Speaker
Description
The Girls in STEM MENA initiative, led by the Hashemite University in Jordan, was created to open doors for girls from disadvantaged regions who rarely have access to scientific research environments. Each summer, the program hosts selected students on campus, where they are introduced to laboratory work, scientific thinking, mentorship, and the real-world possibilities of careers in STEM. Beyond technical exposure, the initiative focuses on confidence-building, curiosity, and belonging, thus helping participants see themselves as future scientists, innovators, and leaders. The program brings together academics, mentors, and regional partners, including MOSSAWAH, an organization specializing in mentoring, leadership development, and talent pipeline strengthening across the MENA region.
What will the TNC audience take away from your talk?
The TNC audience will gain a practical and replicable model for widening participation of girls and women in STEM through collaboration between universities, NGOs, and mentoring networks.
They will see how impactful inclusion initiatives can be designed and delivered outside formal NREN structures, yet still align closely with the mission of research and education networks by strengthening the future talent pipeline.
The talk will offer actionable insights on building partnerships, engaging underrepresented communities, and integrating human-centered capacity-building programs into broader research and innovation ecosystems. This in turn positions inclusion as a strategic investment in future research capacity, not a peripheral activity.
| Are you a first time speaker at TNC? | Yes |
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