BridgeUP STEM

What is BridgeUP STEM?

BridgeUP STEM brings together a diverse community of Atlanta-area high school girls and non-binary individuals, who are interested in pursuing computing careers, with Georgia Tech College of Computing undergraduate mentors, research faculty, and graduate students. Through this NCWIT-Georgia Tech partnership, aspiring high school and undergraduate computing researchers are exposed to experiences, inspiration, and opportunities afforded by the program’s location in an elite research university. In the year-long program, high school participants, called BridgeUP STEM Scholars, first enhance their coding skills through a non-credit four-week summer class. Then during the academic year, they gain knowledge and experience with real world research projects and methods through a class facilitated by BridgeUP STEM Faculty Mentors, their graduate student teams, and their undergraduate Helen Fellows. At the same time, the undergraduate Fellows enhance their research skills through their work in the BridgeUP STEM Faculty members’ labs. To add to the richness of the program, the Scholars and the Fellows engage in mentee-mentor activities and community events throughout the program.

Why join BridgeUP STEM?

BridgeUP STEM provides paid experiences for groups historically underrepresented in computing to foster participants’ development and persistence in computing as the next wave of computer science researchers. BridgeUP STEM increases participants’ sense of belonging in computing and their confidence and knowledge to pursue and sustain innovative, socially impactful computing careers. By engaging with a community of peers, near-peers, and academic computing researchers, BridgeUP STEM Scholars and Helen Fellows are prepared and inspired to address the technological and societal demands of the future.

82% of current Scholars report that participation increased their awareness of career possibilities in computing.

96% of current Scholars report that participation increased their coding knowledge/skills.

88% of current Scholars report that participation increased their confidence in writing code.

83% of current Scholars report that participation increased their confidence in conducting research.

Interested in Joining BridgeUP STEM?

If you would like to know more about BridgeUP STEM, please contact us using the Interest Form. Please also see our About page for information about our motivation and mission.

Funding for the BridgeUP STEM program is provided by a generous grant from the Helen Gurley Brown Foundation to the National Center for Women & Information Technology.