What great example of social entrepreneurship.
When I was a kid there wasn’t much in the way of technical toys. I had a weaving loom that didn’t get much use. And my dad got me an electrical circuitry “game” that had a magnetic board, with individual circuit pieces you could connect in order to power a small light bulb. We did it together once, and it was interesting…but when the light went off, it was lack luster for both of us. Once the light was lit, there wasn’t much too it after that.
He tried. There just wasn’t much out there.
Today, there are many more options, and much more energy behind getting girls into math, science, and technology.
Debbie Sterling, founder of GoldieBlox, poses with stacks of her new toy that teaches girls basic engineering principles. The Stanford University engineering graduate wants to nurture girls’ interest in STEM careers.
GoldieBlox hopes young girls find playing engineer ‘just right’
Move over, Barbie; there’s a new girl in town.
She goes by GoldieBlox, and unlike her namesake, Goldilocks, she doesn’t get into mishaps with three bears. This Goldie is a female engineer character who invents, designs and builds to inspire a future generation of women engineers.
GoldieBlox is the brainchild of Stanford University graduate and engineer-turned-entrepreneur Debbie Sterling. She created GoldieBlox — which includes a construction toy set and storybook starring the tool-wielding Goldie — to teach girls basic engineering skills and open more pathways for women to pursue jobs in the male-dominated industry.
“Engineering is hard…”
-Barbie
Yet another reason I’m proud of SMITH for starting the Picker Engineering Program (http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Engin/) back in 2000, which is the first and only engineering program in the country for women.
Well, heck yeah!