Steffi George Manavalan

Famous Women in STEM – An Inspiration for Young Girls to Pursue Math

Back in the early 70s, only 8% of all STEM workers were women. However, this number has risen in recent years. The National Girls Collaborative Project reveals that these days, the percentage of women in STEM is significantly higher. Women now make up 28% of the science and engineering workforce, while 26% are in the computer and …

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Building trust in communities – illustration of figures holding hands with colorful patterns

Trust Issues in the Community

Ever since the beginning of time, civilizations have relied on each other for social interactions and societal progress. Social interactions have always depended heavily on trust and on how well we can have faith in one another. Trust is a complex concept because it involves personal and human connections and being able to rely on …

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Two figures (one hologram figure and one glitchy figure) reaching out towards positive energy in order to clear out the darkness that surrounds them. By Megan Lermanda.

Does a positive mindset affect your overall well-being?

The human brain is made of 86 billion neurons with roughly 100 trillion neural connections that allow thoughts and commands to move through our brains to the rest of our bodies. The mind and its functions are not yet fully understood by scientists, but what has been studied is whether having a positive mindset affects …

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Illustration of an Asian woman with depiction of a DNA code in the background

ADHD in Women: Overlooked for Too Long

When I was a sophomore in college, I was diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The diagnosis gave me the missing puzzle pieces needed to facilitate a deeper understanding of my life. Growing up, my parents and teachers would describe me as a little apprehensive, bright yet scatterbrained, and super-talkative. Academically, I managed as a …

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An original illustration of a young girl in an orange hoodie sitting at the desk and working on her homework studies.

Do Learning Styles Really Exist?

What Are Learning Styles?   I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase, “I’m a visual learner” or “I’m an auditory learner.” But what do these learning styles mean? And how do we know whether they are accurate? Learning styles are preferred methods of having information presented. The commonly held belief about this is that by …

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An illustration of a tap decorated with various icons; tap is dripping water and a hand placed underneath to save the water.

Water Stewardship: What Can I Do to Help Save Water?

Try to imagine your life without water! We use water on a minute-to-minute basis, whether that be to quench our thirst, wash our hands, or water the plants. In fact, water is all around us, but what we don’t realize is the importance of saving it.  According to UN Water, approximately 1.2 billion people live …

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Team of helpers cleaning up the forest.

Looking beyond STEM: It’s Time to Humanize Our Education System

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) has been the lifeline of American classrooms and careers since the launch of Sputnik in 1955, and with President Obama’s announcement of a $3 billion budget for STEM in 2014, it is still going strong. STEM majors have received unprecedented advocacy, funding, and emphasis, but at the expense of …

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The Benefits of Music by VAN Masha

The Benefits of Music

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” Plato   You know the feeling when your favorite song comes on the radio? All your worries and cares disappear, and you are lost in the music. Not only can music improve your mood, but it …

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Nature of Science – Understanding how Science Works

Nature of Science (NOS) is one of the core components of science literacy and a fundamental element in most international curricular frameworks. NOS draws on science as a way of knowing as well as the values and assumptions inherent to the development of scientific knowledge. An understanding of NOS helps students to better understand science …

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