Black Girls Do Science sparks a new generation of women in STEM

“There’s an unconscious bias when it comes to representation in STEM. When you think of a scientist, most people think of Einstein or Bill Nye,” says Bryne Berry, the founder of Black Girls Do Science.

Black Girls Do Science (BGDS) is expanding access and representation in STEM in the Detroit region through hands-on workshops, a virtual speaker series with STEM professionals, and community activations. Serving elementary and middle school students, BGDS integrates history, science, and art to spark curiosity early and sustain engagement to reduce racial and gender gaps in STEM.

In 2021, African Americans comprised 8% of workers in STEM occupations, which was lower than their percentage of the total workforce (11%), according to the National Science Foundation. The number is even lower for Black women, with only 2% being scientists and engineers.

With an interest in meteorology, Berry participated in science camps as a young girl and noticed she was typically the only Black girl there. The lack of diversity in STEM occupations, limited exposure, low access, high-cost barriers, pay gaps, and unconscious bias result in gatekeeping of opportunities.

“Even with teachers who mean well, when hearing girls do science, they’re more likely to think of Kayla instead of Keisha. So having inclusive programs play a part in helping people change their perspective,” Berry says. 

As she grew older, she took on engineering at the University of Iowa, where she wanted to create an atmosphere for Black girls to be surrounded by other Black girls, and led by women of color to show that they too can be scientists and to learn the impact that Black women have had in the world of STEM. 

The organization started as a once-a-year in-person workshop at the University of Iowa, with 40 participants. It has now grown into a multi-state program that has impacted over 4,000 students in Ohio, Washington, California, Iowa, and now Michigan. 

Heba Abdalla, a pharmacy technician at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC), participated in BGDS from the very beginning in 2013 when she was 11 years old. The program increased her confidence and self-advocacy, and having Black representation was majorly impactful. 

“I was really excited to see older black women who look like me sound like me in these spaces,” Abdalla says. “It really did open my eyes to be like, ‘Oh, I can do this, I can be here.’ I see people who look like me, women who look like me, you know, being innovators in their field, I really took that.”

The sense of belonging and opportunity BGDS provided became the foundation for Abdalla’s commitment to creating inclusive spaces for other marginalized youth when she worked as a youth program support specialist for the program Youth Engage in Leadership and Learning (Y.E.L.L).

BGDS continues to invite people to learn more about STEM in compelling and engaging ways. On February 21, the organization is hosting a fundraising event where adults can learn about the science behind beer at the Florian East Lagers and Ales from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Hamtramk. 

The organization is also hosting its speaker series in April and plans for a STEM-workshop for 4th through 8th graders in Detroit this fall. Stay up to date on their events through their Facebook page.

“We want to put on our one-day Black girl science workshop here for the greats of Detroit,” Berry says. “Being able to have just a day of Black girl joy, being able to learn new things, and celebrating the Black women in this community and their contributions, that love and that recognition and joy, we want to bring that here to Detroit.”