Saint Paul, Minn. (July 9, 2021) – The National Science Foundation has awarded Twin Cities PBS (TPT) $1.45 million dollars in support of a new project entitled Black SciGirls. This initiative is aimed at examining systemic issues within learning spaces and provides educators with anti-racist approaches that validate and uplift Black learners. SciGirls combines an Emmy award-winning nationally broadcast PBS television show, multiple websites, and community-based programming, all of which work in concert to engage girls ages 8-13 in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning.
“Given the current national focus on racial injustice, it is no longer enough to provide educators with gender equity practices, it is critical to infuse STEM education with specific and intentional culturally responsive and anti-racist strategies to attract and retain Black girls in STEM,” said SciGirls’ Executive Producer Rita Karl. As a national leader in creating STEM media for children, TPT will produce a series of role model videos of Black STEM professional women to inspire and motivate girls to STEM studies and career pathways, including a special episode of PBS SciGirls featuring these women. Videos will appear on PBS free broadcast and digital platforms, amplifying representation of Black women in STEM and reaching millions of young viewers.
“Through a formal research study, we will examine how educators’ use of role models, in person and in media, addresses a critical barrier for Black girls, seeing women in STEM who look like them,” said the project’s lead researcher, Dr. Angel Miles Nash from Chapman University. Black SciGirls content will be shared on SciGirlsCONNECT.org, an educational network that has empowered more than 5,200 educators at 200+ partner organizations in 36 states and Puerto Rico to provide hands-on STEM programming to over 100,000 youth. Black SciGirls resources will be featured on PBSLearningMedia.org, a platform that provides free media-rich learning resources to 1.8 million educators nationwide.
ABOUT TWIN CITIES PBS (TPT)
Twin Cities PBS (TPT)’s mission is to enrich lives and strengthen our community through the power of media. Established 64 years ago, TPT now operates as a public service media organization that harnesses a range of media tools to serve citizens in new ways — with multiple broadcast channels, online teaching resources, educational outreach and community engagement activities reaching more than two million people each month. Over its history, TPT has been recognized for its innovation and creativity with numerous awards, including Peabody awards and national and regional Emmy® Awards. For more information, visit TPT online, follow TPT on Facebook and Twitter.
ABOUT SCIGIRLS
Funded by the National Science Foundation, SciGirls uses research-based, gender equitable instructional strategies to empower girls around STEM. SciGirls’ mission is to change the way girls see STEM and how the world sees girls. SciGirls’ outreach content is available in English and Spanish on SciGirls educators’ website at www.scigirlsconnect.org. SciGirls videos, games and activities are available 24/7 at PBSKIDS.org/scigirls.
Contact:
Rita Karl | 651-229-1480 | [email protected]
© Twin Cities Public Television - 2021. All rights reserved.
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