The online event “Nudging youth toward STEM and Space” took place on February 16, organized by the local Madrid chapter of the Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA-E) association in conjunction with International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

WIA-E, in keeping with its mission of promoting visibility and leadership among women in the aerospace industry, held this virtual event to highlight the current situation of education-oriented toward vocations in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). GMV, a WIA-E member, has joined this initiative, which proposes measures aimed at real change in the area of promoting interest in STEM, especially among girls.

The event began with the presentation of the official report “STEM Education in Europe”, a research project coordinated by WIA-E with the collaboration of GMV and other entities. This study offers an analysis of the current state of education in STEM areas. The session also tackled the main problems facing these disciplines, as well as effective strategies for overcoming them, in the family and the academic and business areas.

STEM are the key areas of study serving as the foundation for today’s science and technology industries. The lack of interest in the areas of science and technology translates into a great loss of STEM potential, and the main consequence is that scientific and technological progress slows. In this context, associations such as Women in Aerospace Europe in general and initiatives such as this one, in particular, are exceedingly important to mobilize society and stimulate change. Family, primary and secondary schools, universities, businesses, public administrations, we are all part of the change and we must act accordingly.