Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona and the Society of Women Engineers Team up to Showcase Engineering Paths for Girls

_{Imagine Engineering}
Date: Saturday, March 17, 2012

Time: 8:00am – 4:00pm

Location: UA Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Building

Generation STEM, the latest study from the Girl Scout Research Institute indicates that girl interest in STEM is high. In fact, 82% of girls see themselves as “smart enough to have a career in STEM.” However, while many aspire to STEM careers, only 13% of girls interested in STEM choose science, math, or technology as their first career choice. Why? 57% say that if they were to go into a STEM career, they would have to “work harder than a man to be taken seriously.”

The Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona and the Society of Women Engineers are committed to dispelling this mindset and providing girls with more exposure to these fields through Imagine Engineering. This full day conference will bring together over 150 girls, grades 4^th-8^th,to explore robotics, solar power, optical science, forensics, chemistry, and civil and electrical engineering through fun, hands-on, and engaging activities. University of Arizona students and professors as well as STEM professionals in the community will also be on hand to lend their support and share career experiences.

Michelle Higgins, STEM Director for Girl Scouts, is thrilled to see girls’ interest booming, “This is the first time we have had to turn people away from a STEM program as we are at max capacity. However, it’s not just about increasing the number of girls in STEM, it’s about giving girls access to the tools needed to succeed in all subject areas. Opportunities like these truly allow girls to explore different fields and allow them to envision themselves in similar careers now and in the future.” Higgins is also enthused by the new partnership with AAUW whose members will be volunteering at the program. AAUW Chapter President, Carol Dow, shares in this excitement, “Here is a great chance to support a local STEM Initiative. Let’s show our young women that Tucson cares!”

Girl Scouts has a long history of engaging girls to pursue STEM interests both in and outside the classroom. For more information on Imagine Engineering and Girl Scouts STEM programming contact Michelle Higgins, STEM Director, 520.319.3155.

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About Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts is the world’s preeminent leadership development organization dedicated to helping build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. GSSoAz serves over 14,000 girls in Southern Arizona and includes over 1,500 adult volunteers. Our goals are to provide a wide range of contemporary programs that reflect the unique needs and interests of all girls living in Southern Arizona, to empower girls to reach their full potential, and to give girls a voice in their community and in their own lives. For more information on Girl Scouting in Southern Arizona, please contact Maria DeCabooter, Advocacy Specialist, 520.319.3175, mdecabooter@girlscoutssoaz.org

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 15th, 2012 at 11:45 am and is filed under Press Releases. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.