Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers are prevalent in the North Texas area, but STEM-skilled employees are lacking. In fact, women and minorities are still poorly represented in STEM careers throughout the U.S. For example, women in the U.S. currently represent only 24% of the STEM workforce.

The Azura-Dolphin Communication Project Team strives to enhance science literacy and promote student achievement and interest in STEM across regional, gender, and social boundaries. Our Dolphin Research Program addresses these challenges by using marine science to engage middle and high school students in STEM and introduce them to STEM careers which they are not regularly exposed to in inland communities like DFW.

The program includes marine science lessons and activities in a classroom setting in the DFW area and hands-on dolphin research with professional marine biologists in The Bahamas. These program components are designed to promote confidence, critical thinking, science competency, and the pursuit of STEM careers for students, particularly those from underrepresented groups and socioeconomically disadvantaged families.

The primary outcome the Team hopes for is that this program will ignite an excitement for environmental science to motivate girls and minorities to pursue post-secondary education in STEM fields and eventually fill STEM workforce gaps. Please consider donating to this education program…