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KMC girls branch out for STEM

September 15, 2016
Story and photos by Airman 1st Class Savannah L. Waters 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Vikramjeet Rathaur, Ramstein Youth Center programs science, technology, engineering and math coordinator, explains an assignment during a “Do It Yourself Girls” class Sept. 6 on Ramstein. The Ramstein Youth Center offers a variety of other programs on different days of the week that concentrate more on music making, robotics, 3-D printing, woodworking and drones. All participants are welcome to join those classes as well.
Vikramjeet Rathaur, Ramstein Youth Center programs science, technology, engineering and math coordinator, explains an assignment during a “Do It Yourself Girls” class Sept. 6 on Ramstein. The Ramstein Youth Center offers a variety of other programs on different days of the week that concentrate more on music making, robotics, 3-D printing, woodworking and drones. All participants are welcome to join those classes as well.

The Ramstein Youth Center hosted its first “Do It Yourself Girls” class Sept. 6 at the Ramstein Teen Center.

DIY Girls is a science, technology, engineering and math class specifically designed to generate interest in science among girls from sixth to 12th grade within the KMC.

“Many of the STEM-based professions are predominantly occupied by males,” said Vikramjeet Rathaur, Ramstein Youth Center programs STEM coordinator. “The focus of this class is to generate interest and develop skills with our female participants, to foster an interest in STEM programming and possible future career options.”

Students will learn skills such as 3-D design and printing, programming and robotics.

Julia Nakamoto, a senior at Ramstein High School, has participated in the STEM program for three years.

“Even if I decide not to pursue a career in the STEM field, I still enjoy participating and learning what the STEM program has to offer,” Nakamoto said.

The DIY Girls class is an extension of the Ramstein STEM Center of Innovation, which is financed by a grant that is funded by Raytheon and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

The class came about when the Nerd Herd, students from Ramstein High School involved in the STEM program, attended the initial meetings during the summer to discuss how to further the program and ensure it stayed compliant with the requirements for the grant.

“As part of the STEM grant, we must maintain a 50 percent female participation in the STEM Center,” Rathaur said.

Along with other community members, the Nerd Herd helped to pick out a dedicated space and time, plan activities and make sure they had the supplies needed for DIY Girls.

After researching and determining the best course of action for such a class, the Ramstein STEM Center of Innovation has set its plan in motion to provide girls with the opportunity to explore the STEM fields.

The class meets every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Ramstein Teen Center, Bldg. 411.

Membership is free for participants. The only requirement is to register online at www.AllPlayers.com as a member of the Ramstein Teen Center.

For more information about DIY Girls, call Ramstein Youth Programs at 06371-47-6444.

A student begins working on her first 3-D printing project during a “Do It Yourself Girls” class Sept. 6 on Ramstein. The students learned about 3-D printing during their first project, for which they designed and printed a puzzle cube. Later, students took on projects such as making a cyborg, programming, robotics and drones.
A student begins working on her first 3-D printing project during a “Do It Yourself Girls” class Sept. 6 on Ramstein. The students learned about 3-D printing during their first project, for which they designed and printed a puzzle cube. Later, students took on projects such as making a cyborg, programming, robotics and drones.
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