Young girls who want to enter the STEM and robotics fields face two main barriers to entry: access to space and access to professionals, according to Alethea Campbell, the program manager for Jumpstart. The MassRobotics Jumpstart program aims to address and break down those barriers for high school girls.
The program started in 2021 after one of the startups from MassRobotics — the robotics hub focused on accelerating adoption of robotics — approached the staff and informed them that they wanted to hire more high school students, specifically high-school girls.
That year, MassRobotics took eight students and set up its inaugural Jumpstart program. This four-to-five-month program is dedicated to educating high school girls about different aspects of robotics, from programming to electronics and fabrication, to prepare them for a career in the sector.
The program's Saturday sessions run from January to May. In addition to Campbell and two other staff members from MassRobotics, Jumpstart brings in local experts from companies around Boston to teach the students about AI, proper soldering techniques and how to build an electronics board.
In addition to providing a well-rounded robotics education, Jumpstart provides a place where girls with similar interests can meet new friends.
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“I think more important than all of the tech that the girls learn during the four to five months is the camaraderie with other women in the field, the mentorship, feeling of inclusion and confidence building,” said Joyce Sidopoulos, co-founder and chief of operations at MassRobotics.
In addition to the planned curriculum for the program, each student works on a final project for Jumpstart that they present at the end of the course. The project for last year's program required students to make a design in computer-assisted design software, use a digital fabrication tool, like a 3D printer or laser cutter and be able to test their design.
“There was not the expectation for them to finish this project because they did not have that much time,” said Campbell. “But even with that said, I think over half the girls finished the project in less than six weeks.”
Jumpstart provides all participants with a $1,000 stipend at the end of the program, and according to Campbell, most girls from the program are set up with paid summer internships.
To introduce the girls to more industry professionals, JumpStart also has a February vacation week and a week of field trips to companies in Boston. Jumpstart takes students to New Balance, Desktop Metal and Mitre Corp during February vacation.
The program began with eight students for its launch and has grown to between 12 and 15. Overall, Jumpstart has had 68 students go through the program, some of whom are either in colleges like MIT, BU, Harvard, and Northeastern or are applying to colleges now.
Jumpstart continues to grow, expanding its programming to students in Lowell last year through a partnership with UMass Lowell.
Jumpstart is currently accepting applications from now until November 12.
“I feel like the biggest thing is that it doesn't matter if they walk away with technical skills, but what matters more is that they walk away feeling confident in themselves,” said Campbell.
