Physics Together: Engaging Young Women in Physics with STEP UP

Despite increasing numbers of students graduating with physics and other STEM degrees, the percentage of women earning bachelor's degrees in physics has stagnated at approximately 20{\%} for the past decade. The drop in representation of women in physics occurs at the high school/college transition. Nearly half of high school physics students are young women, but only one-fifth of physics majors at college entrance are women. Thus, efforts to increase the representation of women in physics need to focus on high school, which is many students' first and last exposure to physics. Physics teachers and physics teacher preparation programs have the power to make a difference. STEP UP, a nationwide community with the goal of inspiring young women to pursue physics bachelor's degrees, has developed lesson plans grounded in research for use by high school physics teachers. Learn about how your physics teacher preparation program and your teacher community can get involved.