Montclair March Mathness

Empowering Girls Through Math

Beginning March 14, 2014


It’s A Celebration of Math in Montclair!

Montclair March Mathness is a series of engaging, challenging and fun, math and science related events centered around PI Day – beginning March 15, 2014. Organized by local volunteers, all events are free and offered to every age group from kindergarten to college age students as well as to parents/caregivers and educators. Montclair March Mathness was successfully piloted in 2012 by the Athena Collaborative whose mission it is to support, encourage and empower women to enter into Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers where female professionals are still under represented.

What’s happening?

  • 74% teen girls are interested in STEM but only a small percentage wind up in these careers, which are the highest paying and fastest growing.
  • While there’s a huge shortage of engineers in the US, only 14% of engineers are women, leaving a large untapped talent pool.

When do girls lose interest?

  • The most significant drop off begins happening between the fourth and sixth grade.
  • Girls are taking many high-level mathematics and science courses at similar rates as their male peers, with the exception of physics and engineering, and are performing well overall.
  • The rates of science and engineering course taking for girls/women shift at the undergraduate level and gender disparities begin to emerge, especially for minority women.

Why is this happening?

The subtleties of society and culture reflect the outdated stereotype that girls are not good at or suited for math and science and unconsciously discourage girls.

What can we do about it?

Research demonstrates that interest among girls is there, it just needs to be primed:

  • Provide opportunities to participate in STEM related activities
  • Encourage confidence in own abilities
  • Exposure to what it means to work in a STEM profession

We hope that you and your family will take advantage of our free events. We want to make a positive impact on girls in our town. Please take a moment to fill out a post event survey or contact us on-line to let us know how we are doing.

Enjoy –

Christina Delli-Santi Miller,
Founder, The Athena Collaborative

Debbie Villarreal-Hadley
Chair, Montclair March Mathness

And the entire MMM volunteer team.

To learn more contact us at math@montclairmarchmathness.org