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PNWGCP E-Newsletter
February 2012


PNWGCP Updates
FabFems Logo

FabFems Role Model Directory
The FabFems Project is a new initiative from the National Girls Collaborative Project, Platform Shoes Forum and the Smith College Summer Science and Engineering Program, designed to dispel stereotypes and expand career options by connecting middle and high school girls with female STEM professionals.

The beta release of the FabFems Role Model Directory is now live and will grow into a national collection of user-submitted profiles, each showcasing a positive female role model interested in encouraging girls' interests in STEM. The database will be searchable by location, career fields, and other keyword interests that will help match role models with a variety of youth programs and events. Help increase access to influential role models across the country by encouraging FabFems you know to register.
http://www.fabfems.org

Project Splash Attendees Project Splash Educator Training
The Pacific Northwest Girls Collaborative Project (PNWGCP) offered their first Project Splash educator training to organizations from Washington and Oregon on January 23-27, 2012. In this five-day workshop, educators were introduced to new curriculum in underwater LEGO robotics called WaterBotics, developed by the Stevens Institute for Technology's Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE). Educators were presented with research on exemplary practices in gender equity and engineering messaging, and discussed strategies and tools for implementing a summer camp for high school girls. The PNWGCP is offering this annual training as part of a National Science Foundation funded grant to scale-up WaterBotics curriculum nationwide.


Events and Opportunities

2012 GLOBE at Night
February 12-21, 2012

GLOBE at Night is an international citizen-science event created to raise awareness of the impact of light pollution by inviting citizen-scientists to measure their night sky brightness and report their observations online to a world map from a computer or smart phone. The GLOBE at Night website features teacher and parent information pages that include free downloadable activity packets in multiple languages.
http://www.globeatnight.org

NGCP/CSCP Joint Webinar Engaging Underserved Youth: Strategies for Family Involvement
February 22, 2012
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific

Research findings consistently illustrate a strong relationship between family involvement and positive youth outcomes. Family involvement has been shown to be especially important in engaging Latino/a youth in educational opportunities. This webinar will highlight current research and practical examples of family engagement from Washington MESA's Acceso a la Ciencia (Access to Science) project, working with Latino communities in rural eastern Washington. This webinar is a collaboration between the Computer Science Collaboration Project and the National Girls Collaborative Project.
Register: http://www.ngcproject.org/events/events.cfm?eventid=227

Seattle Expanding Your Horizons
Seattle, WA
March 10, 2012

Seattle Expanding Your Horizons (SEYH) is a hands-on conference that encourages girls in 6th-8th grades to explore math, science, and technology. Women biologists, botanists, engineers, veterinarians, and local professional women volunteer their time to host workshops that introduce girls to careers involving math, science and computer technology. $15 per student covers the registration fee, lunch and all materials. Scholarships are available through Seattle University.
Details: http://www.seattleu.edu/scieng/seyh

Intel Northwest Science Expo (NWSE)
Portland, OR
March 23, 2012

The Intel Northwest Science Expo (NWSE) is the state-level science research competition for Oregon and Clark County, Washington. Students in 5th through 12th grade compete in categories encompassing all the scientific disciplines. The mission of NWSES is to develop scientific talent and promote science literacy in Oregon students by providing a structure and a venue for presenting high quality student research.
Details: http://nwse.org

Imagine Tomorrow
Pullman, WA
May 18-20, 2012

Imagine Tomorrow challenges 9th through 12th grade students to seek new ways to support the transition to alternate energy sources. Students form a team and choose among four challenges (biofuels, design, technology, behavior) and address the challenge by developing creative, well-researched solutions. The challenges are aimed to invite collaboration and translate ideas into results. Winners will be awarded cash for each student team members and their schools. Registration opens March 1, 2012 and closes April 2, 2012.
Details: http://imagine.wsu.edu

2012 Seattle Science Festival
Seattle, WA
June 2, 2012

While Seattle is preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1962 World's Fair, area businesses, educational and cultural institutions are joining together to host the inaugural Seattle Science Festival. The festival will feature a Girl Zone, hands-on experiments, exhibits, demonstrations, interactive activities, games, and live theatrical and musical performances. Students, K-12, are encouraged to enter the "Design a Martian Habitat Contest". Entries may be created by hand or by using design software programs. The design must account for how the astronauts will survive on the planet's surface and what science they will do while they are there. Contest entry deadline is April 6, 2012.
Details: http://www.seattlesciencefestival.org


Resources

Google Science Fair
The Google Science Fair is an international competition which challenges students aged 13-18 to carry out scientific investigations relating to real-world problems or issues that interests them. Students are encouraged to post their science projects online to compete with peers in their age group from all over the world to win scholarships and internships. The website includes a free downloadable educator toolkit that includes a competition overview presentation and detailed lessons plans.
http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair

After-School Science PLUS
After-School Science PLUS is an inquiry-based science program for kids ages 6-14. The program includes eleven core activities, with simple materials that are free or readily available. For example, kids might work in teams to build large structures out of recyclable materials.
http://www.tascorp.org/section/what_we_do/program_support/academic/science/science_plus

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://ngcproject.org/directory


National Science Foundation

The Pacific Northwest Girls Collaborative Project (PNWGCP) brings together organizations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Hawaii that are committed to informing and motivating girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

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