The Huffington Post

Among wealthy nations, the United States ranked 23rd in science and 31st in math in standardized tests. Our high-school seniors competed poorly in advanced math and physics. We rank 27th in college graduates with degrees in science and math.

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Moreover, women represent 50 percent of the American population and capacity for innovation, but represent only 24 percent of the STEM workforce, according to the Association for Women in Science.

Here at The Huffington Post, we believe a more diverse group of scientists in STEM is necessary for our nation to stay competitive, and push the boundaries of innovation. That’s why we want to extend a digital helping hand to the future female leaders of STEM.

Join us in our new STEM mentorship initiative, in which we connect high-school- and college-age girls with an interest in science and engineering to female leaders in these fields.

Want to know what gets an analytical chemist fired up about her work? Want to learn how the developers of sites like Facebook and Twitter got where they are now? Maybe you’ve been taking apart cars since you were 10, and you aspire to become an automotive engineer. Or perhaps you wonder what it’s like to work with monkeys and rats as a technician in a neuroscience lab. Whatever curiosities strike you, our STEM mentors (in any and all fields) are here to help you explore your interests.

Rebecca Searles: Details: Join Our STEM Mentorship Program