Mind the STEM Gap-Together. Intergenerational dialogues on science

Is science inclusive? What are the challenges of the future? How does a girl become a scientist? On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a group of brilliant women researchers shared their stories with young people at an event set up by the Bracco Foundation and Politecnico di Milano for the promotion equal access to STEM. The occasion also saw the launch of "Mind the STEM Gap-Together", a poster exhibition against gender stereotyping organized in collaboration with four secondary schools based in the region of Lombardy.

The meeting heard from: the Rector of Politecnico di Milano, Donatella Sciuto; the Chair of the Bracco Foundation, Diana Bracco; the Rector’s Delegate for Diversity and Inclusion, Mara Tanelli; Politecnico di Milano researchers Margherita Maiuri, Paola Occhetta and Gianvito Vilè; the Rector’s Delegate for Promotion and Orientation, Maria Pia Pedeferri; the General Secretary of the Bracco Foundation, Gaela Bernini; and one of the student creators of the "Mind the STEM Gap-Together" exhibition.

Set up by the Bracco Foundation in conjunction with Fondazione Politecnico di Milano with the support of the Region of Lombardy, the exhibition was officially opened at the end of the event, and will remain open to the public until 29 February 2024, entrance free.

“Mind the STEM Gap-Together” was built both as a physical and as a digital showpiece by 150 students from four secondary schools in Lombardy (the “Nanni Valentini” Secondary School of Monza, the “F. Viganò” Technical College of Merate, the “ITSOS Albe Steiner” Secondary School of Milan, and the “Einstein” Secondary School of Vimercate), who drew their inspiration from the Mind the STEM Gap Manifesto, an initiative through which the Bracco Foundation encourages girls to take up STEM subjects in further education.

With the support of the Design Department of Politecnico di Milano, the schoolchildren designed dozens of posters focused on gender and the problem of access to the world of science, where women still face major obstacles caused by cultural prejudices.