Expanding the realm of possibilities: The role of informal STEM programs in promoting STEM Major and STEM Career Awareness

A significant challenge encountered by educators is to identify strategies that motivate youth to consider a STEM career pathway. For many young people, the first barrier to entry is lack of awareness of STEM majors and careers. Promisingly, informal STEM programs are thought to be important vehicles for addressing issues of underrepresentation and for bolstering youths’ knowledge and understanding of STEM career pathways. The goal of this study was to conduct a meta-synthesis of research on informal STEM programs. We used a mixed methods approach, incorporating meta-analyses and qualitative syntheses, to evaluate how and to what extent informal STEM learning experiences impact participants’ knowledge and understanding of STEM career pathways. We found a significant positive association between participation in informal STEM programs and increased STEM career awareness. Our meta-syntheses revealed that informal STEM programs that target high school students, girls, or members of historically underrepresented groups, and that focus on career exploration and experiential learning were most effective at fostering STEM career awareness. Our results suggest that informal STEM institutions play an underappreciated role in ensuring that youth are introduced to potential future careers. Our findings can be used by practitioners to inform program design and confront issues of underrepresentation.