Rep. Sykes Hosts “Beyond the Stars” Event After Launching Girls In S.T.E.A.M. Initiative
CANTON, OH — This week, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) hosted the first event of her Girls in S.T.E.A.M. initiative, which aims to inspire and empower girls and young women in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District to pursue professions in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math to solve real-world problems which will improve our communities.
The “Beyond the Stars” event at the William McKinley Museum in Canton event highlighted space exploration with a focus on the upcoming solar eclipse in April 2024, where Northeast Ohio will lie within the path of totality for nearly four minutes of total darkness.
“Empowering and encouraging girls to become more involved in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics allows them to be well rounded with the ability to pursue a future of their choosing. Exposure to S.T.E.A.M. fields early gives girls the ability to see what they can be, and my office looks forward to supporting their futures. This is only the beginning of the Girls in S.T.E.A.M. program, and I look forward to continuing to host events that will unlock the limitless potential of young girls and women in our communities,” said Rep. Sykes.
Students learned about the wonders of space through hands-on planetarium activities, a museum tour, and a panel discussion with women leaders from the NASA Glenn Research Center about their careers in S.T.E.A.M. fields. Students also had the opportunity to watch a special video from NASA astronaut Dr. Kate Rubin, who was the first person to sequence DNA in space. Dr. Rubin has logged a total of 300 days in space, the fourth most days in space by a U.S. female astronaut.
“You have the ability to do absolutely anything you want to do if you set your mind to it, and that is what I hope to inspire in young girls so they too can reach for the stars,” said Ra-Deon Sledge, NASA Glenn Research Center Chief of Staff.
“NASA is committed to building a diverse, skilled STEM workforce," said Dawn Schaible, NASA Glenn Research Center Deputy Director. "The future rests in the hands of this next generation of explorers. We need all of their talents and creativity to carry forward our nation’s space and aeronautics missions, and girls need to know they have a role in taking the next giant leap."