Management and operation of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory
NSF Awards: 1519126
Provoca is an AUI/NRAO initiative to promote STEM vocations among underserved groups, with a focus in Chile, but a motivation and messages that are universal in their appeal. It is a play on words that works both as an acronym ("Pro"-mote "voca"-tions) as well as an invitation to “provoke” awareness and change. Despite hosting many world-class NSF-funded observatories, Chile lags behind most OECD and Latin American countries in terms of female participation and retention in STEM careers. To address this challenge and broaden participation, Provoca focuses on role models, mentoring and development of key skills (professional and personal) to inspire and support girls in their journey to become STEM professionals. As the largest and most obvious under-represented minority in STEM, the initiative first focused on girls and women, but has also included indigenous communities in northern Chile, socially and economically disadvantaged students, migrants and people with disabilities. To impact students, teachers, parents and everyone who influences perceptions of self-efficacy and career choices, short videos were produced to highlight STEM female role models and high school girls who aspire to pursue careers in these fields. The intersectionality shown in these videos make their messages compelling for audiences across different countries and cultures. Therefore, the videos are available in Spanish, with English subtitles (https://bit.ly/376bA5Z) and in Chilean sign language (https://bit.ly/2MZDnOP).
Management and operation of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory
NSF Awards: 1519126
Provoca is an AUI/NRAO initiative to promote STEM vocations among underserved groups, with a focus in Chile, but a motivation and messages that are universal in their appeal. It is a play on words that works both as an acronym ("Pro"-mote "voca"-tions) as well as an invitation to “provoke” awareness and change. Despite hosting many world-class NSF-funded observatories, Chile lags behind most OECD and Latin American countries in terms of female participation and retention in STEM careers. To address this challenge and broaden participation, Provoca focuses on role models, mentoring and development of key skills (professional and personal) to inspire and support girls in their journey to become STEM professionals. As the largest and most obvious under-represented minority in STEM, the initiative first focused on girls and women, but has also included indigenous communities in northern Chile, socially and economically disadvantaged students, migrants and people with disabilities. To impact students, teachers, parents and everyone who influences perceptions of self-efficacy and career choices, short videos were produced to highlight STEM female role models and high school girls who aspire to pursue careers in these fields. The intersectionality shown in these videos make their messages compelling for audiences across different countries and cultures. Therefore, the videos are available in Spanish, with English subtitles (https://bit.ly/376bA5Z) and in Chilean sign language (https://bit.ly/2MZDnOP).
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Sonia Duffau
Participating in Provoca was amazing, I recommend that you take a look at this project just because its messages are universal, truthfully presented and useful to hear for the first time or to remember every time your motivation gets low confronting barriers that are there to break, go for it!
Donna Ross
It is inspiring to see the work you are doing in Chile. I was thinking how lovely it would be to have a partnership among Latinx girls here in the U.S. and girls in Latin America!
Paulina Bocaz
Assistant director / Representative in Chile
Hi Donna, thanks for your message! We agree that these messages are universal and there is great potential to partner with other organizations who work with Spanish-speaking girls. Have to hear your ideas...
Nuria Jaumot-Pascual
Research Scientist
I really enjoyed the fact that you included the videos in Spanish and that we saw where the girls in the video are today. It made it very easy to connect with the girls.
What were the activities that were involved in mentoring? In the video, it looks like there was a large gathering where girls were able to talk to women scientists, hands-on activities, and presentations. Could you give us a bit of an overview of the activities in the program, how long they lasted, its impacts, and how the impacts were measured?
Paulina Bocaz
Assistant director / Representative in Chile
Hi Nuria, thanks for your message! The PROVOCA initiative was born out of a role model experience where STEM professionals and high school girls met in a "speed dating" activity. Sixty-two students met eight professionals in October 2018 (rotating every 10 minutes x 8, for approximately 1.5 hours in total). We filmed the experience and then interviewed the women and girls to capture their testimonies and life stories. During 2019, we launched a communications campaign to raise the visibility of these female role models and mirroring their stories with those of girls who aspire to pursue a STEM career. The campaign was featured in social, as well as traditional media. In 2019 and 2020, we organized trainings and workshops on the impostor syndrome, stereotypes in science and how to handle interpersonal relations and team work. At the beginning these could be done in person, but then we had to move to virtual formats when the pandemic hit. We measured impact with pre- and post-activity surveys, with good results. To have a broader and longer-lasting impact and be able to accompany girls and young college students throughout their STEM journeys, in 2021 we are creating a PROVOCA mentoring program with trainings, round table discussions, networking opportunities, coaching and certification. The idea is to train our mentors in 2021 and start mentoring in 2022, hopefully in person!
Nuria Jaumot-Pascual
Nuria Jaumot-Pascual
Research Scientist
Hi Paulina,
Thanks for your response! It sounds like you are turning this into a multi-dimensional program with many parts. It's too bad you had to stop in-person meetings due to the pandemic, but hopefully things will be able to return to in-person soon enough.
I am intrigued about the idea of certifying the coaches. Are you looking into a pre-existing certification program, or is it something you are creating?
Paulina Bocaz
Assistant director / Representative in Chile
Hi Nuria, I am working with a consulting firm that specializes in coaching women... We are creating a "Provoca" certification based on their methodology. I will know a lot more when we complete the program in December of this year. We are very motivated to provide specialized training, workshops and networking opportunities to volunteers!
Nuria Jaumot-Pascual
Stephen Alkins
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
Thank you for the presentation. It is great to see the success stories. Do you plan to track their progress through a certain level? In addition to some of the other questions raised, it seems that you worked with students from all ages; was there any work done with families to encourage a wrap-around support for these young women. To that end, what was the size of the cohort that engaged in these activities; was there any cross-talk between the women and their teachers in school?
Paulina Bocaz
Assistant director / Representative in Chile
Hi Stephen, thanks for watching our video and taking an interest in the PROVOCA initiative. PROVOCA was born out of a role model experience where STEM professionals and high school girls met in a "speed dating" activity. Sixty-two students met eight professionals in October 2018 (rotating every 10 minutes x 8, for approximately 1.5 hours in total). We filmed the experience and then interviewed the women and girls to capture their testimonies and life stories. During 2019, we launched a communications campaign to raise the visibility of these female role models and mirror their stories with those of girls who aspire to pursue a STEM career. The campaign was featured in social, as well as traditional media. In 2019 and 2020, we organized trainings and workshops on the impostor syndrome, stereotypes in science and how to handle interpersonal relations and team work. At the beginning these could be done in person, but then we had to move to virtual formats when the pandemic hit. We measured impact with pre- and post-activity surveys, with good results. To have a broader and longer-lasting impact and be able to accompany girls and young college students throughout their STEM journeys, in 2021 we are creating a PROVOCA mentoring program with trainings, round table discussions, networking opportunities, coaching and certification. The idea is to train our mentors in 2021 and start mentoring in 2022, hopefully in person. We have been tracking progress of high school girls through their first years of college and plan to continue this with a mentoring program. Initially we worked with high school girls only, but as we look to the future, we will be targeting college students as well. The idea is to inspire STEM vocations in high school and prevent attrition in college. During the video series campaign we had to work with families and they were very supportive. Another activity that we are planning in 2022 is a job shadowing experience, where we will reach out to teachers in high schools. I am looking for best practices in that area, would appreciate any feedback or leads... Thanks again,
Overtoun Jenda
Assistant Provost and Professor of Mathematics
Thank so much. This is very good and very uplifting to see such a diverse group of students. What grade levels are you focusing on? Did the students take a survey to measure the effectiveness of the program? Keep up the great work.
Paulina Bocaz
Assistant director / Representative in Chile
Hi Overtoun, thanks for watching our video and taking an interest in PROVOCA! We initially focused on all grade levels in high school, but as we move forward to create a mentoring program we will also include students in their first years of college. We used pre- and post-activity surveys with good results in 2019 and 2020 and are developing metrics for the mentoring program. I am looking for best practices on metrics for mentoring and would appreciate feedback and advice. Thanks again,
Carlos Boza Layseca
Wonderful video. Thanks for the work you are doing. It is very inspiring.
Miguel Roth
Outstanding project, addressing a real issue. Thank you!
Patrick Donahoe
Hi Paulina,
This is a fantastic video! Positive, upbeat message with a universal appeal
Joaquín A.
Congratulations, Paulina! It's a fantastic projetc.
Antonieta Benedetto
I enjoyed so much this video. It’s very inspiring for our young girls.
Diego S.
It is so inspiring what you’re doing. You have accomplished great results.
María Fernández
Apoyo la iniciativa... Suerte
Katherine Hutter
Fantastic video and much needed initiative in Chile and in the world! Felicitaciones y vamos por mas!
cristobal achermann
Paulina:
really great!.... and thanks!!!....
This is an amazing program really needed everywhere. Young girls are the future, and it really moves to see them so clear about their capabilities, their importance. We need more of this!
thanks!!
Erica LoBello
Hi Paulina,
This is such a wonderful project, I am so glad you directed me to this video, and thanks for viewing ours (Meaningful Teaching Mentorships: Lessons from COVID). Can you give some more details on the "speed dating" model you used in the mentor-mentee matching process? This was something we had considered doing pre-pandemic in our project and I'm just curious how it worked for you and how the mentoring relationships that resulted from it turned out. Were the girls asked to rate their perceptions of their mentoring relationships? Was their confidence level measured before and after their participation in the program and experience with their mentors? Thanks again-- this is such important work you are doing.
Rossana Pérez
Excelente iniciativa Paulina!!! El video refleja la situación de las mujeres hoy pero afortunadamente vemos, gracias a proyectos como este, que se producen cambios que dan esperanza .
Alejandra Voigt
We all take pride from Paulina and Sonia's initiative, which will have a clear impact in future generations. However, the immediate effect has been to open our own -grown-ups'- eyes to a reality that we often take for granted and to become ourselves active and positive change agents within our communities. Thanks so much for doing this with such passion and faith!
Lillian Knuckey
Felicitaciones Paulina, excelente proyecto!!