN STEM BECAUSE WE NEED THEM.

WE NEED THEM, WE HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS IN THIS WORLD THAT WE NEED TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR.

>>LORENE: AND I THINK THAT PROGRAMS LIKE YOUR SUMMER CIRCLES AND SUMMER CAMPS AND THE BIG FALL CONFERENCE, YOU JUST PUT A BORED KID HAS NO PARTICULAR CALLING INTO ONE OF THESE CAPTIVATING WORKSHOPS AND THEY ARE JUST GOING - WOW I WANT TO DO THIS, I WANT TO DO MORE.

>>GINA: WE HAVE AN IN SCHOOL PROGRAM, TOO.

OUR MENTORS GO TO THE SCHOOLS AND SO MANY TIMES WE HEAR FROM THE TEACHERS THAT A KID WHO NEVER TURNED ON A COMPUTER OR WAS NEVER INTERESTED IN CLASS OR THEY WOULD BE LATE COMING TO CLASS WHEN OUR MENTORS ARE THERE, THE DAY OUR MENTORS ARE THERE, THEY'RE THERE.

THEY ARE IN THE CLASS, THEY READY TO ENGAGE, MENTORSHIP IS A REALLY VALUABLE, VALUABLE EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE HAD SO MANY MENTORS IN MY LIFE THAT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE BECAUSE MY PARENTS DIDN'T KNOW, THEY DIDN'T HOW TO GUIDE ME BUT I HAD MENTORS.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>GINA: AND AT THAT TIME I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY WERE MY MENTORS.

SO THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU ARE A MENTOR TO US AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS DR. LINA GERMANN AND THE ORGANIZATION IS STEM SANTA FE.

PLEASE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IT BUT YOU HAVE TOLD US SO MUCH AND I JUST KNOW THAT JUST SOME SYNAPSES AND THE LIGHTS ARE GOING TO GO OFF IN THESE KIDS' MINDS.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR ALL OF US.

>>GINA: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND I HOPE EVERYBODY IN SANTA FE REACH OUT TO US IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE A MENTOR.

>>LORENE: YOU BET, YOU BET.

AND I AM LORENE MILLS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU OUR AUDIENCE FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM