The University of California Davis and coding and robotics startup littleBits are partnering up to bring Disney’s new STEM initiative for girls to life in an incredible program that will help girls gain a love of robotics and technology.
The newly-launched program called Snap the Gap will invite girls into the world of STEM through an online program, littleBits starter pack and a one-year mentorship with a STEM professional.
“It was always part of littleBits’ mission to inspire more girls to get into STEM,” CEO Ayah Bdeir tells TechCrunch. “We’ve had lots of initiatives leading to it, but this is the biggest and boldest thing that we’ve done.”
Snap the Gap will begin as a one-year pilot program with 15,000 10-year-old girls from the state of California. The mentors will be recruited by UC Davis through the California Million Women Mentors program. After the initial year, the program will expand to other states. “Our goal is to add five new states every year, so that we can reach all of the United States by 2023,” Bdeir said.
For more information on how to get involved either as a student or a mentor, check out the program website here.
—Shahrzad Warkentin
Featured photo: finelightarts via Pixabay
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