An Indiana author says she is “very alarmed” about the lack of interest among Indiana girls in science, technology, engineering and math. Erin Albert cites a report from Saint Mary’s College that finds the state’s boys outperformed girls in STEM-related AP exams last year. She has written a children’s book to try to address the issue. In a Studio(i) interview, Albert talks about her fundraising efforts to get the book in Indiana’s public libraries.

She says girls often fall behind at a young age, since boys’ toys tend to be more engineering-related. Albert believes the biggest growth in STEM careers will be in engineering and computer science. She says girls’ interest in those two areas are declining, while interest in life science is “flat-lining.”

Albert has begun a Kickstarter campaign in hopes of funding efforts to print and distribute the books to 550 public libraries in Indiana. She hopes to raise $6,300 by Nov. 1. You can find the campaign’s page by clicking here.

You can see the Saint Mary’s College report on the status of girls in Indiana by clicking here.

Source: Saint Mary’s College, Inside INdiana Business