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PCL Construction Hosts Exclusive Tour and Panel Discussion for Girl Scouts at 16th Street Mall Project, Inspiring Future STEM leaders
Girl Scouts and female engineers collaborate to tackle STEM gender gap.
In a proactive effort to tackle the underrepresentation of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields, PCL Construction partnered with Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) to host a job site tour and speaking panel for the Girl Scouts of Colorado and introduced them to the construction field. On Monday, July 29, Girl Scouts explored the inner workings of the 16th Street Mall Project, which involves renovating 13 blocks of downtown Denver. The tour offered several opportunities for the young women to engage directly with female engineers and industry professionals.
Despite women constituting nearly half of the workforce, they hold only 34% of STEM jobs, as reported by the Girl Scout Research Institute. This initiative aims to bridge that gap by providing young girls with hands-on exposure to STEM careers, fostering a passion for these critical fields from an early age.
“Many can trace their career choices back to a passion sparked at young age, so it’s disappointing that studies still show boys are more likely than girls to be exposed to job opportunities in STEM fields. This job site tour is one of several efforts made by PCL to increase diversity in the construction industry,” said Ryan Schmidt, vice president and district manager for PCL’s Denver office. “My hope is that the young girls that attended today’s tour can see themselves in the female engineers on our panel and envision a career in construction.”
“We are thrilled to host the Girl Scouts of Colorado on a tour of this transformational project,” said DOTI Executive Director Amy Ford. “It’s inspiring to see these young leaders engaged and curious about the future of our city’s transportation and infrastructure systems. At DOTI, we are committed to fostering a spirit of collaboration and learning, and we look forward to seeing these bright young minds contribute to our city's future.”
Through year-round programs and activities, Girl Scouts of Colorado engages girls in science, technology, engineering and math, aligning with their interests and encouraging them to envision and create a better world. The event at the 16th Street Mall is a testament to their dedication to fostering the next generation of female STEM leaders.
“Girl Scouts of Colorado is so excited to have the opportunity to work with PCL Construction and DOTI,” says Girl Scouts of Colorado CEO Leanna Clark. “Being able to give girls direct access to seeing what it’s like to work in construction and engineering fields will educate them and empower them to dream big for their own future careers.”
July 22, 2024
