MERRILLVILLE — More than 300 girls across five states were urged to dream big as they explored innovative careers in science and technology as part of “Introduce a Girl to STEAM,” the release from NIPSCO states. The inaugural event was hosted by the NiSource Charitable Foundation in partnership with NiSource Inc. and its subsidiary Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO).
On Feb. 17, NIPSCO turned its Merrillville headquarters into an interactive learning classroom, as girls in grades four through six participated in games, scientific demonstrations and team-building exercises focused on STEAM – science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, according to the provided release.
“Our goal today was to get these girls energized about STEAM at a very young age and inspire them to someday pursue a rewarding career in science, technology and engineering,” said Melody Birmingham, NiSource Charitable Foundation board member, and executive vice president and group utilities president for NiSource Inc.
Women occupy 26% of STEM positions in the United States and just 15% of all engineering jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau 2024 data.
“With ‘Introduce a Girl to STEAM,’ we are nurturing the talent needed to innovate and carry our industry forward for generations to come,” Birmingham said. “We want these girls to feel excited at envisioning themselves someday as engineers and leaders in technology.”
The Foundation’s STEAM events were held simultaneously at NiSource companies in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Employees, including engineers, volunteered to mentor and guide the girls through a half-day curriculum that varied from natural gas and electric demonstrations to instructional activities, games and competitions.
DAWN (Developing and Advancing Women at NiSource) employee resource group also played a role in planning the event. NIPSCO partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Indiana to host 80 girls at the event.
“One of the NiSource Charitable Foundation’s primary goals is to make a significant impact on STEM education and workforce development in every community our utility serves,” said Vince Parisi, NIPSCO president and chief operating officer. “We hope this event will serve as a catalyst for introducing young girls to careers where women are otherwise underrepresented.”