By Cemil Cihan Ozalevli, Co-Founder & Chief Content Officer at Twin Science
“We are very proud of you. You created a system to give something for the kids to give them the possibility to create. That’s really fantastic. You are redesigning thinking to achieve a sustainable future.”
Csaba Kőrösi, President of UN General Assembly
We had a breakthrough workshop, Science in Braille Workshop, at United Nations Headquarters for blind children! This was a huge highlight in Twin’s journey of making STEM accessible for all children worldwide. To celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we partnered with RASIT (Royal Academy of Science International Trust) Girls in Science 4 SDGs International Platform, organizing this special event to mark the importance of accessibility and diversity in STEM education.
We used our Bett Award winner braille STEM kits and offered a unique opportunity to participate in STEM activities that focus on problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. Children gained access to STEM topics and developed the skills they needed to create a more sustainable future.
Most importantly, at the heart of the United Nations, we invited all countries interested in accessible STEM education for sustainability.
About the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
I’m sure you’ve heard of International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the achievements of women from all walks of life. But there is also a special day dedicated to celebrating women and girls in science. It’s called the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and it is celebrated annually on February 11th. It was founded in 2015 by the United Nations to recognize the essential role of women and girls in science and technology and to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls.
It is a day for us to recognize the incredible accomplishments of female scientists and to encourage more girls and women to pursue careers in STEM fields. This day also serves to promote diversity in science and raise awareness of the challenges faced by women and girls in the STEM fields.
Promoting diversity in STEM fields
Science in Braille Workshop is a STEM-focused program designed to empower blind children by providing them with engaging, hands-on learning opportunities. During the workshop, children will work in small groups, utilizing snap-circuit electronic building blocks to construct a smart cane, a device designed to assist the visually impaired in navigating their environment. Additionally, they will be able to learn about the use of sensors in measuring the distance to obstacles.
Several key principles guide this workshop, including the belief that education is a fundamental human right, the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in science education, the critical role of foundational science learning, the promotion of sustainable development through education, and the necessity of transforming science teaching methods. Furthermore, the workshop recognizes the value of investing in science education to yield individual and societal returns.
By providing a supportive and stimulating learning environment, the Transforming Science Education: Accessible Sustainability workshop aims to foster the development of values and skills that support sustainable living, peaceful coexistence and the participation of blind children in STEM fields.
Ultimately, the workshop seeks to promote the advancement of sustainable development globally through the promotion of inclusive and accessible education that uses differentiated instruction.
The objectives of this workshop are:
•To provide a quality education that is inclusive, accessible, and diverse, and that respects the right of all children to education, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.
•To encourage the development of foundational science skills, including literacy, numeracy, and basic scientific thinking, as well as socio-emotional skills that enable students to face challenges and succeed in life.
•To promote sustainable development through science education by teaching values that support sustainable living, gender equity, human rights, environmental protection, , and by encouraging an active, lifelong commitment to these principles.
The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in STEM Fields
Diversity and inclusion are key to unlocking equality in STEM fields. As Twin Science, it is our key mission to ensure that all students, regardless of gender, background, ability, country, race or religion, have access to a quality STEM education and that all students feel supported and encouraged to pursue STEM careers.
We make sure that Twin’s “STEM for Sustainability” curriculum is inclusive and welcoming to all students and remove any barriers that may be preventing students from pursuing their dreams.
Mentoring the future change-makers
One of the main aspects of Twin’s education philosophy is to recognize and promote the importance of double-winged role models in STEM fields who are using their competence to build a sustainable future driven by their conscience. Students need to have access to other mentor scientists, engineers, artists, and teachers who can serve as inspiring role models with their compassionate thoughts and competent actions.
Mentoring female scientists is also an important part of creating an equitable environment for girls and women in STEM fields. Mentors can provide girls and women with valuable advice and guidance on entering STEM fields and can help to encourage and inspire them to reach their goals. Mentors can also help to create an environment where girls and women feel safe and supported, breaking societal prejudices.
You can help spread the word with the Twin STEM application!
Twin mobile application is an educational platform for children that provides interactive content, games, challenges, and trivia quizzes. It is designed to help children explore and learn about STEM-based sustainability topics in an engaging and fun way. Twin also encourages creativity and hands-on experimentation through its activities.
Share ”TWINOFFER1M” with your friends, family and colleagues to make STEM accessible for every child worldwide.
For iOS Users
- Download the Twin app: App Store
- Sign-up,
- Choose the monthly plan,
- Click ”Redeem Code” below the Continue button,
- Enter your code ”TWINOFFER1M” and complete the sign-up.
For Android Users
- Download the Twin app: Play Store
- Sign-up,
- Choose the monthly plan,
- Click the ”Try free for 7 days” button,
- Enter your code ”TWINOFFER1M” and complete the sign-up.
Conclusion
International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an important day for us to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of female scientists and to encourage more girls and women to pursue STEM careers. On this day, we should take time to recognize the incredible achievements of female scientists and to work towards creating an equitable environment for girls and women in the STEM fields.
Let’s work together to create a sustainable future for the next generation and celebrate the incredible achievements of female scientists on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
