Girls organise science research programme to grow interest in STEM among S’pore female students
Students organised a two-month-long research programme for teen female participants.
Sixteen and seventeen-year-old girls from Singapore organised a two-month-long science research programme to encourage interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) among fellow female students. The programme, called the INTEGIRLS Singapore Science Research Program, was initiated by five members of INTEGIRLS Singapore, a chapter of a US-based group founded in 2022. The five leaders are Amber Anbei Chi, Jenny Jeong, Lauren Pak, Nayoon Kim, and Stephanie Jeslyn Goutama.
The research programme, the first of its kind by INTEGIRLS, took place from early July to early September. Sixty-six girls from 13 different international and MOE schools participated in the programme, working on various research projects under the guidance of academic and industry experts.
Amber Anbei Chi, co-chapter head of INTEGIRLS, highlighted the limited representation of women in STEM fields, both in Singapore and globally. She observed that many girls often felt like one of only a few in such spaces, and thus, INTEGIRLS aims to make these opportunities more visible and accessible. Lauren Pak, another co-chapter head, shared that the planning process involved numerous emails and preparations, such as reaching out to mentors, securing sponsors, and organizing the showcase logistics.
One participant, Raisa Saluja, 15, from UWCSEA Dover, joined the programme to explore research projects outside of school. She appreciated the independent and collaborative environment it provided and found her project on nuclear fusion particularly engaging. Her mentor, Lee Seok Woo, an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University, expressed delight in supporting middle and high school students in organizing the event.
Another participant, Zoe Alaia Djojonegoro, 14, researched smooth-coated otters and noted the flexibility of the morning routines of these animals. Michelle Tan, a mentor from the NUS Department of Life Sciences and member of the Otter Working Group, emphasized that INTEGIRLS offers valuable exposure to STEM subjects and the development of essential soft skills such as teamwork, resilience, communication, and responsibility.
The feedback from participants suggested that student-organized programs like this can be more effective than traditional university-organized outreach activities.
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