Did you know that while women make up over 50% of the U.S. workforce, they represent only 20% of professionals in critical STEM fields like artificial intelligence, microelectronics, aerospace engineering, and computer science?
We’re changing that.
At Parallax Advanced Research, we believe the future of STEM needs more voices—and more girls. Our flagship initiative is designed to ignite confidence, curiosity, and career exploration in girls from kindergarten through high school, with future plans to expand into college and trade school programming. By creating intentional, developmentally appropriate pathways into STEM, we're equipping the next generation of innovators and leaders with the tools, mentorship, and experiences they need to thrive.
Because Girls Can’t Be What They Can’t See
Visibility, mentorship, and inspiration are the heart of our work. Through strategic partnerships with nonprofits, schools, and forward-thinking tech companies, we’re introducing girls—especially those from underrepresented communities—to the exciting world of emerging technologies.
With Parallax’s deep expertise in advanced research and community-based programming, girls engage directly with cutting-edge fields like microelectronics, AI, hypersonics, and cybersecurity—not in theory, but through hands-on activities, mentorship, and real-world exploration.
Our programs are built to scale and adapt:
- Summer intensives
- Weekend bootcamps
- Program-in-a-Box kits
These flexible models bring high-impact STEM experiences to schools and communities nationwide.
Girls of Tomorrow: Sparking Wonder in K–2nd Grade
Our journey begins with the youngest learners. Girls of Tomorrow is our foundational program for grades K–2, designed to cultivate confidence, STEM literacy, and career imagination.
The curriculum features:
- Storytime with inspiring books about women in STEM
- Guest readers who are real-life women scientists and engineers
- Interactive STEM activities that bring science to life
Our first Girls of Tomorrow event launch will take place during #OhioTechDay—a statewide celebration of technology—on Friday, September 26, 2025, at Douglas MacArthur Girls Leadership Academy in Cleveland.
This all-day event will bring together hundreds of girls in grades K–8 for:
- Interactive STEM activities
- Middle school career stations where girls can code, prototype, and build with tech leaders
- A Leadership Lunch featuring tech volunteers hosting table conversations, career BINGO, and “My Tech Future” pledges to inspire action
Expanding the Pipeline: Middle School & High School
Next up, we’re rolling out two bold initiatives:
NEXTGEN STEM Girls (Middle School)
A program rooted in applied learning and real-world exposure, focused on AI, cybersecurity, and aerospace. While still in early development, NEXTGEN will offer:
- Hands-On STEM training opportunities in key STEM fields
- Career Exploration and Applied Learning
- Confidence- and skill-building for workforce readiness
STEM Vanguard (High School)
Open to both young women and men, STEM Vanguard prepares students through:
- Immersive STEM camps
- Industry internships
- Career coaching, networking, and exposure to top tech employers
Across both programs, we prioritize young women’s visibility in STEM through sustained mentorship and storytelling that makes their dreams tangible.
Where We're Headed
We’re proud to debut Girls of Tomorrow this fall at the brand-new Dayton Regional STEM School Elementary, thanks to generous support from the Kenney Foundation. Together with dynamic Parallax scientists and engineers, we’re bringing STEM literacy to life in vibrant, age-appropriate ways.
And we’re just getting started.
Whether it's sparking wonder in a five-year-old or helping a high school senior land their first tech internship, our goal is clear: close the gender gap in STEM by showing girls what's possible—and helping them get there.
We’re building a future-ready STEM workforce.
One girl at a time.
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Parallax Advanced Research is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit research institute that tackles global challenges through strategic partnerships with government, industry, and academia. It accelerates innovation, addresses critical global issues, and develops groundbreaking ideas with its partners. With offices in Ohio and Virginia, Parallax aims to deliver new solutions and speed them to market. In 2023, Parallax and the Ohio Aerospace Institute formed a collaborative affiliation to drive innovation and technological advancements in Ohio and for the nation. The Ohio Aerospace Institute plays a pivotal role in advancing the aerospace industry in Ohio and the nation by fostering collaborations between universities, aerospace industries, and government organizations, and managing aerospace research, education, and workforce development projects. More information on both organizations can be found at Parallax and OAI websites.