Longitudinal Study by Science Club for Girls and Cambridge STEAM Initiative Shows Positive Long-Term Impacts of Youth STEM Programming

Science Club for Girls (SCFG) and the Cambridge STEAM Initiative are excited to share data from the Longitudinal Study of SCFG alums, launched in summer 2024. The study collected feedback from 70 alums who participated in the SCFG's programming — which serves girls and gender-expansive youth in Kindergarten through 12th grade — during the nonprofit’s 30+ years of operation. It aimed to evaluate how alums’ experiences at SCFG influenced their career paths, motivation to pursue STEM fields, and leadership development.

Key findings include:

College and Career Choices

• 99% of SCFG alums attended college, compared to 72% of high school seniors in Cambridge and 66% nationwide.
• Over 60% of SCFG alums majored in STEM at college, compared to less than 25% of high school seniors, both in Massachusetts and nationwide.

Confidence and Sense of Self

• 88% of respondents attributed their confidence in overcoming academic challenges to SCFG.
• 89% of respondents credited SCFG with empowering them to navigate challenges faced by women in STEM.
• 90% of alumni credited SCFG with shaping their identity as lifelong science learners.

Academic and STEM Empowerment

• The vast majority of alums credited SCFG with increasing their interest in STEM, building their confidence to overcome academic challenges, and shaping their identities as lifelong learners of science.
• Alums reported that they were able to leverage their SCFG networks to find STEM internships and jobs, build professional networks with women in STEM, and successfully navigate male-dominated careers with confidence.

Leadership Skills and Professional Development

• 91% of alums acknowledged SCFG's positive impact in shaping their identity as leaders among peers. Alums credited SCFG with developing strong self-efficacy, self-worth, and ambition. Alums said their experiences with SCFG helped them identify as entrepreneurs and STEM professionals with the confidence to learn, teach, and lead in their communities.
• Alums reported that SCFG provided them with a wide range of transferable and adaptable skills that have played a crucial role in their professional journeys.

“What’s most powerful about this study is how clearly it shows that early, identity-affirming STEM programming has ripple effects that last years,” says Bonnie Bertolaet, Executive Director of SCFG. "Our alums are navigating college, careers, and leadership roles with a sense of confidence that traces back to their earliest days at Science Club for Girls. Having data that captures that arc strengthens our ability to advocate for the resources, partnerships, and investments our community deserves.”

In addition to demonstrating the positive impacts of STEM programming on young people, the SCFG study underscores the importance of impact evaluation.

“We support our community partners in three main ways: through program funding, by creating collaborative spaces for groups with aligned goals, and by conducting impact evaluations that help illuminate what’s working,” explains Sharlene Yang, Director of the Cambridge STEAM Initiative. “As demonstrated through our partnership with SCFG, our goal is to better understand the long-term impact on young people and identify the specific elements of each program that help them thrive. When organizations that host these programs have strong data in hand, they’re better positioned to attract new funders and build greater sustainability for their work.”

View the Alumni Survey data analysis report.

The full evaluation will be available on SCFG’s website in early 2026. You can sign up to be the first to receive the study when it is published.

About Science Club for Girls
Science Club for Girls’ mission is to foster excitement and confidence in STEM for girls and gender-expansive youth in grades K–12 from underrepresented communities. SCFG provides engaging, hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education and mentorship opportunities that empower and support young people to build leadership skills and find joy in exploring STEM. For more information, visit www.scienceclubforgirls.org.

About the Cambridge STEAM Initiative
The Cambridge STEAM Initiative is a joint initiative of the City of Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs, Cambridge Public School Department, and the Cambridge Public Library. Using a racial justice lens to frame all of its efforts, the STEAM Initiative works to ensure that Cambridge residents who are most impacted by systemic inequities have access to high quality STEAM programming, resources, and skill-building opportunities. For more information, visit www.cambridgema.gov/STEAM.