In 2015, Johnson & Johnson launched WiSTEM2D (Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing, and Design), an educational initiative featuring programs aimed at:

• young people aged 7 to 18;
• students;
• business professionals.

The initiative has been taken up by JA Europe in 5 European countries to bring it into schools.
In Romania, starting with the 2018-2019 school year, the WiSTEM2D project is running with the financial and volunteer support of Johnson & Johnson.

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

The project's activities aim to cultivate girls’ interest in STEM²D and encourage them to pursue careers in these fields, generally accepted as preferred by boys. The WiSTEM²D project activities are aimed at middle and high school students and are carried out in classrooms under the guidance of teachers and Johnson & Johnson volunteers.

EDUCATIONAL CONTENT

The WiSTEM²D project includes 12 hybrid learning (blended learning) STEM²D activities and a career guidance activity.

Through learning by doing activities, students practice and develop skills such as:

• teamwork;
• problem solving;
• creative thinking;
• logical thinking;
• analysis and synthesis;
• negotiation and organization.

Working alongside business volunteers, either face-to-face or online, students explore different career opportunities, which makes it easier for them to find their way to future jobs and careers.

The 12 STEM²D activities recommended for classroom use are:

1. Building with Wonderful Junk – grouped in teams, students plan and build different objects using waste materials.
2. Green Batteries – students discover how chemical energy is converted into electricity.
3. Biomimicry in Design and Engineering – students discover how nature and living organisms can be a source of inspiration for solving human problems.
4. What's the Code? – students use what they have available to create and execute code that controls robot movement.
5. Strawberry Squish – students explore how to extract DNA from strawberries and learn about the role of genes and DNA in evolution.
6. Research and Development – students take on the role of biomedical researchers and conduct lab experiments to determine the effectiveness of pharmaceutical formulas.
7. Create It, Try It, Manufacture It! – students discover the importance of hands-on activities in choosing future careers and learn about what opportunities people with STEM skills have in manufacturing.
8. Light Bending 101 – students study the path of light through different optical media.
9. Physics of Floating – students discover the physical principles that cause certain objects to float or sink.
10. From Innovation to the Patient – students learn about the discovery and creation of innovative medicines that can improve or save people's lives.
11. Pollution Solution – students discover how pollution affects the environment and propose solutions to prevent and combat it.
12. Change It, Create It, Solve It, Engineer It! – students discover that new technologies and innovations emerge when engineers apply scientific and mathematical principles to design and develop products that can improve people's lives.

For details of the project's global rollout, see https://jar.ro/stem2d.

"I think the work we did extracting DNA from a strawberry was very interesting and rewarding. I learned many new things I didn't think possible and saw with my own eyes how complex life and plants on earth are! It was also a good way to spend time and interact with my colleagues, but also to come together through teamwork. When I first saw the little DNA trace that formed in the test tube, I was amazed that we were able to see the work through to the end and that we had results. It was complicated and yet exciting, because it took a lot of care and attention to achieve what we wanted, but, in the end, our satisfaction was at the peak. I really enjoyed this activity in the WiSTEM²D project!" – Student, Moise Nicoara National College, Arad

"The WiSTEM²D project activity I took part in is very interesting for students especially, while the volunteer's life story is an example for them. I hope it inspired them and helped them decide which way to go for a career or university. Encouraging failure to decide what suits you as a job is also positive. The life story shared by the volunteer really captured the students’ attention. Although we teachers tell them they need to learn this and that, when someone successful says that, the impact on students is different." – Teacher, Latcu Voda Technical College, Siret

About Johnson & Johnson
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That’s why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world’s largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com. Follow us at @JNJNews.