National Girls Collaborative Project
NGCP E-Newsletter
July 2011

in this issue
  • NGCP Updates
  • Collaborative News
  • Featured Mini-Grant
  • Upcoming STEM Events
  • Resources
  • Global Resources

  • NGCP Updates

    NGCP Webcast Making Programs More Inclusive and Accessible for Youth with Disabilities
    Wednesday, September 28, 2011
    10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific

    This webcast will provide an overview of various disabilities and strategies for enabling youth with disabilities to fully participate in your programs. Collaborations are key in making this happen easily and effectively. Exemplary programs and resources will be highlighted. This webcast is a collaboration between the National Girls Collaborative Project and the Computer Science Collaboration Project.
    Register: http://www.ngcproject.org/events/events.cfm?eventid=202

    TPT National Productions Wins Daytime Emmy For PBS Series "SciGirls"
    Twin Cities Public Television's production of SciGirls for PBS audiences nationwide was recognized June 17, 2011 with a National Emmy at the 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Creative Arts Awards. SciGirls won the category "New Approaches" for its unique merging of television and the web.

    SciGirls is produced in St. Paul by tpt National Productions with support from the National Science Foundation and ExxonMobil. Airing on PBS stations nationwide and on its website, SciGirls has the bold goal of changing how millions of girls think about STEM. Each episode follows a different group of enthusiastic, real SciGirls, who collaborate, communicate, engineer and discover. NGCP is proud to be a partner with the SciGirls team!


    Collaborative News

    Indiana Girls Collaborative Project Annual Conference
    Indianapolis, IN
    September 22, 2011
    9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Eastern

    The second annual conference hosted by the Indiana Girls Collaborative Project provides an opportunity for networking and showcasing local STEM programs. The purpose of this conference is to support efforts to increase the involvement of girls in STEM education and careers. The conference agenda includes sessions on 21st Century skills, project-based STEM learning, and information about grant writing and developing sponsorships.
    Register: http://www.ngcproject.org/events/register.cfm?eventid=205


    Featured Mini-Grant

    Introducing 8th Grade Girls to Biotechnology
    A collaboration between the Catholic University of America (CUA) and Community Bridges created a program of highly interactive, computer-based activities in science and provided an opportunity for minority 8th grade girls to see science as a possible career choice. The girls talked informally with minority women faculty and students from the biotechnology program at the CUA. These mentors conducted hands-on activities including how to work in a virtual laboratory. The girls were given live tadpoles to take home and observe during the year. The girls will have access to school and library computers, and will log and describe their Internet science activities.
    http://www.ngcproject.org/mini-grant/grants.cfm?grantid=678


    Upcoming STEM Events

    American Indian Responses to Environmental Challenges: Working for a Sustainable Future
    Wednesday, July 13, 2011
    12:00 PM - 12:50 PM Eastern
    This is a free online professional development opportunity produced by Smithsonian Education. In this session, you will learn how four Native communities are combining traditional knowledge with 21st-century scientific expertise to find solutions to environmental problems that challenge their cultural and economic sustainability.
    Register: http://www.smithsonianconference.org/shout

    Connecting People to Science: A National Conference on Science Education and Public Outreach
    Baltimore, MD
    July 30 - August 3, 2011

    The purpose of this conference is to improve the outlook for a science literate future. The theme encourages participants to think about how to work together and across disciplines to connect their audiences to science.
    Register: http://www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html


    Partnering for Excellence
    Partnering for Excellence: Innovations in Science + Technology + Engineering + Math (STEM) Education is looking for model solutions that deliver STEM content and skills to high-need students by using existing resources from the private and not-for-profit sectors in new ways. Selected models will receive cash and in-kind prizes. Deadline: August 3, 2011.
    Details: http://www.changemakers.com/stemeducation

    Design Squad Nation Offers Webinars
    Join Design Squad Nation for two free webinars that will explore hands-on engineering challenges, video profiles of engineers, online games, and other resources to inspire the next generation of engineers.

    August 10, 2011, 3:00 - 4:00 PM Eastern
    Today's Students, Tomorrow's Engineers

    August 25, 2011, 12:00 - 1:00 PM Eastern
    Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers with Design Squad Nation and Engineering, Go For It!

    Contact designsquad_feedback@wgbh.org with your choice of webinar date.

    Career and Technical Education Equity Council (CTEEC) Best Practices Conference
    Tulsa, OK
    September 15 - 16, 2011

    This conference will allow professionals from across the nation to showcase innovative programs and services that enhance the effectiveness and visibility of career and technical education.
    Register: http://www.cteec.org/register

    2011 STEMtech Conference
    Indianapolis, IN
    October 2 - 5, 2011

    Educators, industry leaders, and others will discuss increasing student access into and success in STEM majors and careers. Sessions will cover topics from recruiting and retaining students for STEM-related programs to using information technology to improve organizational and student learning.
    Register: https://www.league.org/2011stemtech/SReg

    Annual Conference for Women Engineers: WE11
    Chicago, Illinois
    October 13-15, 2011

    Organized by the Society of Women Engineers, the WE11 conference is for experienced professionals and collegians. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in professional development led by industry experts, as well as plenary panels covering the latest technology and business innovations.
    Register: http://we11.swe.org

    Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) Annual Conference
    Baltimore, MD
    October 15 - 18, 2011

    See how science centers around the globe are putting new ideas to practical use and demonstrating real results at the ASTC 2011 Conference: "Knowledge that Works-From Theory to Practice." Learn how others are using social media and discover strategies for running successful programs.
    Register: http://conference.astc.org/

    Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing
    Portland, OR
    November 9 - 12, 2011

    This conference is designed to bring the research and career interests of women in computing to the forefront. This year's theme "What If?" explores the idea that innovation in technology arises from questions.
    Register: http://gracehopper.org/2011/participate/registration/


    Resources
    RecruitHighSchoolComputing

    What are the Important Components of Targeted Recruiting? Change the Gender Composition of High School Computing Courses (Case Study 2)
    Attracting female and minority students through targeted recruiting means planning strategically: Set quantifiable goals; identify large, capable audiences; personalize the content of your message; deliver that message in media that are relevant to your audience; and pay attention to people who influence your audience's decision-making.
    www.ncwit.org/highschoolrecruit

    Engineering is Elementary�
    Engineering is Elementary� (EiE�) is a research-based, standards-driven, and classroom-tested curriculum that integrates engineering and technology concepts and skills with elementary science topics. EiE� lessons promote K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning.
    http://www.mos.org/eie

    Science at Home
    School is on a summer break, but science learning can continue with family involvement. The
    Scientific American website features fun science activities that use common household ingredients.

    4-H Science in Urban Communities Promising Practices Guide
    The National 4-H Council, with support from the Noyce Foundation, has released a new resource: 4-H Science in Urban Communities Promising Practices Guide. The guide contains promising practices, case studies, and suggested resources for expanding the quality and quantity of out-of-school science programming.
    http://urban4hscience.rutgers.edu

    Career Girls
    Career Girls is dedicated to providing young girls of all income levels and ethnic backgrounds with the academic tools and support to achieve their professional aspirations. The website provides "real world" context through interviews with positive female role models and a comprehensive collection of educational resources.
    http://www.careergirls.org

    Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network
    The Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) is a national community of researchers and informal science educators dedicated to fostering public awareness, engagement, and understanding of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. The website features educational programs and activities, media, exhibits, evaluation reports, tools, and guides for professional educators.
    http://www.nisenet.org

    SASS-E Girlz Engineering Career Counseling Program
    SASS-E Girlz is a comprehensive engineering outreach program available through the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). SASS-E Girlz strives to develop and leverage school and community partnerships through SWE outreach volunteers and middle school counselors with the aim of encouraging girls to pursue a career in engineering. The SASS-E Girlz curriculum includes a webinar to train educators to implement the lesson plans.

    iWASwondering.org
    iWASwondering.org is a project of the National Academy of Sciences to showcase the accomplishments of contemporary women in science, highlighting for girls in grades 6-8 the varied and intriguing careers of current prominent scientists. The fun, interactive site includes games, comic strips, videos, activities, and a timeline of women in science.

    2010 Expanding Your Horizons Network Annual Report
    The Expanding Your Horizons Network has been affecting change in STEM for more than 35 years with more than 800,000 girls attending a conference. Read the 2010 Expanding Your Horizons Annual Report and learn how the network motivates young women in science and mathematics.

    National Science Teachers Association Angela Award
    The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is accepting entries for the Angela Award. The Angela Award honors one female student in grades 5-8, who is involved in or has a strong connection to science. The awardee will be honored at the Teacher Awards Banquet at NSTA's National Conference.
    Deadline: November 30, 2011.
    Details: http://www.nsta.org/pdfs/awards/Angela.pdf

    NGCP Program Directory - Register your Program Today!
    The online Program Directory lists organizations and programs that focus on motivating girls to pursue STEM careers. The purpose of the directory is to help organizations and individuals network, share resources, and collaborate on STEM-related projects for girls. When you sign up for the Program Directory, you will enter your program description, resources available within your organization, program and/or organizational needs, and contact information. http://www.ngcproject.org/directory


    Global Resources

    UNESCO Launches Global Partnership for Girls' and Women's Education
    World political and corporate leaders have launched a major new global partnership for Girls' and Women's Education during a forum recently held at UNESCO headquarters. The forum aimed to galvanize support from the private and public sectors to make quality education available for girls and women around the world. The partnership will focus on secondary education and adult literacy programs for women and girls in Africa and Asia. http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education


    NGCP,  AWE,  AAUW  logos









    American Association of University Women (AAUW) members across the country are serving as Regional Liaisons for the National Girls Collaborative Project. These Regional Liaisons help the people involved in the NGCP to make connections - to one another, to resources on gender equity, and to AAUW.

    AWE is the Assessing Women and Men in Engineering Project, which provides exportable assessment instruments, literature resources, and methodologies for Women in Engineering and similar programs. AWE has developed resources for use by K-12 STEM programs as part of NGCP services.


    National Girls Collaborative Project

    The goal of the National Girls Collaborative Project is to maximize access to shared resources within projects and with public and private sector organizations and institutions interested in expanding girls' participation in STEM.

    Find out more....

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