Girls to Learn Engineering Skills at WSU
OGDEN, Utah – Girls in seventh to 12th grade will learn to think like successful female engineers during Weber State University’s Parent-Daughter Engineering Day, Nov. 18-19.
This annual event offers girls and their parents the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities related to mechanical and civil engineering. Participants can register to attend one session, either Nov. 18 from 5-9 p.m. at Weber State University Davis or Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Ballroom.
“We love offering girls and their parents an opportunity to do some fun and engaging engineering-related problem solving together,” said Dana Dellinger, Center for Technology Outreach director. “It is often eye-opening and exciting for parents to see how their daughter thinks through problems. Our hope is that through Parent-Daughter Engineering Day, girls will thoughtfully consider the interesting degrees and well-paying careers in technology and engineering that are completely within their reach.”
Celeste Baine, an award-winning biomedical engineer and educator, will lead girls and parents through projects such as building a drawbridge or a catapult to launch objects. Baine, who calls herself an engineering career evangelist, is the founder and director of the Engineering Education Service Center, a resource center for K-12 educators teaching engineering. She will also lead a session for parents that focuses on how to encourage their daughters to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
WSU’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is partnering with the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology to volunteer and help girls during the event. They will also lead a panel discussing why club members chose to pursue degrees in STEM.
Elaine Cope, president of SWE, has volunteered at Parent-Daughter Engineering Day for the past two years.
“The Society of Women Engineers’ club members really help to inspire these young girls and show them that you don't have to be a tomboy to be an engineer,” Cope said. “I think it is very hard to find role models for young girls that aren't models or TV stars, so we need to get some scientists and engineers to inspire them.”
Registration costs $20 per parent-daughter team. Each additional parent or child is $10. The registration fee includes a shirt for the daughter, a meal and all materials. Participants can register online at weber.edu/engineeringday.
This event is hosted by the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology in conjunction with SWE and is made possible in part by a Carl D. Perkins federal grant.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Rachel Badali, Office of Marketing & Communications
801-626-7295 • rachelbadali@weber.edu- Contact:
Dana Dellinger, Center for Technology Outreach director
801-626-7552 • danadellinger@weber.edu