The PROVOCA Mentoring Program, promoted by AUI/NRAO, provides high school and higher education students with the support needed to address the barriers that affect many women when choosing or staying in a career in STEM fields, known as STOP.
Responsible for providing this support will be 28 PROVOCA certified mentors, a group of women from all over Chile working in STEM fields, who have prepared themselves during 2021 to guide students in the best way in the different stages of the STEM path. From a mining engineer to an astrophysicist, each teacher brings a unique and valuable experience that can inspire young people considering a scientific career.
“It is not enough to inspire the scientific vocations of women. We have to accompany them when doubts and fears arise in their social and family environment. In those moments, it is essential to have someone they trust to discuss problems, someone who walks with them. That is the mission of our PROVOCA mentors, explains Polina Bokas, AUI/NRAO Representative in Chile.
For this reason, AUI/NRAO, the North American partner of the ALMA Observatory in Chile, is creating this mentoring program to retain and enhance female talent in STEM fields. PROVOCA Extension Programs are completely free of charge and strive to provide students with the tools and skills they need to achieve their goals and advance their career in science.
Through virtual sessions with four students and two mentors, more than 50 selected young women will have the opportunity to understand what it means to study a career in STEM, how to apply, what job or academic opportunities exist in the future, and how these goals can be achieved. The mentorship period will last for 8 months, between May and December 2022, with an average devotion of two and a half hours per month.
Those interested in applying for a PROVOCA mentorship can do so at www.provoca.org
About AUI/NRAO:
Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) is a US non-profit organization that operates the US National Astronomical Observatory (NRAO) under a cooperative agreement with the US National Science Foundation (NSF).
In Chile, AUI/NRAO led the construction of the ALMA observatory and currently manages its operations on behalf of North America, together with astronomical research institutions from Europe and East Asia.
In the United States, AUI operates the Green Bank Observatory (GBO) in West Virginia, as well as Karl G.), both NRAO facilities.
