AAUW Redlands branch fulfills the AAUW mission of advancing equity for women and girls in our local area through our well-regarded STEM initiatives, including our STEM Conferences for 8th Grade Girls and Tech-Trek Camp.

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STEM Conferences: The branch hosts two STEM Conferences for 8th-grade girls, one at Mount San Jacinto College in January and one at the University of Redlands in February or March. Hundreds of 8th grade girls enjoy a day of inspiration, hands-on learning, and career exploration. With guidance from women professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math. Our speakers – many of whom are employed in career fields where women are historically underrepresented – encourage the girls to continue their math and science studies in high school and college to allow for a wide range of possibilities in their futures. 

We look forward to our upcoming conferences in 2026. Our most recent STEM Conference was held 3/4/25. AAUW Redlands encouraged 575 students to envision their future with a university education and successful career at the 31st Annual STEM Conference for 8th Grade Girls. The high-energy, educational event began with the author of Harvesting Dreams, Erica Alfaro, delivering an inspiring speech about succeeding despite adversity. She overcame coming from an impoverished immigrant family, having a baby as a teenager and suffering domestic abuse to become the first person in her family to obtain a bachelor’s and master’s degree! The students then attended two career workshops of their choice around the beautiful University of Redlands campus. They ended their day with lunch and a STEM Fair, which allowed students to engage with STEM speakers and ask questions in a smaller, more interactive setting. We appreciate all of the volunteers from the AAUW Redlands Branch and the community who made the STEM Conference an empowering day for local young women! Read the full article in Community Forward Redlands.

Tech Trek: The branch also sends selected rising 8th-grade girls to Tech Trek, a week-long summer STEM experience virtually or at an area university (read more about TechTrek on our TechTrek webpage.)  Annually, we send several girls to Tech Trek from middle schools in Beaumont, Banning, Redlands, and Yucaipa.  

The  AAUW Redlands Branch has been bringing  STEM opportunities to students in our local communities since 1994. Fundraising for our STEM Initiatives is ongoing throughout the year. 

Thank you to all those who have helped make our STEM Initiatives successful!  Watch our Branches & Twigs newsletters for future conference dates and volunteer opportunities, or contact STEM@AAUWRedlands.org.