Our lab explores issues around facets of inclusion in engineering.
Tracking the path of STEM outreach participants to post-secondary engineering education
Our research group is working on a series of studies exploring whether participants in STEM outreach end up in STEM or engineering educational programs or careers.
How do STEM outreach programs influence girls’ and non-binary youths’ pursuit of STEM in the future?
This SSHRC-funded project partners with Actua, Canada’s largest STEM outreach organization, to explore how outreach camps inform youths’ educational goals and sense of self in relation to STEM over a two-year period. Previous research indicates that low-income girls’ interest in science has little correlation with their persistence in science education. The mismatch between STEM interest and STEM persistence may be due to perceived (and actual) barriers to STEM education and careers, shown to differ by gender and SES. This project takes a longitudinal and cross-sectional mixed-methods approach to ask: What longitudinal impacts do STEM outreach programs have on the STEM identity and STEM persistence of girls and non-binary youth from different SES backgrounds? What barriers and facilitators do these youth and their parents face in pursuing STEM trajectories over time?
Tracking the path of STEM outreach participants to post-secondary engineering education
Our research group is working on a series of studies exploring whether participants in STEM outreach end up in STEM or engineering educational programs or careers.
Investigating factors affecting students’ choice of engineering disciplines
Engineering programs overall have underrepresentation of women, but variations exist between programs. Our previous findings suggest student decision-making for competitive program placement differs by gender and may be influenced by grades, both an individual’s grades and historical program information. In this study, we are exploring the factors affecting the choice of engineering programs for students in the first common year of the Engineering program at UBC.
How do STEM outreach programs influence girls’ and non-binary youths’ pursuit of STEM in the future?
This SSHRC-funded project partners with Actua, Canada’s largest STEM outreach organization, to explore how outreach camps inform youths’ educational goals and sense of self in relation to STEM over a two-year period. Previous research indicates that low-income girls’ interest in science has little correlation with their persistence in science education. The mismatch between STEM interest and STEM persistence may be due to perceived (and actual) barriers to STEM education and careers, shown to differ by gender and SES. This project takes a longitudinal and cross-sectional mixed-methods approach to ask: What longitudinal impacts do STEM outreach programs have on the STEM identity and STEM persistence of girls and non-binary youth from different SES backgrounds? What barriers and facilitators do these youth and their parents face in pursuing STEM trajectories over time?
Exploring STEM outreach through youth STEM and engineering identity
This research explores how informal STEM learning experiences, such as university-led outreach camps, help elementary and high-school students build confidence, interest, and a sense of belonging in STEM and engineering. The work informs inclusive outreach design that supports diverse learners and sustained engagement in STEM.