Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick yesterday announced partnerships with nonprofit organizations FHI 360 in Durham, North Carolina, and Junior Achievement Worldwide in Boston to help support and create supplementary programs for the organization’s WiSTEM2D, or Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing and Design, initiative.
The health science company created WiSTEM2D last year to support women of all ages in STEM-related fields by inspiring and educating girls between the ages of 5 and 18 via academic programs utilizing creative problem-solving and play.
FHI 360 and Junior Achievement Worldwide will continue to help Johnson & Johnson develop in-school and after-school curriculums that will pair students with mentors in science, health and technical fields in ongoing research and independent projects in the United States, Africa and Europe.
Johnson & Johnson’s goal is to reach 1 million girls by 2020 in order to increase the success rate of young women enrolling in and completing higher education and pursuing careers in STEM.
“The fact is that diversification of the STEM graduate pool and workforce is not proceeding at a pace we’re satisfied with,” Kathy Wengel, worldwide vice president, Johnson & Johnson supply chain, said in a statement.
In less than 10 years, the U.S. will need 1.7 million more engineers and computer scientists. Yet, despite the fact that STEM workers earn 26 percent more than their non-STEM counterparts, women in the workforce represent just 28 percent of science and engineering occupations.
For Fry’s full story, click here.