STEM Festival started in Osh State University as part of the “Girls in Science” Project

STEM Festival for schoolchildren and participants of the project "Girls in Science" started today, April 27, 2022, at Osh State University.

The official opening ceremony was attended by: the Rector of Osh State University, Kudaiberdi Kojobekov; UNICEF Gender Specialist, Ajar Bobekova; Deputy Director of the International Public Foundation "Initiative Roza Otunbaeva", Roza Kayikova; Specialist of Social Development Department of Osh City Administration, Aigul Kalmatova; and leading specialist of Osh City Education Department, Salamat Aidarova.

The goal of the STEM Festival was to attract girls aged 14-17 to science, technology and art, as well as to popularize STEM education among adolescent girls, and to share mentoring experiences in the "Girls in Science" project.

The STEM Festival was organized by the “Roza Otunbayeva Initiative” International Public Foundation in partnership with Osh State University as part of the UNICEF Girls in Science project.

The event is a platform for the exchange of information, knowledge, skills between the participants of the "Girls in Science" project and high school girls, as well as an opportunity for girls participating in the project to receive career guidance in STEM professions.

The festival will include a fair dedicated to introducing high school students to STEM majors.  All universities and dozens of educational centers and schools in Osh are expected to participate in the fair. The three-day festival will include master classes in science, engineering, programming, science, presentations on STEM and mentoring programs, presentations on the use of technology, and an exhibition on STEM and the arts. Students will also go on a tour of Osh City's higher education institutions.

The Girls in Science Project currently has 80 girls enrolled, free of tuituion, in the Secom Learning Center in Osh Fifty mentors are involved in the mentoring program, teaching about 500 adolescent girls through activities in line with the project's goals.

For reference: UNICEF "Girls in Science" project has been implemented by the Roza Otunbayeva Initiative IPF, the Child Protection Center, and AUCA Innovation College since 2020.