Our Youth Pillar

Encouraging Budding STEM²D Stars

o spark girls’ and young women’s interest in STEM²D subjects, we need to reach them wherever they are—in urban centers, small towns, villages and rural communities. STEM²D must be accessible and available in a variety of places and settings.

There are many ways to engage, whether you want to help plan an event, share your career journey, present material in a school setting or organize a learning experience at your company.

Whether you're a student exploring STEM²D or a parent, teacher or supporter, this page has tips, tools and resources to help you.

What Is STEM2D?

It's an acronym that refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing and Design. Click through to learn more about each subject.

Science

Observing, studying and experimenting to better understand the natural world and how it works.

Technology

Putting science and other knowledge to practical use to solve problems, invent useful tools, envision new possibilities and establish meaningful connections between people and the world that surrounds them.

Engineering

Applying science and math principles to design and develop products, structures, machines, tools or systems that help improve everyday life.

Mathematics

Using a quantitative framework (numbers, quantities, shapes, abstract principles and problem-solving) to describe the world.

Manufacturing

Creating something from raw materials by hand or by machinery.

Woman completing an architecture drawing

Design

Developing human-centered, experiential solutions in collaboration with patients, consumers and experts from STEM and other disciplines to address unmet needs in a feasible, viable and desirable way.

Science

Technology

Engineering

Mathematics

Manufacturing

Design

Educational Resources

STEM²D fosters inquiring minds, logical reasoning, creative thinking, problem solving and collaboration. The STEM²D philosophy relies on a student-centered, integrated approach to understanding, exploring and engaging with the world.

Student Activity Series

The series includes interactive, fun, hands-on activities for girls and young women, ages 5-18, across the globe. All activities are aligned with research-based theory and the STEM²D philosophy.

Each activity targets one or more of the STEM²D subjects. Click to find an activity, along with the resources you need to be successful.

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Resources for Parents, Supporters and Volunteers

Despite living in the information age, young people today are only slightly more informed than their predecessors about their career options. They often don’t have a clear grasp of the array of career choices available to them. To help inform young people about the endless possibilities of STEM, you can:

Be a role model: Exposure to female role models has been shown to improve performance on tests and to invalidate stereotypes.

Offer personal stories: All volunteers—regardless of gender—can greatly enrich their time with young people by sharing their own experiences.

Relate to the young person: Young people have unique social, personal and academic needs. Approach them with sincerity and respect.

Click Here to Learn More

Encouraging and Engaging Girls

More STEM Stories

Innovation

The Future of STEM Is Female: Meet 5 University Scientists Working on Breakthrough Healthcare Ideas

A foldable, 3-D printed robot that can serve as a heart stent. Using artificial intelligence to help detect cancer. Seeking out life on other planets. These are just some of the areas of fascinating research that this year’s winners of the Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM²D Scholars Award are focused on in their labs across the country.

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Personal Stories

Girls Who Code Teams Up With Johnson & Johnson to Inspire More High Schoolers to Embrace Computer Science

Seven weeks. 19 students. One incredible experience. We're talking about the inaugural Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program hosted at the company's Raritan location—and we captured it all on video. Watch as two high schoolers take us behind the scenes.

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Photo of participants in the inaugural Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program hosted b Johnson & Johnson