Buffalo State brings 50+ BPS Girls Who Game students to campus for STEM exploration

Nearly 60 Buffalo Public School students visited Buffalo State on June 10 to explore Buffalo State facilities and participate in hands-on science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (STEM) activities. All students were members of Girls Who Game (GWG), a global initiative that encourages girls to become interested in STEM through teaching them about coding and computational thinking. 

GWG engages girls in grades four to eight through learner-driven experiences and mentorship opportunities; helps them build relationships; and encourages them to continue to develop their technology, coding, and leadership skills. This year marks the fifth anniversary of Buffalo Public Schools’ involvement in the program.

“The program engages students in developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, using Minecraft as a collaborative design platform,” said Rebeca Fast, BPS’ Technology Department’s STEAM coordinator. “We believe this protected space for young girls has provided a platform for them to grow in leadership, design thinking, collaboration, research, and technology skills. We have seen this program inspire and foster confidence, creativity, and critical skills in the next generation of female leaders in STEM.”

Programs like GWG are critical because women have been long underrepresented in STEM occupations. In 2024, women made up only 28.2% of the STEM global workforce, according to the World Economic Forum.

“Girls in middle school often lose interest in science and technology,” said Kelly Frothingham, dean of Buffalo State’s School of Arts and Sciences. “It’s critical to show girls this age that they belong in these important fields with so many exciting career paths.”

Frothingham was introduced to GWG last year when participating students interviewed her as part of a series highlighting women in STEM. (Mary Perrelli, a GIS lab manager in Buffalo State’s Geosciences Department, was also interviewed.) Frothingham recognized an opportunity to connect GWG students with Buffalo State. Inspired by GWG’s 2025 challenge, which focuses on how technology helps ecosystems thrive, she contacted colleagues in the Biology and Geosciences Departments to begin planning a recruitment event.

“Collaborating with Girls Who Game is exciting because we can bring the girls to campus to promote our science and technology programs and facilities,” Frothingham said. “I’m thrilled that we could showcase our faculty and SAMC facilities.”

The GWG students spent the day exploring the Science and Mathematics Complex, enjoying lunch, receiving awards, and participating in three different hands-on activities run by Buffalo State faculty, including a planetarium show on light pollution, a microscope exercise in a biology lab, and an activity on water quality. The Buffalo State admissions office provided each student with a swag bag.

“I liked the microscope activity,” said one GWG student. “I enjoyed guessing what it was; it was challenging!”

“There are so many activities in STEM,” added another student. “There are so many options at the college level.”

“Opportunities like this for the girls to come to Buffalo State University and do hands on STEM activities helps build their confidence,” said Amy Burdette, coordinator of student technology programs in the BPS Technology Department, “and shows them they belong in these fields.”

Photos by Jesse Steffan-Colucci, Buffalo State photographer.