New MAGiC logo
 Newsletter
Volume III, Issue 3July 2012
Join Our Mailing List
In This Issue
Women@NASA G.I.R.L.S.
2012 MAGiC Fall Forum
Virginia Museum of Natural History - a STEM Leader
Siemens We Can Change the World Finalists Team Duckweed
SK DAY AT GMU
E.S.S.R.E
Upcoming STEM Events Across the Region
Upcoming Conferences & Webinars Across the Region

 

Leadership Team

Meet the Leadership Team
 of the Mid-Atlantic Girls Collaborative

Elyse Courtney
Engineer
Clark Construction Group

Zalenda Cyrille
System Engineering Manager,
The SI Corporation
Director, IT'S TIME   

 

Amy N. Gensemer   

K-12 Science and Engineering Supervisor 
Montgomery County Public Schools 

 

Manager of Program Services
Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital

 

Megan Kelly
Program Specialist
Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital

 

Bria McElroy
Assistant Director, Women in Engineering
University of Maryland

  

Paige Smith
Director, Women in Engineering
University of Maryland
Director, MAGiC

 

Elizabeth Vandenburg
Freelance Consultant
AAUW STEM Advocacy Task Force

 

N. Syrek
Newsletter Editor
MAGiC

_________________________

NASA G.I.R.L.S:
NASA GIRLS

 a New Mentoring Program for Girls

 

This summer Women@NASA launches a pilot program called Gaining Initiative and Relevance in Learning Science ( G.I.R.L.S.)  available to 15-20 girls in grades five through eight. 

  

The participants will be mentored one-on-one by a woman working at NASA. The girls will participate in a five-week online NASA lesson plan that will cover activities in each of the STEM fields. "For example, during Science week, the student may design an interstellar trip and discuss why she chose certain design specifications.  During the engineering week, the student may design a robot hand or a mockup of the International Space Station from popsicle sticks, glue, and paper." During those five weeks, the girls will be able to contact their Women@NASA mentor via video chat to get help on the assignments and ask whatever questions they like about STEM and working at NASA.

 

Since this is the pilot year, they are keeping the program small and to assess the interest in the program. 

  

In the fall of 2012 NASA G.I.R.L.S. plans to team up with the Challenger Center and the Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital  to offer group mentoring. 

  

Visit NASA G.I.R.L.S here (it is still in development).

 
________________________
NASA & Sally Ride Science 
GRAAIL MoonKam

 

GRAIL MoonKAM (Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students) is GRAIL's signature education and public outreach program. It is led by Dr. Sally Ride, America's first woman in space, and her team at Sally Ride Science in collaboration with undergraduate students at the University of California, San Diego.

GRAIL MoonKAM engages middle schools in the GRAIL mission and lunar exploration. Students from around the world select target areas on the lunar surface and send requests to the GRAIL MoonKAM Mission Operations Center (MOC). Photos of the target areas are sent back by the GRAIL satellites and made available in the Images section of this website. Students use the images to study lunar features such as craters, highlands, and maria while also learning about future landing sites.
 Visit MoonKAM here.

 
________________________
Grace Hopper  2012 Conference

GraceHopper 

 October 3-6, 2012

Baltimore, MD

 

"Are We There Yet?"

 

This year's theme recognizes that technology and culture of technology are continuously evolving but there are also concrete goals we are striving to achieve. 

 

Registration is now open, and for more information visit the Grace Hopper website.    

_____________________________

  

MD Women'd Heritage Logo 

 

Exploration and Discoveries: Maryland Women in STEM exhibits recently opened at the Maryland Women's Heritage Center. One of the two major exhibits, supported by a MAGiC grant features several panels of photos and profiles reflecting contributions of historical and contemporary Maryland women in a wide range of fields.  These include agricultural sciences, earth sciences, biological sciences, health and medicine, engineering, aviation, mathematics, computer technology, space exploration, STEM education and advocacy, and STEM student programs. Samples of student projects are on display, and several STEM-related programs will be held at the Center during the year. 

 

The other major exhibit is Women of Goddard, highlighting the contributions of the women at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The exhibit includes six dynamic posters, a touchscreen computer display and a book depicting the work of more than 100 women of Goddard.  Sets of the posters are being provided free to all Maryland middle and high schools by Goddard.

 

The Center, located at 39 W Lexington St., Baltimore, is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm. For more information, visit the Center's website or contact Linda Shevitz. 

__________________________

National Women's History Project

 

2013 STEM theme 

Women's History Month 

March 2013 

 Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in STEM

 

The National Women's History Project is soliciting nominations for their 2013 Honorees.

 

Do you know a woman who should be honored for her work in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics? If so please send an email with the following information to NMHP:

 

 - the woman's name and contact information, if applicable

 - the date of her birth and death, if applicable

 - a short essay of 500 words or less explaining why this woman should be honored.

 

All nominations are due by August 26, 2012. Please email the information to NWHP.  Visit the NWHP website here.

__________________________
Science Friday -npr    
From the July 3, 2012
Blog by Ira Flatow

 

Science:  Best way to reach out to young women

 

What is the best way to attract girls and young women to science? Scientists have been discussing this for DECADES and now there are two videos that offer opposing images of how to best "reach out" to them.

 

The first one is made by scientists at the BarberLabs and the second one is produced by the European Commission. To view the two videos click here. (Note: The European Commission video sparked controversy and has been taken down). Please have a look, and please comment.

____________________
SciGirls Logo a PBS program   
Launches Newsletter 

SciGirls is a weekly television series produced by Twin Cities Public Television and an interactive website recently launched a quarterly newsletter.

 

To subscribe send an email to SciGirls.

_____________________
 
NCWIT Award for Aspiration in Computing
NCWIT Aspire Awards     

Calling all digital divas, web chix & coder girls!

  

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing honors young women at the high-school level for their computing-related achievements and interests. The Award offers both national and local "affiliate" competitions to generate support and visibility for women's participation in communities nationwide.  Applications are accepted September 15 - October 31 annually. 

 

To learn about the award and application process visit here.

_____________________
AAUW logo    
Wonder Women of STEM! Webcast
 

If you missed the premiere broadcast at the 2nd USA Science and Engieeering Festival the 4 webcasts featuring Lisa Lord and Christianne Corbet are now available on the Jason Project website. Share them with the young people in your life to show two successful role models that are making a difference!

________________________
Quick Links
Click the links below to learn more about us and our partner organizations.





 

 

Find us on Facebook

Message from the Directors 

 

 

 Many of you have been working, writing, teaching and  advocating for expanding opportunities for girls/women in STEM  for decades. 

  

 So it was gratifying when STEMconnector released "100 Women  in STEM" at the Inaugural U.S. News and World Report STEM  Summit where more than 1,600 attendees gathered to create a  national STEM action plan.  (MAGiC was ably represented by our  national umbrella organization, the National Girls Collaborative  Project.)

  

 It's not an accident that women were at the table and at the top  of the agenda, but it happened thanks to your work and your  commitment to encouraging and promoting STEM careers and  education for women and girls.  

  

 After you read our newsletter, go to the "100 Women in STEM"  publication and read inspirational stories about top women in  STEM fields.  

  

 The publication honored 100 women in STEM, but as we all  know, "they aint seen nothing yet."

  

 We look forward to seeing you on September 15 at the Design 

 Squad Nation/MAGiC Forum!

  

Paige Smith & Elizabeth Vandenburg

  
012 MAGiC Fall Forum:  Boosting Girls Interest in Engineering with
Emmy award-winning PBS' Design Squad Nation, September 15, 2012
  

  

Design Squad Nation 

Looking to spark girls' interest in engineering? Are you curious to learn how PBS' Design Squad Nation can help?

 

Join us for a day-long training where you will:

  • learn techniques for engaging young women in engineering,
  • participate in hands-on activities,
  • watch engaging videos that profile young engineers in action and that motivate kids to build and create,
  • experience how online multimedia and activity resources can be combined to maximize kids' engagement,
  • hear original research on engineering messaging that works for girls,
  • network with others from companies, not-for-profits, K-12+ educators, informal educators, and others working to advance girls in STEM fields, and
  • plan programs to boost girls' interest in STEM.
The training is free of charge and coffee and lunch will be provided.

 

2012 MAGiC Fall Forum

September 15, 2012

8:45 am - 2:00 pm

The United States Patent & Trademark Office

Madison Building

600 Dulany Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

Click here for Google map.

 

For more information click here

 

The Fall Forum is full. To sign up for the waitlist, please send an email to Paige Smith, [email protected], with your name, email and organization. In the subject line enter "Fall 2012 Forum waitlist"

 
Virginia Museum of Natural History Leads Local Efforts for National Program Promoting Gender Equity in Science
 
Great Sci Girls at VA museum

Martinsville-Henry County After 3 Initiative (MHCA3) is taking part in Great Science for Girls (GSG), a five-year National Science Foundation initiative to build the capacity of after-school educators to deliver programming that will broaden and sustain girls' interest and persistence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).  The Virginia Museum of Natural History (VMNH), a founding partner of MHCA3, is leading the way to implement GSG initiative in Martinsville and Henry County in Virginia.

 

"MHCA3 partners are pleased to continue representing rural afterschool programs and systems on a national scope," said Shanna Francisco-King, MHC After 3 program coordinator.

 

MHCA3 is one of a total of 16 intermediaries to be selected for this ground-breaking program which has the potential of reaching hundreds of afterschool centers, thousands of youth workers and hundreds of thousands of girls. ThroughGreat Science for Girls Great Science for Girls, MHCA3 provides support to afterschool centers throughout Martinsville-Henry County to provide learning environments with the three ingredients necessary for student success in STEM: engagement, capacity and continuity. 

 

VMNH afterschool educators work with middle school and high school students to build STEM skills through Afterschool Science Plus, a curriculum developed by the Educational Equity Center at the Academy for Educational Development (EEC/AED) to promote equity in STEM learning and related career fields to all students. 

 

"We are very excited to provide the GSG program," said Dr. Dennis Casey, director of education and public programs at the VMNH.  "Greater understanding and opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics should be for everyone. It's a great fit for the museum and a great addition to the MHC After 3 program."

 

Programs and activities offer girls opportunities for leadership, active engagement with concerned adults, and inquiry-based experimentation. Great Science for Girls stresses the use of inquiry-based science curricula that are hands-on and fun. VMNH and MHCA3 play a major role in the implementation of Great Science for Girls and bringing evidence-based programming to the afterschool community locally and nationally.

 

The lead organization for Great Science for Girls is the Educational Equity Center at the Academy for Educational Development (EEC/AED), which is nationally known for its work in creating programs to bring underrepresented students into the science pipeline. Two AED centers with extensive experience in youth development, the Center for School and Communities Services and the Center for Youth Development and Policy Research, are collaborating with EEC/AED in this endeavor.

 

For more information about the Great Science for Girls initiative in the Martinsville-Henry area, please contact Dr. Dennis Casey or Education Specialist Robin Jensen

South River High School Team Duckweed Named Finalists in Siemens ChallengeSouth River TeamDuckweed 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education, National Science Teachers Association and The College Board named a team of high school scientists from South River High School in Edgewater, MD as finalists in the 2012 Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge.
 
Team Duckweed members Kendall Crawford, Gina Lee, Stefanie Biondi and teacher/mentor Tanya Marushak, were named finalists for their project on tackling pollution from farm runoff and has a chance to take home more than $50,000 in scholarships and prizes. 

More than 1,600 high school students competed in the second year of the Challenge's high school division and were challenged to address an issue related to energy, biodiversity, land managment, water conservation and cleanup, or air and climate. 

 

Under the guidance of Ms. Marushak, Team Duckweed created sustainable, reproducible improvements for their community using web-based curriculum tools powered by Discovery Education. They were concerned with the dangerously large dead zone caused by eutrophication in the Chesapeake Bay. Most of the nitrogen and phosphorous pollution causing this issue is from agriculture on the Eastern Shore.

 

To address this problem, Team Duckweed Duckweed plantdesigned a system to filter farm water runoff through bioremediation with the Duckweed plant. They used quantitative testing to confirm Duckweed's nitrogen removal capability, and found that it reduced the nitrogen content of wastewater by 28.5 percent. They are currently creating a working, small-scale model of a farm with a Duckweed filtration system.

 

If you want more information about the Siemans We Can Change the World Challenge visit the website here. Written by Jerri Anne Hopkins. For more information on Team Duckweed contact Tanya Marushak.
2012 Sonia Kovalevsky High School & Middle School Mathematics Day at GMU
 

  

SKDay

The Department of Mathematical Sciences at George Mason University obtained funds from the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) to host the second annual Sonia Kovalevsky Mathematics Day (SK GMU Day) on May 11, 2012. The goal of the SK GMU Day is to help motivate the next generation of middle and high-school girls to pursue careers in Mathematical Sciences. It provided an unparalleled opportunity for local students to get acquainted with various aspects of mathematics-related careers, win prizes by participating in fun problem-solving activities and create potentially long-lasting networking contacts among current GMU undergraduate, graduate students and faculty that can help support them throughout their careers.

  

There were 86 student participants, 34 of them from minority populations, and 6 teacher participants. There was a group of 14 faculty and graduate students assisting with event organization and carrying out grading for the student competition. Several female scientists were involved in the event, including 4 career panel participants, the keynote speaker and 2 workshop speakers.

 

After a brief introduction, the day started off with a presentation from Dr. Stephen Saperstone, the Chair of the Mathematical Sciences Dept. who welcomed all the students and talked about famous women in history who have made an impact in mathematics. This was followed by a presentation by the Director of Outreach from the College of Science, Dr. Reid Schwebach who gave great examples of women who were successful in STEM fields and how important a role mathematics plays in it. 

  

Following this the students participated in a problem-solving competition while the teachers were engaged in a workshop by Dr. Robert Sachs. The problem-solving competition engaged the students in both multiple-choice as well as open-ended questions. The workshop for the teachers discussed Math Teachers Circles. In this session they examined some mathematics found on an old Babylonian tablet. The teachers collaborated in solving some interesting problems related to this artifact. 

 

After the student competition, the students had an opportunity to attend back-to-back faculty-led workshops. They attended two of the following three workshops:

  

Math is Power.  This informal seminar featured a variety of examples of the use of mathematics in our everyday lives, in addition to giving snapshots of mathematical solutions to some of the long-standing challenges that had enormous impact on the society. A variety of multimedia demonstrations mixed with hands-on activities showed that an undergraduate mathematics education can be an entryway to rewarding and engaging career opportunities.

  

Mathematics: A universal language.  In this talk, the students learned about the multidisciplinary nature of mathematics. The session engaged the students in out-of-the-box problem solving and creative thinking and also to excite them with applications of mathematics to solve real-world problems in science and engineering. 

  

Introduction to Graph Theory.  In this workshop, we discussed some basics of graph theory. Starting with the definition of graphs -- they're not the kind from middle and high school algebra, but rather a discrete mathematical structure that is used to represent many different kinds of social, mathematical, and technological information. We discussed properties of graphs and showed how you can get interesting mathematical curiosities -- some that you can solve and some that you can't! Students then played with some graphs.

  

After lunch, the students had the opportunity to listen to the Keynote Address at the Johnson Center Cinema by Nicole Zimmerman who is an applied mathematician from the National Security Agency (NSA). She talked about her typical day at the NSA, how enriching her career is, and explained how cryptography is used in everyday life.  Her talk covered the basics of cryptography: the principles behind making and breaking codes, and how people used them throughout history. Her talk featured Caesar cipher, cipher disk, Vigenere square;  simple transposition; combination of substitution and transposition; The Enigma (WWII German cipher device); Data Encryption Standard; and public key cryptography. Participants asked a lot of questions and got very excited when Nicole showed and allowed them to play with the actual Enigma machine (WWII German cipher device) she brought with her from NSA. 


The concluding event of the day was a career panel that consisted of the following women Kathy Alligood (Professor of Mathematics, George Mason University), Cindy Merrick (Graduate Student, Mathematical Sciences), Karen Sauer (Associate Prof. of Physics, George Mason University), Nichole Zimmerman (Applied Research Mathematician, National Security Agency. This panel was moderated by Dr. Emelianenko and the session was very interactive with the students participating in asking the panelists questions relating to academia, life and careers. 

 

Finally, the winners in the student competitions from each school from each grade were awarded prizes and certificates and the teachers were also recognized. A feed back form was circulated at the end to all participants to help plan next year's program. 

 

If you would like to learn more about SK Day at GMU please contact Co-Director Dr. Maria Emelianenko. To read an online biography of Sonia Kovalevsky click here.

  

The Environmental Science Summer Research Experience [E.S.S.R.E] for Baltimore Area Young Women 
 

Launched in July of 2001, E.S.S.R.E. is a nationally recognized three-week summer research internship in environmental field studies open to any 9th and 10th grade girls from the greater Baltimore area. Participants explore the soil chemistry and biota of the Roland Park Country School campus, author and 

test lab activities for studying

soil microenvironments, and adapt these lab tests for dissemination and use in a wide variety of educational situations and socio-economic conditions. The program's primary objectives are to give this target audience the opportunity to engage in authentic, self-directed primary research into ecological roles of ESSRE data analysissoil microbes and, as a result, to nurture their interest in science as a possible career. Interns learn a variety of research skills, including statistical analysis, science writing, and web design, and are paid a small stipend for their time.

essre soil 

Run in conjunction with the RPCS 9th grade soil ecology project, "The Little Things that Run the World", E.S.S.R.E. offers adolescent girls a unique and challenging educational opportunity and provides educators around the country with labs and soil ecology lessons to help implement the national science teaching standards in their classrooms and courses.   Participants in E.S.S.R.E. engage in a wide variety of activities during their internships.  Depending on the prior skills and backgrounds of those involved, these can and have included:

  • performing a broad general survey of the biotic and abiotic factors located within the urban woodland on the school's campus using standard biodiversity protocols; 
  • generating a baseline of data for studying soil microbes and their environmental conditions from this survey;
  • using the baseline data to design, and perform experimental investigations into one specific aspect of soil microecology of the participants own choosing;
  • developing these investigations into inquiry lesson plans and the requisite support materials for use in other classrooms; and
  • modifying and verifying both the research protocols and the lesson plans to make them easily accessible to all schools, regardless of their physical or economic situation (including urban schools, schools with inadequate funding, and schools that teach populations of students traditionally under-represented in science).  

In addition, interns customize and prepare their experiments, activities, lessons, and data for dispersion to the wider science education community via the Internet, and each research team must create their own web page to make available to other schools, teachers, and pupils all the classroom materials produced through this program, along with the database of information collected from the initial survey as well.  Explore 2001-2011 internship research projects, lesson plans and data analysis by visiting E.S.S.R.E.  Lesson plans and lab protocols include: Mollusks Galore, Worms of Steel and The Great Phosphorous Mystery Part I and Part II.

 

Finally, everyone involved with this project learns various general science research skills, including specifically (but not limited to)

  • how to perform advanced statistical analysis (including student t-test & regression analysis);
  • how to write a scientific paper for submission for publication in a professional journal;
  • how to keep a field research journal; and
  • how to generate and prepare an annotated bibliography. 

Applications for 2013 are available starting October 1, 2012 and can be obtained by emailing Project Director, David Brock.

 


Calendar - small
Mark Your Calendar:  Upcoming STEM Events Across the Region

 

 

 


The Perry Initiative 

August 25, 2012 || Newark, DE

Phone: 302.831.2421

Email: Dr. Jenni Buckley

Website: The Perry Initiative

Address:  126 Spencer Lab, Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE

The Perry Initiative outreach program to inspire high school girls to consider the exciting career of orthopaedic surgery and engineering.

Dates: Application deadline: August 15, 2012

Ages: High school girls.

Fees: Free.

 

Expanding Your Horizons Career Discovery Day

September 8, 2012 || Stevenson, MD

Contact: Michelle Schwartz

Phone: 443.334.2134

Email: Michelle Schwartz

Website: EYH

Address: 1525 Greenspring Valley Rd., Stevenson, MD 21153

Stevenson University will again host its annual Expanding Your Horizons Career Discovery Day for middle school girls. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet women working in science and technology who will showcase career options in their fields. Explore topics such as wildlife, forensic science, astronomy, geology, public health and chemistry. Learn how to identify rocks, do DNA fingerprinting, solve a crime and save Harry Potter's life when he chokes! Twenty topics will be presented, and each student will take part in three workshops. The purpose of this event is for girls to enjoy science and meet female role models as they develop interests in various areas of their education and consider possible career options in science and technology. Registration fee includes a t-shirt, prizes and snacks.

NEW DATE: Saturday, September 8, 2012, 1:00 - 5:00 pm.

Ages: Girls in middle school.

Fees: $25. Registration opens August 1st.

 

  


Calendar - small Mark Your Calendar:    Upcoming STEM  Conferences and  Webinars  

 

 

Let's Talk Public Health Conference 2012

August 2-4, 2012 || Blacksburg VA

Theme: Public Health Is . . .

Email: M. Blythe

Website: Let's Talk Public Health Conference

Audience: high school junior and seniors.

 

 

Women ETC: Education, Technology, Careers

September 14, 2012 || Richmond, VA

Email: Conference

Cost $75

Website: WomenETC

 

 

 

The Mid-Atlantic Girls Collaborative Project is a collaborative effort funded through the National Girls Collaborative Project and the National Science Foundation.  Organizations involved with the leadership of the Mid-Atlantic Girls Collaborative include University of Maryland Women in Engineering (WIE) Program and American Association of University Women (AAUW).  To learn more click here.