#IfThenSheCan - The Exhibit

#IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit

Largest collection of women statues ever assembled

A 2016 study led by former Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios found that the 10 largest U.S. cities publicly displayed fewer than a half-dozen statues of real women altogether. Women also make up less than 30% of today’s STEM workforce—could there be a connection?  Who we choose to honor with a statue says a lot about our culture’s values. 

This monumental exhibit of 120 life-size 3-D printed statues celebrates contemporary women innovators in STEM and features the most statues of real women ever assembled together. Experienced by 4 million people since its launch in 2020, all statues that make up the Exhibit have been displayed together during two full exhibits – one at NorthPark Center in Dallas in 2021 and the other at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC in March of 2022.  Eleven ‘pop-up’ exhibits have made it possible for visitors to experience #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit from Texas to New York City.

Learn more about #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit

Science Club for Girls

Action-packed STEM adventures for aspiring innovators

Science Club for Girls (SCFG) is on a mission to bridge the gap in STEM education with high-quality, hands-on, fun STEM education and mentorship that supports K-12 girls and gender-expansive youth from all backgrounds. With support from the IF/THEN® Impact Fund, their Summer and School Break Programs are helping middle schoolers break down barriers in STEM, tackle the achievement gap, and explore careers that will set them up for future success. 

SCFG’s hands-on, immersive programs are designed to spark curiosity and creativity. For example, in their Vacation Coding Club, girls dive into computer programming by building their own websites and participating in fun, collaborative “Hackathon Hour” challenges. Their Vacation Robotics & AI Club lets participants build robots, code algorithms, and explore the future of artificial intelligence in cool, interactive ways. And in their Summer Rocketry Program, girls get to launch their own rockets, experiment with space engineering, and even visit amazing science centers to learn from real-life experts. 

Every program is packed with fun, learning, and opportunities to discover what STEM careers can look like! 

Learn more about Science Club for Girls

IF/THEN® STEAM Squad at Comic Con

The IF/THEN® STEAM Squad

For three years in a row, the IF/THEN® STEAM Squad has taken over the world renowned Comic-Con International and educated and inspired families from around the world. From time-traveling archaeologists to world-saving climate scientists, the IF/THEN® STEAM Squad is a real-life team of superheroes that are making the world a better place with science! 

Each year 16 AAAS IF/THEN® Ambassadors have delivered on their promised mission to advance STEAM exposure, knowledge, and appreciation with innovative engagement methods in this world where science meets science fiction. This stellar Squad has participated on standing room only panels such as Ms. Marvel and The Power of Representation, The Science of Dune, and the mind bending-technologies of the The Three Body Problem.

To share their super talent with the masses, they orchestrate events across San Diego that are open to the public including the intriguing ‘Speed Date A Scientist’, ‘Nerd Nite’, and a Dungeons and Dragons-themed BioBlitz.  

Learn more about Comic-Con

Lindsey Vonn Foundation – iD Tech Camp

Scholarships boost girls’ STEM futures

With IF/THEN®’s support, amazing young women were able to attend iD Tech’s week-long summer tech camp on a scholarship through the Lindsey Vonn Foundation. At iD Tech Camp, aspiring coders, game designers, and tech enthusiasts participate in hands-on projects in coding, robotics, and digital art. Campers get to dive into the coolest tech while boosting their skills and confidence in a fun, creative environment. 

With the Lindsey Vonn Foundation’s scholarships, the girls not only leveled up their skills in coding, photography, game design, and more, but they also gained huge boosts in confidence—both in their tech abilities and in themselves. 

Learn more about the Lindsey Vonn Foundation

Cambridge Science Festival

#IfThenSheCan - The Exhibit pop-up

The 2023 Cambridge Science Festival featuring 30 #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit statues as its headline event! This vibrant festival is an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, art, and math in a fun, interactive way, highlighting the impact of STEAM in all our lives. 

The Exhibit’s Grand Opening in Kendall Square was marked by the launch of Boston’s Science Club for Girls’ “Only 4%” campaign”, which shines a spotlight on the fact that only 4% of scientists and engineers are Black and Latina women. Later, the festival’s family-friendly STEM Carnival was a hit, where 18 of the inspiring women behind the statues connected with the community, sharing their love for discovery, innovation, and making science accessible to all!  

Learn more about the Cambridge Science Festival

Chem Lab Escape in Roblox

Chem Lab Escape in Roblox’s Maker High

The award-winning GoldieBlox team partnered with Discovery Education with support from IF/THEN® to create a new education initiative called Maker High. Maker High offers an immersive learning experience hosted on Roblox and features the GoldieBlox-inspired Chem Lab Escape experience. Combining the power of gamified learning and academic rigor to engage middle and high school students, players journey through Professor Violet’s underground laboratory in an epic escape room adventure.

Inspired by the innovation and real-life experiences of AAAS IF/THEN® Ambassadors, players must solve challenges such as combining elements and solutions to create chemical reactions and adding and removing heat energy to water to navigate an obstacle course. Complementary hands-on and digital resources are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards to facilitate integration into the classroom. Maker High makes learning fun by meeting students where they already are: on Roblox.

Learn more about GoldieBlox’s Chem Lab Escape Room on Roblox

ASTC – Gender Equity Project

Representation across museums and science centers

The IF/THEN Gender Equity program was established by the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) to increase the representation of women in STEM fields within science centers and museums. With nearly 500 member institutions across the country, ASTC members have the tremendous potential to influence an estimated 120 million people who visit science centers and museums each year. ASTC developed assessment tools, distributed equity grants and provided exhibit content.  

The Gender Representation Toolkit provides a mechanism for institutions to assess representation in the images and videos displayed in museum content (exhibits, websites, program materials, signage, etc.). Institutions that needed to update and improve their imagery were awarded grants so that they could design and integrate IF/THEN® Collection images into their exhibits. Exhibits with universal appeal have been shared broadly through a Project Library complete with downloadable, printable exhibits for free! Click, print and change the world!  

The IF/THEN® Champions Network is the latest and greatest collaboration between ASTC and the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP). The network is a community of ASTC museums, science centers, allied members, and individuals committed to advancing gender equity in their institutions through strategic use of IF/THEN® Collection resources. Members can inspire one another by sharing best practices and tackling common challenges. The free membership has already welcomed 199 members representing 92 unique organizations.

Learn more about ASTC’s Gender Equity Project