5 for Good: Science Club for Girls Inspires Next Generation of STEM Leaders
BOSTON — A rocket launch is helping sixth grader Catherine Tran aim high as Science Club for Girls works to inspire the next generation of scientists and problem solvers.
Science Club for Girls offers free STEM programming—science, technology, engineering, and math—with nearly 300 mentors helping guide students. Catherine’s mentor, Kaitlyn Webster, a reproductive biologist and postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School, plays a pivotal role in her journey.
“She’s really nice and she’s really good at explaining things,” Catherine said about Webster.
Webster studies Mexican tetra, or cave fish, at UMass Boston, focusing on reproductive healthcare knowledge. Growing up in East Cambridge, she became the first in her family to attend college, earn a graduate degree, and receive a doctorate, thanks to a female science teacher who recognized her potential and encouraged her to join a STEM program.
Now, as a mentor, Webster embodies the support she once received. Science Club for Girls executive director Bonnie Bertolaet emphasizes that mentors are “living, breathing role models” who share similar experiences with participants, helping to keep girls and women in STEM fields.
Founded in 1994, the organization supports students from kindergarten through high school, highlighting the importance of STEM challenges in everyday life, from pandemics to climate change, cybersecurity, and AI.
Enrollment is open, and Science Club for Girls is seeking mentors. Find more information here.
