Carnegie Mellon University
July 15, 2013

Media Advisory: Carnegie Mellon’s Institute for Complex Engineered Systems Hosts Summer Engineering Experience for Girls

Contact: Chriss Swaney / 412-268-5776 / swaney@andrew.cmu.edu
     
Engineering for GirlsEvent: Women make up 48 percent of the workforce, but hold just 24 percent of the jobs in engineering, science and technology.

To help change those statistics, Carnegie Mellon University’s Institute for Complex Engineered Systems (ICES) is hosting the Summer Engineering Experience for Girls (SEE), a free, two-week program designed to encourage more women to consider engineering as a career goal. Female high school students from area Pittsburgh schools will participate in a variety of multidisciplinary engineering activities aimed at fostering interest in engineering.

“The program is offered for free in order to provide opportunities for girls who love science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds,” said Alicia Angemeer, external relations and outreach coordinator at ICES. “There is also a mentoring component provided as CMU women engineering faculty and students offer themselves as models and encourage girls to continue pursuing STEM throughout their education and their careers.” 

Gabriela Hug, an assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering, will participate in an activity titled “Energy Management,” which introduces the girls to the opportunities and challenges of wind generation. They will conduct a lab exercise in which participants build wind turbines out of small DC motors and learn about the impact of the blade angle on the power generated by the wind generators. The interactive lab session also will feature experiments demonstrating the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources.

“I myself was inspired to study electrical engineering after participating in such an exploration program,” Hug said. “I hope this program inspires some of the girls to seek careers in engineering.”

Less than 18 percent of the total number of bachelor’s degrees are awarded in engineering and computer science, and less than 22 percent for related doctoral degrees, according to national education statistics.

The SEE program is funded by EQT, Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technical Alliance (PITA) and ICES. For additional program information, go to http://www.ices.cmu.edu/see or contact Alicia Angemeer at adbrown@andrew.cmu.edu. 

When: 2 p.m., Thursday, July 18.

Where: Tung-Au Lab, Baker-Porter Hall off Frew Street, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213.

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