Inspiring students to envision themselves as future engineers and scientists, Girls in Engineering brings middle school girls with an interest in mathematics together for a unique, two-week introduction to engineering at the UCSC Jack Baskin School of Engineering during the summer. To respond to the need for more engineers, particularly among underrepresented groups, the goal of the program is to expand the STEM pipeline. Girls in Engineering engages students in hands-on projects and problem-solving activities to inspire them, increase their knowledge about college and careers, and increase their overall self-efficacy about STEM fields. The UCSC Educational Partnership Center is partnering with Santa Cruz County Office of Education and UCSC Jack Baskin School of Engineering to support the program and help young women envision a future engineering career and learn about the steps they need to take along the college pathway to reach their goals. Students learn about a variety of engineering topics, including: robotics, computer science, electrical engineering, civil engineering, applied mechanics, environmental engineering, and biomedical engineering. The program includes a full calendar of activities:

• Participation in hands-on STEM projects, such as building and programming robots;
• Exposure to STEM college and career pathways through guest speakers, industry panels, and special lectures from faculty;
• Research lab tours and visits to engineering and manufacturing firms and museums;
• Early college experiences through UCSC campus tours and college prep presentations; and
• Other academic enrichment opportunities.

Middle school girls in 7th and 8th grades from across Santa Cruz and north Monterey Counties with strong mathematics skills are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to students currently enrolled in Algebra I. About 30 students will be accepted into the program at no cost; round-trip transportation to the UCSC campus and lunch will be provided. Girls in Engineering is part of the Educational Partnership Center’s ongoing, comprehensive student academic preparation efforts to improve student learning and increase college-going rates.

UCSC Program Director: Amy Stucky, Ph.D., Girls in Engineering Director
Program Dates: June 25 – July 11, 2008

Program home page: http://epc.ucsc.edu/site/Girls_in_Engineering/95