Middle schoolers learn about STEM in effort to bring more women into field

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Introducing young girls to artificial intelligence and other scientific fields to get them interested in a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is the goal of one local program.

"[We] continue to see data, those trends, that show that young girls are not necessarily going into STEM pathways," Northwestern Mutual Lead Program Manager Stacy Zaja said. "We want to inspire, and we want to uplift our girls to see that they can be in STEM just like the other leaders and female leaders we see in our companies."

Zaja is one of the organizers of Northwestern Mutual's "hi, Tech" program. The program, a partnership with Milwaukee School of Engineering, gives middle school girls a chance to be exposed to STEM.

"Specifically, that 'T' in STEM, to get girls excited about technology and what that future may hold for them for career opportunities and pathways to learning in STEM," she said.

"That hands-on visual learning that the students are gaining from this experience is what we're looking for with our youth."

On Tuesday, over 40 students from Notre Dame Middle School visited MSOE to learn about STEM. One student, Candy Veliz, said she was excited to learn about how artificial intelligence works, and that she is happy to participate in the program.

"I think it's a good opportunity, so you can think about it more in the future if you would like to work with it," she said.

Another student learned that artificial intelligence is all around us.

"It's cool because a lot of things that are around us actually use [AI] and we didn't know," Fernanda Perez said. "They were saying SIRI uses it and the filters."

For more information on "hi, Tech," visit Northwestern Mutual's website.