EMPOW[HER] Collective

The Discovery’s EMPOW[HER] Collective for Women & Girls in STEM expands the museum’s programming for girls with the goal of keeping them engaged with STEM throughout their education.

Women make up only 35% of the STEM workforce.

Women remain underrepresented in STEM career fields – The Discovery’s EMPOW[HER] Collective is a catalyst to change that. The collective is comprised of women working in STEM as well as undergraduate and graduate students studying in these fields. Through mentorship, networking, and hands-on programming developed and implemented by women in this collective, women and girls of all ages will collaborate to build a community, giving rise to the next generation of female STEM professionals.

What does the EMPOW[HER] Collective do?

The Discovery’s EMPOW[HER] Collective provides a variety of ways for girls to engage with STEM, and a multitude of opportunities for women working in STEM fields to help inspire the next generation of female STEM professionals:

Hands-on programs designed by Collective members and focused on a specific STEM field, offered on select Saturdays in The Discovery’s Microsoft STEM Lab
Annual Girls STEM Career Day
Girls’ career exploration field trips and behind-the-scenes tours at local STEM organizations and businesses

What are the short- and long-term goals for the Collective?

EMPOW[HER] Collective Short-term Goals for 2026/27
- Sustain membership of 50 or more female STEM professionals making a gift of $500 each to support hands-on girls programming.
- The Discovery’s staff will work with Collective members to develop and implement six hands-on STEM Labs, each focused on a different area of STEM. STEM Labs are offered on Saturdays and are free or charge to girls in two age ranges: grades 3-5 and 6-8. All supplies are funded by Collective member donations.
- The Discovery will host our second annual Girls STEM Career Day on March 6, 2027. Collective members will be given tabling space within the museum to engage with girls and other visitors to The Discovery. This engagement provides an opportunity for girls to meet STEM professionals and be introduced to STEM careers they may not have otherwise known about.
- EMPOW[HER] Collective corporate sponsors have the opportunity to host participants of the STEM Girl Bosses summer camp (Camp Discovery) at their facility to introduce girls to their career professionals and career paths they might not otherwise be introduced to. The girls will have the opportunity to tour the facility, seeing first-hand the inspiring career possibilities.
- Host three happy hours and the annual mixer, providing opportunities for networking between members as well as sponsors. The mixer also offers an opportunity to celebrate the impact of the prior year’s initiatives.

EMPOW[HER] Collective Long-term Goals for 2027 and Beyond
- Continue to refine and expand EMPOW[HER] programming for girls based on successes from the prior year.
- Implement a workforce development program for high school students.
- Serve as a bridge for girls to STEM programs at the University of Nevada, Reno, TMCC, and CTE schools.
- Host an annual mixer bringing together women in STEM from throughout the region to celebrate each other and learn about the Collective.

Become a Collective member today and make a difference

Individual membership is open to current and retired STEM professionals, graduate and undergraduate students, and K-12 educators. Membership is for one year, October 2026 – September 2027. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are also available.

How are the funds from members and corporate sponsors used?

Funds raised through the EMPOW[HER] Collective directly support development of hands-on girls programming, program supplies, educator staff time, transportation costs for career exploration field trips/camps, program evaluation, Collective events, and related expenses.

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