DOST-SEI empowers women in STEM, hosts data analytics workshop for girls

Inclusivity in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has once again been championed in the local science community as the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) organizes the Data Analytics for the Future (DAF-X) workshop for girls.

Female students from regular and science and technology-oriented junior high schools around Metro Manila and nearby provinces gathered to participate in the said workshop, held in September 2024, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, as part of the second National Youth Science, Technology, and Innovation Festival (NYSTIF).

Conducted in partnership with the University of the Philippines Los Baños – Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics (UPLB-IMSP), the workshop aimed to introduce the basics of data analytics to young students. It specifically offered lectures on beginner-level dataset preparation using R, dashboarding, basic quantitative tools, and data mining using open-source data applications.

During the workshop, participants learned about the essentials of data analytics through a series of lectures facilitated by esteemed professors of UPLB-IMSP, led by Dr. Destiny S. Lutero. The activities of the workshop focused on data analytics and visualization using Google Looker Studio, where students were taught particularly on how to add data, add charts, and use controls to make dashboard pages interactive to users.

After the workshop proper, the students then proudly presented their dashboards – using DOST-SEI’s Women in STEM study data and gave their analysis of the meaning and relationship of the variables presented.

Some of the facilitators also offered a career talk to the participants, sharing some of their memorable experiences in studying, working with data, and pursuing their dream career in STEM. They also encouraged the students to apply for the DOST scholarships both in their undergraduate and graduate education.

Prior to the workshop proper, Ms. Bern Irish Arguelles, Science Research Specialist II of DOST-SEI and a former DOST scholar, inspired the young girls as she provided an overview of DOST-SEI’s publication “Women in Science” and shared about women’s involvement in the S&T workforce of the country. The said publication paved the way for the Tagisang Robotics Competition: Girls & Gears, the first and only all-female robotics competition in the country, which also began its second run last October 7, 2024.

Senator Francis Tolentino also graced the workshop and congratulated the “future female engineers” of the country. In his message, he encouraged the participants not to be afraid to pursue the field of STEM and said that he looks forward to the great impact they will have on the advancement of the country.

The Data Analytics for the Future workshop contributes to DOST-SEI’s goal of equipping students with 21^st century skills and training them to make data-driven decisions that can help solve problems in various communities. And all these were done while also forwarding the advocacy to put more girls into the STEM spotlight and create a more diverse and more inclusive STEM community.

The DOST-SEI thanks the UPLB-IMSP for the successful conduct of the workshop.