KIS speaker series throws spotlight on women in STEM

Korea International School (KIS) hosted a speaker series featuring women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

An image promoting the STEM panel, a speaker series featuring women in STEM organized by members of the FemSTEM club. [KOREA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PANGYO CAMPUS]

Korea International School (KIS) hosted a speaker series featuring women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Middle and high school students attended the sessions to learn more about different academic and professional careers in the field.

The speakers focused on women working in STEM, addressing the potential challenges in male-dominated fields and the positive changes they have observed as an increasing number of women study and work in the area.

The idea to invite women in STEM to share their experiences with KIS students began at the FemSTEM club, a high school club that offers STEM centered classes at Korean youth centers.

Korea International School students participating in the STEM speaker series. [KOREA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PANGYO CAMPUS]

Club co-founder Ashley remembers thinking about how FemSTEM could contribute to the KIS community. She and the other club members took the speaker series idea to their math teacher and advisor, Kelly Chang. An advocate for girls and women pursuing STEM education, she was well aware that women often made personal choices that impacted their professional pursuits.

“I wanted students to think about the women they know — their mothers, sisters, aunts — in a new way,” said Chang.

Once the STEM speaker series was approved, the FemSTEM club reached out to fellow students for professional contacts. The series featured mothers of KIS alums and current students, as well as one KIS alum.

“The goal was to have women share their STEM experiences and expertise,” said Chang. “I’m happy the idea translated so well into reality.”

The guest speakers work in areas such as engineering, programming, neuroscience and chemistry. With their connection to the KIS community, they created an openness that invited active questions and discussions.

“I loved the honesty of the guest speakers,” said Erica, a high school student. “They talked about the struggles and hardships of a rigorous career path and how they balance their work and personal lives.”

Another student, Yumin, appreciated the passion the speakers had when talking about their fields and growth. “Low female representation in STEM often made my career aspirations feel distant and abstract,” she said. “But hearing their stories has transformed my dream of pursuing STEM into something real and tangible.”

The FemSTEM club believes their male classmates can also benefit from being aware of female perspectives in STEM. Nillohit attended most of the sessions because he is interested in a future career in the field.

He appreciated the advice guest speakers offered — such as to take diverse courses and participate in STEM opportunities — and also sees the importance of KIS encouraging more female students to join STEM classes. He recognizes the contributions of his female classmates in their programming class and is optimistic about achieving equal gender representation in KIS STEM.

“Events like this help students learn more about their options,” he said.

The success of the speaker series has the FemSTEM club members excited to continue promoting STEM education for women and girls. This school year, the club will run an elementary school club for girls interested in STEM. In the next school year, they hope to organize another speaker panel featuring more women in STEM.

BY JEONG SEONWU [jeong.seonwu@joongang.co.kr]