Fostering Scientific Engagement: Analysing the Impact of Early Research Experience Program on Students’ Science Capital

Scientific literacy and engagement in STEM fields remain significant challenges, particularly for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The research project Arduínas: Girls and Women in Science seeks to address this gap by providing hands-on opportunities for female post-primary students to develop STEM research projects using an open-source electronics platform and corresponding device, the Arduino microcontroller. This study examines how participation in such initiatives can foster the