Middle school girls introduced to science careers
Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006
At a time when the president of the United States is encouraging schools to increase their emphasis on science and math, a group of University of Arkansas faculty members and students visited Holt Middle School on Friday for "Introduce a Girl to Engineering."
The program is designed to offer some fun learning exercises for the students, sixth- and seventh-graders in the Holt gifted and talented program, and generate an interest in engineering.
Charlotte Earwood, project/program manager for the College of Education, said the event is designed to encourage girls to take an interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
UA math professor Janet Woodland said women are minorities in the fields of science, math and engineering.
Holt gifted and talented teacher Jeanne King said she hoped the students would be encouraged to pursue interests and careers in areas they might find rewarding, and not based on any stereotypes they might have about what a girl should do.
UA chemical engineering majors Meredith Bruick and Summer Scott started the event by speaking about some of the fields of study involved in engineering.
Bruick said if the girls like science and math, solving problems, discovering new things and making a difference, they might enjoy engineering.
For an engineering-related activity, the middle school students broke up into groups of three and attempted to build a tower out of marshmallows and toothpicks.
Woodland said she planned to demonstrate how to make a "Mobius Strip," which is a continuous and one-sided piece of paper.
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