Outreach
One of the goals of EWIS is to provide community building support for future generations. We work with local elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools to give students a picture of what it means to have a career in science, and let them know that girls can aspire to have a career in STEM. We visit schools during career day events and host classes on research laboratory tours at University of Minnesota.
If you are with a school or youth organization, get in touch with our outreach coordinators Zoe Hansen and Maria Olson at zhansen@umn.edu and olso9987@umn.edu
Community Collaborations
Community Outreach, Retention, and Engagement (CORE) Program is a holistic, culturally relevant program out of the Office for Equity and Diversity to support family engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
EWIS participates is the CORE Roadshow.
Minnesota Academy of Science (MAS) is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for Minnesotans of all backgrounds to engage in STEM-related learning, inquiry, research, and networking.
EWIS volunteers in various MAS events, includiing the state science fair.
Through Fostering Opportunities and Relationships in STEM Education (FORSE), the Minnesota Academy of Science (MAS) partners with other organizations and nonprofits with shared goals to bring fun, inspiring, hands-on STEM learning to Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and other communities traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields.
EWIS volunteers in various activites, including STEM Play Day.
The Institute for Engineering in Medicine's (IEM) mission is to advance healthcare through research partnerships between faculty in the health sciences, faculty in the College of Science and Engineering, and the biomedical industry.
EWIS participates in the IEM STEMFEST.
The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) is an initiative funded by the National Science Foundation which is intended to double the number of African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander students receiving baccalaureate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in a five-year period.
A Friend in STEM - for college students
A Friend in STEM is a mentorship program started by EWIS that connects undergraduate students interested in STEM with scientists at the University of Minnesota. We believe that careers in STEM should be accessible to everyone and we hope that connecting with a Minnesota scientist will help students to feel welcomed to this research community.
Past Outreach Events
Groveland Park Elementary Family Science Night
January 2024
Fall Family Engineering Night at Sullivan STEAM School
November 2023
Students and their families tried multiple engineering themed activities hosted by The Works. This was an open-house style event. EWIS volunteers assisted with completing activities and shared their own passion for STEM with the students.
North Star STEM Alliance Kick-Off Opportunities Fair
September 2022
The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) is an initiative funded by the National Science Foundation which is intended to double the number of African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander students receiving baccalaureate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in a five-year period.
In Minnesota, the LSAMP program is called the Louis Stokes North Star STEM Alliance (LS-NSSA). LS-NSSA is a partnership of 16 higher education institutions and 3 community partners in Minnesota. The higher education institutions include four-year public and private colleges and universities, technical and community colleges, and two tribal colleges. The community partners are the Science Museum of MN, MN Technology Association, and the MN Education Equity Partnership.
CORE Kick-Off STEM Fair
September 2022
The CORE program is a community-based initiative committed to empowering students, families, and communities with the knowledge to reach their educational goals.
Girls in STEM Club at Roseville Area High School
November 2021
EWIS visited the Girls in STEM Club at Roseville Area High School. Volunteers participated in a panel discussion answering questions from the Girls in STEM Club.
Skype a Scientist Sessions
EWIS has partnered with different Schools during the COVID-19 Pandemic by doing outreach through Skype a Scientist. EWIS members had answering questions from students about the immune system, viruses, vaccines and how the immune system fights COVID-19.
May 2020 - Sixth Grade Students from James Denman Middle School at Avenal, California.
March 2020 - Fifth Grade Students from Tamarack Elementary School at Cleveland, Ohio.
February 2020 - Fifth Grade Students from Sycamore Rocks Elementary School at Apple Valley, California.
Mentoring Girls in STEM Club at Roseville High School
February 2020
EWIS visited the Girls in STEM Club at Roseville Area High School, this last Tuesday February 19th from 3-4:30pm. EWIS participated in a panel discussion answering questions from the Girls in STEM Club. After the panel discussion the group had a networking session, where RAHS students talked one-on-one with EWIS about women in STEM careers.
Groveland Science and Math Night
January 2020
EWIS participated teaching attendees about STEM careers and their paths in science at Groveland Park Elementary in Saint Paul.
Career Fair at Murray Middle School
December 2019
EWIS volunteered their time to help Murray Middle School students learn and think about their future! Different groups of students in grades 6-8 visited “presenter’s booths” to ask questions and learn about many different careers. Students engage in conversations with EWIS about a typical workday, career trends in STEM, pros and cons science careers, training and education requirements, and also about exciting, funny, or unusual experiences in their career paths.
South St. Paul Secondary School: 4th Annual Professionals of Color Career Panel
November 2019
The Black Pride Organization (BPO) partnered with their Latinx counterpart, Comunidad de Latinos Unidos (CDLU), for an exciting evening of conversation and sharing. Dr. Milagros Silva Morales of EWIS was a panelist alongside a musician, politician, and social activist to share their stories and insights with the school's students and families of color.