Jackie Vogel

Comm 240
Podcast
NATIONAL GIRLS COLLABORATIVE PROJECT: MORE THAN JUST A
SCIENCE FAIR
Introduction
I.

II.
III.
IV.

(Attention Getter) Who was your favorite teacher? Mine was my 10th grade
geometry teacher. He was an ex lawyer who turned math teacher and was fresh
out of University. He was one of the first teachers I had that seemed that he
actually wanted to be there. He was energetic and enthusiastic about math, my
then least favorite subject. It was because of him that I took more math classes
and found out that Im actually truly passionate about the subject.
(Audience Adaptation) Many of us have a role model, or some sort of event that
inspired us to pursue different things, but what about the people who never got
that spark or encouragement.
(Purpose) STEM is continuously dominated by males, which can be intimating for
women who are curious, but have yet to find a spark.
(Preview) In this podcast, I will convince you that PR campaigns that focus on
encouraging women in STEM specifically looking at National Girls Collaborative
Project are important and useful.
A.
First, I will discuss how the National Girls Collaborative Project is trying
to encourage young girls.
B.
Then, I will talk about how some of these strategies are working.
C.
Lastly, I will briefly discuss how this is important for the STEM
community.

Transition: Not everyone is going to have my 10th grade geometry teacher. Even if they
did people find inspiration in different things what inspired me may not inspire someone
else.
Body
I.

National Girls Collaborative Project have many different ideas on how to pursued
young women to get involved in STEM that goes beyond the classroom.
A.
National Girls Collaborative Project host many special events such as
science fairs and robotic competitions.
1.
In the summer of 2014 NGCP partnered with the University of
Washingintons summer programs to host Project Splash Camp. A
camp for young women to learn more about underwater robotics.
2.
Stanley J. Barans textbook Mass communication Media Literacy
and Culture published 2011 says, public relations can be used to
stimulate interest in an organization, person, or product through a

well-planned, focused happening, an activity designed to facilitate

interaction between an organization and its public.
B.

Another way NGCP is encouraging young women is by encouraging other

women in STEM to get involved in different projects.
1.
By doing this they can then host things like the Project Splash
Camp and also integrate creating public role models for the young
girls.

Transition: Now that you have a little information on what NGCP does in respect to
public relations, I will convince you that their actions are not a lost cause.
II.

The NGCPs main goal is not just to host events, but to create a tipping point for
gender equality in STEM.
A.
Like I mentioned before with all the events that they are promoting and
hosting, they are stimulating an interests in the young girls.
1.
In The Importance of Public Relations they state that PR is vital to
outreach programs since it can convince the community that
science can be cool.
B.
However looking at NGCPs push to have volunteers is also a good public
relations tactic, since it gives younger girls a chance to find a public role
model within the community.
1.
By having women that are already in STEM in the limelight helps
create credibility in the role models.
2.
Not only do public role models encourage the young women, but
they also affect the media.
a.
In Maureen Schriners paper The Public Role Model In
Public Relations: An Integrated Approach To
Understanding Personal Influence In the Public Arena says
that, public role models are influenced by media and
influence media

Internal Summary: Now that you are more informed on NGCPs public relations
methods and how they are working. I would like to convince you that PR campaigns like
these are actually needed.
III.

The gender gap in STEM is relevant, there is no arguing it, but why do they need
PR campaigns like NGCP.
A.
One of the obvious reasons that STEM could benefit from having more
women in the community is for a greater chance of innovation.
1.
Just in 2014 the first woman Maryam Mirzakhani was awarded the
first Fields Medal Award, which is almost the math equivalent of
the Nobel Prize.
2.
There are many women that have made innovations in STEM and
the fact that many are fleeing the community isnt good.

a.

B.

According to United States Department of Labor only

about 26% of women them are in computer and
mathematical occupations.
Having women in the community adds diversity to the work place.
1.
With this new diversity in the community, they then can have a
change on its public image.
2.
Not only does diversity affect a communities public relations but it
also helps the community have a more competitive market which
leads to more innovation.
Conclusion

I.

II.

III.

(Summary) In this podcast, I persuade you PR campaigns like NGCP are

necessary in order for the STEM community to grow.
A.
NGCP has a well thought out plan of action and are acting on it.
B.
PR campaigns like NGCP are working to help encourage younger
women in STEM.
C.
Lastly, I convinced you that with more women in STEM that the
community itself will benefit from it.
(Motivation) I dont expect every young girl to get a career in STEM. Like I
mentioned diversity is important. However, I hope that if a girl is interested she
can find encouragement through PR campaigns like NGCP.
A.
As someone who found inspiration and encouragement through a
public role model. I hope that other young women can to, through a
project like NGC.
B.
Its also nice to know that a PR campaign can actually cause a change
and isnt just lost efforts.
C.
Finally, as someone who is trying to pursue a career in STEM it would
be nice to see the community grow, and hopefully see more
encouragement and diversity.
(Closing statement) Whether you found your passion through a geometry teacher
or are still looking for one. I hope that there are enough resources and good public
relation activities that will either help support or help spark something in
everyone.