Super Sisters
STEM Superheroes: An Immersive Learning App
A free pocket sized learning tool geared towards BIPOC middle school girls but available for all using representative superheroes, fusing augmented reality with applied technical education with culturally responsive and holistic gamified modules. This initiative is youth-led!
A 2023 MIT Solve Gender Equity in STEM Challenge Winner with $100k+ in funding from Tiger Global Impact Ventures.
Immersive educational environments at your fingertips.
Exciting STEM modules that you can place in your real world environment. It's your very own mind palace, a place where you can visualize new concepts in a way that you remember through engaging and relatable modules led by real-women superheroes. Use your phone and dive into learning.
Our Results
88%
Of users self-identify as girls.
350k+
Users during a month of Beta testing.
75%
Of users are ages 20 and younger.
$145k+
In funding received to build out this initiative.
This project is a MIT Solve Gender Equity in STEM challenge winner and received $100k in funding. Super Sisters won funding from the Westly Stanford Pitch Competition. We've also received funding from Zoom Cares, MTV, and Pinterest for mental health initiatives. Upon polling our users, 94% said that our app boosted their comfort in pursuing STEM and 87% would make it their go-to for STEM learning.
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Accompanying our award-winning curriculum serving 1M+ youths here at The STEAM Connection. Super Sisters is hosted on our Make-A-Robot virtual learning platform for educators to use in the classroom.
We make this work through augmented reality.
AR is like magic because it simplifies hard concepts that many youth struggle with. AR works by putting digital things onto the real world around you. Thanks to computer vision, you can see things that you wouldn't normally, and can master tough concepts.
The global AR educational market is expected to rise from $3.5 billion dollars to over $56 billion dollars in the next ten years.
Our App
Super Sisters: STEM Learning Reimagined
"My parents and teachers told me STEM was my path to success—but I wondered, ‘Now what?’ I didn’t see role models who looked like me. Textbooks felt disconnected from my experience, and I knew I wasn’t alone. So, I created Super Sisters, an app that makes advanced STEM learning come to life through gamified augmented reality (AR) lessons—designed for BIPOC middle school girls.
With Super Sisters, I can hold up my phone and dive into interactive STEM lessons—exploring everything from Native plants to robotics to the solar system. As I learn, I earn virtual superpowers—like a video game, but with characters that represent me. Now, Super Sisters is used in schools worldwide, including in my Girls in STEM club at school!"
— Alexandra, 15 | The STEAM Connection Youth Ambassador
A Pocket-Sized STEM Learning Tool
Super Sisters is a free, immersive learning platform that integrates augmented reality with applied technical education. Designed to be culturally responsive, the app empowers BIPOC girls by blending STEM, language, culture, and mental wellness into a seamless, engaging experience. Simply hold up your phone to explore interactive lessons that bring STEM concepts to life in the real world.
What’s Inside the App?
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Hands-on STEM Lessons: Build virtual robots, explore Indigenous plants, traditional architecture, the solar system, and more.
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Indigenous Language Learning: Learn how to introduce yourself in Indigenous languages.
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Real Role Models: Discover inspiring stories of women in STEM who reflect diverse backgrounds.
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Gamified Learning: Earn rewards and superpowers as you progress.
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Holistic Well-Being: Access mental health exercises rooted in culturally responsive healing practices, from breathing techniques to mindfulness activities.
Built for Impact
Super Sisters is part of The Make-A-Robot Virtual Learning Platform, a hub of culturally responsive STEM resources designed for Indigenous educators and youth, with over 34,000 users. These tools complement our award-winning robotics education programs, which focus on Indigenous language revitalization and BIPOC-centered STEM learning.
By uplifting underrepresented communities, Super Sisters is more than an app—it’s a movement to empower the next generation of diverse STEM leaders.
About Alexandra's Mission
"When I look at STEM—especially computer science—I don’t see many people like me. My name is Alexandra. I’m 14 years old, first-generation Salvadoran, and a girl in STEM. STEM learning resources are rarely created by people from my community, making them hard to relate to. But technical education is vital for BIPOC communities—it fosters self-determination, opens doors to tech careers, and empowers us to find our voice. Yet, systemic barriers continue to limit our access to these opportunities. That’s why I created Super Sisters—a platform designed to make STEM learning more inclusive, accessible, and representative for girls like me."
Our Why
64%
Of girls don't know a woman in a STEM profession. [a]
72%
Of the STEM workforce is male. [b]
33%
Of workers in STEM careers are non-white. [c]
74%
Of middle school girls express an interest in STEM. [d]
Statistic explanations and sources:
Our Who
Our initiative primarily serves BIPOC middle school girls, a group underrepresented in STEM, and is led by a first-generation Salvadoran teen girl. Designed by youth, for youth, our initiative is entirely women-led and youth-driven, ensuring it truly reflects the needs of our community. We are a team of Indigenous inventors, developers, and young innovators working to create culturally responsive solutions for our communities. Our app provides representation and mentorship through illustrated BIPOC women scientists and engineers, who serve as relatable role models and guides. By offering engaging, relevant educational content and authentic representation, we help bridge the representation gap in STEM. Our goal is to inspire confidence, spark interest in STEM, and equip BIPOC girls with the skills and knowledge they need for future success. Ultimately, we aim to empower and uplift the next generation, opening doors to opportunities and fostering greater diversity and inclusivity in technology.
Try Our Demo
A special demo where you can try a Super Sisters robotics module without downloading anything! This is so you can get a feel of our Super Sisters interface and have an idea of what AR and education looks like.
Our Developers
This student-led initiative is proudly hosted and developed by The STEAM Connection, driven by a dedicated team of youth engineers. Every aspect of the platform is built in-house by talented developers with experience at leading institutions such as Amazon and Snapchat. Together, they are shaping the future of innovation and accessibility in STEAM.
Our Technology
Revolutionizing STEM Education with Augmented Reality
We are pioneering the use of augmented reality (AR) and machine learning to transform STEM education. AR remains an underutilized tool in learning, and our app brings STEM concepts to life through interactive, real-world simulations that deepen understanding and engagement.
Why Another App?
With 71% of kids owning a phone by age 12, students are learning through digital experiences more than ever. In a survey of Indigenous middle and high school students, 82% mentioned “phone” or “social media” as key learning tools. Our free app bridges this gap, offering accurate representation, engaging STEM activities, and mental health resources for BIPOC youth—both in the classroom and at home. By integrating relatable role models and personalized learning, we aim to inspire the next generation of diverse STEM leaders.
The Technology Behind Our App
Our app combines augmented reality and machine learning (computer vision) to create immersive learning experiences.
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Augmented Reality (AR): Students can place, interact with, and manipulate virtual STEM models in their real-world environment—like driving and disassembling a virtual robot on their desk. This hands-on approach makes complex concepts easier to grasp.
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Machine Learning & Computer Vision: Our app detects real-world objects, allowing digital elements to interact naturally. For example, if a student drives a virtual robot off their desk, the app calculates the physics of the fall, helping them visualize forces like acceleration and velocity in real-time.
Empowering the Future of STEM
By merging AR and AI-driven learning, we make STEM interactive, accessible, and engaging. Our mission is to foster inclusivity and representation in STEM education—ensuring every student has the tools to explore, create, and innovate.
sources
An overview of the STEM disconnect for young BIPOC girls:
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[a] According to "Closing the STEM Gap" by Microsoft, girls are more likely to show interest in STEM subjects and pursue STEM careers when they have access to educational materials that feature relatable role models and highlight the relevance of STEM to their own lives. However, 64% of girls don't know a woman in STEM profession.
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[b] The STEM workforce is 72% male (Society of Women Engineers).
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[c] Only 33% of workers in STEM careers are non-white (Pew Research Center).
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[d] 74% of middle school girls express an interest in engineering, science, and math, but only 0.4% choose computer science as a major when they get to college. Reported by Girls Who Code.
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STEM Divide: “STEM is not available to all learners” – The White House.
Given these challenges, technical education becomes a vital tool for empowering our communities. By providing access to culturally responsive technology, training, and resources, it helps bridge the digital divide and equips individuals with the skills needed to thrive now. Technical education also opens doors to career opportunities in the tech sector, where our voices and perspectives are often underrepresented. The lack of diverse perspectives hampers the progress of scientific research, limits innovation, and undermines efforts to address the unique challenges faced by our communities. It is essential to create inclusive and supportive environments in STEM education and workplaces, recognizing and valuing the contributions of our people. Moreover, technical education fosters self-determination by allowing our communities to assert control over our own technological development. It enables us to address specific needs and challenges we face, promoting community resilience and self-sufficiency.