On Saturday, May 13, from 12:30 to 5 p.m., The All Girls STEM Society (AGSS) is going to hold the “All Girls Math Tournament” at Logan Heights Library. AGSS is a non-profit organization that strives to ameliorate the under-representation of women in STEM fields by encouraging future generations of girls.

All Girls Math Tournament (AGMT) is AGSS’s biggest annual. It is a math competition where over 100 young girls get to challenge their problem-solving skills. There are three age divisions: grades 3-4, grades 5-6, and grades 7-8. The competitors solve math problems, figure out puzzles, and eat delicious snacks, through three different rounds: sprint, target, and team.

AGMT introduces participants to contest math in an encouraging environment and furthers their interest in STEM fields. It is a unique opportunity for girls to solve challenging math problems in a supportive setting, taking an introductory step into math contests, which are often the gateway to advanced math education. Furthermore, participants will be able to meet other girls their age with similar interests and extend their mathematical knowledge. They will learn communication and cooperation by collaborating with others.

“A lot of the young girls we see have never had the opportunity to participate in a low-stakes math competition,” said Emmie Kao, Director of Math Curriculum & Co-Director of Operations. “I asked many of the ones in the lower grades last year, and they all said that they had never done a math competition before. AGMT gives them exposure to how a math competition runs and what it feels like to compete while allowing them to have fun with their friends during the team round and games.”

Since the gender disparity in STEM fields is still severe and women only fill 27% of STEM careers, AGSS strives to boost confidence for girls through their all-girls environment.

Selene Wang, Director of Fundraising and Outreach, said “I think the most important part of AGMT is having fun. In addition to enjoying our mid-contest snacks and winning cute prizes, we hope that you will find joy in solving challenging math problems and logic puzzles while working with your peers. AGMT is a very low-pressure contest, so just come with what you know and try to solve as many problems as you can. Ultimately, the goal is not to get first place (though that’s certainly great), but to have a blast of an afternoon doing math!”

In addition to the tournament, AGSS’s upcoming events in May to July are:

Rube Goldberg Workshop, June 6 at Mission Valley Library

NASA Astro Camp, from June 30 through July 1.

More details and sign-up link are available on the website at https://www.allgirlsstemsociety.org/