Leadership Team
Meet the Leadership Team
of the Mid-Atlantic Girls Collaborative
Cyber Systems Engineer, Northrup Gruman Corporation
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
Founder, GEMS Club and Technology Specialist,
Fairfax County Public Schools
Lisa McClure Program Coordinator, Girl Scout Council of Central Maryland
Bria McElroy Assistant Director, Women in Engineering University of Maryland,
Co-Lead, MAGiC
Ellie Mitchell
Director,
MD Out of School Time Network
Paige E. Smith Director, Women in Engineering University of Maryland, Lead, MAGiC
Elizabeth Vandenburg evEnterprises, AAUW STEM Advocacy Task Force,
Co-Lead, MAGiC
N. Syrek Newsletter Editor MAGiC
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AppIT Camp
August 5-9, 2013 Have a sensational idea for an app? Do you want to design the newest roller coaster or share reviews of new movies and music with an original app you create? Attend George Mason University's AppIT Camp.
Learn MIT's App Inventor software and work alongside GMU engineering graduate students and faculty to create new apps that meet real world needs. No prior experience is necessary. The drag and drop environment is easy to learn, and campers will have lots of time for fun-filled exploration and app development.
In addition, campers will receive feedback from professionals in the field and will visit the AOL Dulles campus for a day of engaging activities with industry leaders.
Rising 8th graders are eligible to participate. Registration is March 18 - July 22, 2013. Cost is $650. For registration form and program details visit here. Sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools, George Mason University, and the Mid-Atlantic Girls Collaborative (MAGiC). ________________________ |
Women & Math Essay Contest
June 1, 2013
To increase awareness of women's ongoing contributions in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), College of Southern Maryland's Mathematics, Physics, and Engineering Division is sponsoring an essay contest for girls ages 13 to 21.
Essays should be biographies of contemporary women in STEM careers working in academia, industry, or government. Two winning entries will receive prizes valued up to $250. Winners will be announced at a reception on a date yet to be determined. Winning essays in the high school and college age categories will be read at this event and posted to the Women and Math web site.
A completed application form, personal essay, and biographical essay must be postmarked by June 1, 2013. Late entries will not be considered.
For more information and forms visit here or email Sandra Poinsett.
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Women's History 2013 Gazette
"Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination"
The 2013 Gazette is a 16-page issue that includes the National Women's History Month STEM Honorees, articles about STEM projects and organizations. One of the organizations highlighted is the Maryland Women's Heritage Center!
Your can obtain one FREE copy while supplies. To order visit the National Women's History Project webstore here.
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Women Innovation through Imagination Exhibit
University of Delaware Library
Following the National Women's History Project 2013 theme, The University of Delaware Library curated an exhibit: Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination.
The exhibition featured items from Special Collections that highlight the contributions of women scientists and celebrates a commitment to inspiring future generations of girls and women to pursue scientific study.
Delaware native Annie Jump Cannon (1863-1941) was an accomplished woman of science who discovered variable stars and other firsts in her career. She was the "Census Taker of the Sky" who classified 230,000 stellar bodies.
"Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination" is curated by Maureen Cech, assistant librarian, Manuscripts and Archives Department.
The exhibition is available online.
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The Maryland Out of School Time Network announces a Request for Proposals from out-of-school time program sites either currently offering or interested in offering STEM programming to be included in a state-wide learning community of 40 sites, 20 currently offering STEM programming and 20 new to STEM, to be launched in the 2013-2014 school year.
Participating sites will be offered data gathering, professional development, technical assistance, and for sites not currently providing STEM programming, assistance on curriculum selection and implementation.
For details and to apply check here or subscribe to our mailing list, where the application will be posted by April 15th.
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Quick Links
Click the links below to learn more about us and our partner organizations.
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Message from the Directors
MAGiC's outreach continues to grow! Two quick examples:
On March 8th, the GEMS Club Initiative, a girl-serving organization that MAGiC supported with mini-grant funding, was featured in the Washington Post's Kidspost! Check it out! GEMS says, "Stay in touch: use our TOOLKIT and like us on FACEBOOK!"
On March 14th, the National Girls Collaborative Project, TechBridge, FabFems, Mid-Atlantic Girls Collaborative (MAGiC), and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management provided a professional development event "Leading Through Role-Modeling: Training the Federal Workforce to Engage Girls in STEM".
Training and resources were provided to Federal employees interested in serving as role models for girl-serving STEM organizations, who received a "recipe for success" for interacting with girls in a meaningful and impactful way and for preparing organization leaders, educators, and volunteers to improve the quality of their orgaization's outreach to girls in STEM.
At the event, MAGiC organized the Program Fair featuring both local and national youth-serving organizations that provided take- home resources and information on volunteer opportunities. Check out the event website here.
Please keep in touch with us and good luck with your STEM activities this summer!
Elizabeth Vandenburg
Paige E. Smith
Bria McElroy
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First RealScience Fest at Williamsburg-James City County Middle Schools
It may not be unusual to hear about children playing in dirt, but the sixth graders who gathered around piles of gray sediment in a William & Mary classroom recently weren't playing. They were conducting research while also learning about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Approximately 30 sixth graders from Williamsburg/James City County Schools participated in the STEM Education Alliance's first RealScience Fest at W&M's School of Education on Jan. 19th. The participants spent the afternoon examining sediment taken from an excavation site in upstate New York where the remains of a mastodon were discovered in 2000.
The research is part of a nationwide effort by the Paleontological Research Institution called the Mastadon Matrix Project, which asks the public to act as "citizen scientists" and help examine the sediment - or "matrix" - from the excavation site.
The event was the latest in an ongoing series of efforts by W&M's STEM Education Alliance to give K-12 students hands-on experience in the STEM fields, something organizers hope will lead to their knowledge of and interest in STEM careers.
"It would be cool if every kid in this room wanted to go into a STEM career, but we know they all won't and that's okay," said Katie Green, project specialist with the STEM Education Alliance. "But for kids to go into a career that they are well-suited for makes us happy, and if it happens to be a STEM career, then, all the better."
Hailey, a sixth grader with Berkeley Middle School, already has a STEM career in mind: engineering. "Because I like building stuff and it's fun," she said.
As she used tweezers to carefully examine tiny clods of dirt on Saturday afternoon, she said that events like the RealScience Fest only further encourages her interest in the sciences. She found Saturday's task especially fun.
"I think it's awesome because I get to look where an animal died, which is kind of sad, but still, it's awesome," she said. "I found a couple of shells, a few rocks, and a pine cone, which I thought was kind of cool -- a pine cone under water. It's small. It was awesome."
After carefully going through the sediment with tweezers and magnifying glasses, the participants separated their findings into categories including "animals," "rocks" and "???". With the help of STEM Education Alliance staff members and two graduate students from the School of Education, they weighed and recorded their findings.
The sediment and findings will soon be sent back to the Paleontological Research Institution to be included in the overall research on the site.
"We named it the RealScience Fest because it is real science as opposed to something that's just pretend or simulated on a computer," said Green. "This data will be published in a scientific journal."
In addition to cataloging materials from the mastodon project, the students learned about STEM careers through discussions with experienced scientists. Students learned what a typical day at work is like for a scientist, as well as how STEM careers play a part in products used every day.
Click here to follow the PRI Mastodon Matrix Project.
For more information and resources from William and Mary"s STEM Education Alliance visit their website.
Article by Erin Zagursky, W&M STEM Education Alliance.
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Empowering Girls in Math and Science
Social media is becoming a way to find fresh ideas fast for your girls' club. Check out Empowering Girls in Math and Science (EGMS) on Facebook! Daily posts are provided on everything from children's engineering to exploratory activities in the sciences. You'll find recommended books for older girls like The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly and Nicky the Nature Detective by Ulf Svedbergfor little girls who love getting outside. This site features videos that will inspire girls to think outside of the box, too. There are never-ending resources for clubs, homeschooling, and classrooms. You'll also find many materials like articles, books, infographics and inspiration for parents, teachers, and advocates for girls. Best of all you'll be joining a worldwide community of people who care about girls' equity in STEM. Like this one reader who shared, "I'm loving the Facebook page! I am the mother of six girls and two boys. Your helpful tips and tricks are wonderful finds for us." Another reader who runs a club wrote, "I love this site. I get a ton of information from it for my Jr. Engineers."
Visit the Empowering Girls in Math and Science Facebook page here.
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AAUW: Three Reasons the Wage Gap Hurts Women in Stem
An AAUW analysis of 2011 U. S. Census Bureau data shows that in many science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs -- as in other fields-- women continue to be paid less than men. Here are three particularly depressing findings from that analysis.
1. Women who work in high-paying STEM fields still take home less than their male peers.
Earnings are high for both women and men who work as computer and information systems managers. But while median earnings for men in 2011 were just over $98,000, median earnings for women were around $86,000. Likewise, aerospace engineers tend to earn a good living. But while a typical male aerospace engineer took home just over $100,000 in 2011, his female counterpart was paid $83,000.
2. Even at the lower-earning end of the STEM spectrum, the pay gap is just as evident.
Median earnings for male engineering technicians in 2011 were just over $56,000 compared with median earnings of $43,000 for female engineering technicians. Among drafters, typical earnings for men were just over $51,000 while typical earnings for women were just over $45,000.
3. The wage gap may hurt efforts to recruit women into STEM.
It's no secret that women are underrepresented in STEM fields. In electrical and mechanical engineering, for example, women still make up less than 10 percent of the workforce. When women are absent from these fields, we all lose out because women's ideas and experiences aren't contributing to innovation potential. But when women are present in these fields, often they are not compensated at the same level as their male colleagues - a factor that certainly doesn't help recruit more women to STEM.
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The USA Science & Engineering Festival, scheduled for April 24-27th, 2014 at the Convention Center in Washington DC, is proud to feature our X-STEM School program. The program is designed to promote student leadership through our X-STEM Ambassador Teams comprised of six student STEM focused leaders. The X-STEM Ambassador Team is to develop their STEM mission to promote STEM in their school and community. Within the first month of the program being launched, we have received over 100 X-STEM registrations! We now have certified X-STEM Schools in the District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia and listed on our X-STEM School Page.
X-STEM Schools receive many benefits for participating in the X-STEM program:
- X-STEM Ambassador Teams get free tickets to the X-STEM Symposium
- X-STEM Schools get listed on our Festival X-STEM School Page
- Festival partners have promotions offered exclusively to our X-STEM schools such as curriculum and materials
- Priority registration for Nifty Fifty Speakers
- Festival exhibit spaces offered to CERTIFIED Schools for only $150
- Additional benefits still being added
To Participate, a school (student or adult) must fill out the Registration form.
Then, follow the success steps:
- Select a Student X-STEM Coordinator and 5 X-STEM Delegates to form the X-STEM Ambassador Team
- Hold a meeting and determine STEM mission statement for your team and take a picture
- Submit mission statement and picture through this form.
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Hood College - Sonia
Kovalevsky Mathematics Day
Girls attending Sonia Kovalevsky Day at Hood College walked away with a renewed appreciation of math and had fun, organizers hoped. "We want to show them what math is like in college" and help them explore career opportunities, said organizer Professor Jill Dunham.
There were four workshops, each of which dealt with practical applications for math.
- One workshop used a one-string instrument to demonstrate the relationship between pitch, the length of the string and how to calculate pitch using ratios.
- Another workshop, led by Nicole Close, used biostatistics, the application of statistics in biology, to explain how scientists determine if a drug will be effective. Clare O'Connor, an 11th-grader at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, participated in the biostatistics workshop. At first, she thought the topic sounded boring, but Close made it interesting by explaining the real-world process of approving drugs, she said. O'Connor plans to study engineering in college and came to the event to get a broader understanding of opportunities in math-based fields. "I wanted to see more of that because I really like the math classes I've taken at TJ," she said.
- In the third workshop, participants used mathematical modeling to predict whether a Barbie doll would be able to bungee-jump down the stairwell with rubber bands without hitting the ground.
- Girls in the fourth workshop used the branch of mathematics called optimization to figure out the best route for a traveling salesman.
Madeline Gamez, a Brunswick High School junior, participated in the salesman challenge and said her team did well, although they did not find the optimal solution. She liked working as a team and found it easier in a female-only environment. "Critical thinking and teamwork: That is what I'm taking away from today," Gamez said.
The event was bigger than the previous one, in 2011. There were 50 girls this year and 40 last time, organizer Dunham said. The increased attendance led planners to add a fourth workshop.
The event is named after Sonia Kovalevsky, the first woman to hold a doctorate in mathematics, and is designed to encourage women and girls to participate in the traditionally male-dominated field.
Wriiten by Kelsi Loos, Frederick News Post. For further information email Professor Jill Dunham at Hood College.
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BGE Participates in Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women's Cool Women, Hot Jobs
Women have stood out in educational attainment; however they have been underrepresented in education and careers in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women (BLSYW) supports young women in expanding their awareness of these fields and more with their annual "Cool Women, Hot Jobs" event held on March 21st. Female professionals from BGE had the pleasure of participating in this event to educate and inspire young women to explore educational and career opportunities in STEM. Much to our surprise, we were equally inspired by the enthusiasm and professionalism of these girls in grades 6-9.
It was truly refreshing to interact with the students of BLSYW, listen to their career aspirations and feel their thirst for higher education. We felt privileged to have been given the opportunity to speak to these girls about our own career paths. It was moving to answer questions and to witness their dedication to their studies. We shared personal stories about what sparked our interests in pursuing our fields, our educational training and even the obstacles that we had to overcome in order to reach our goals. The clear message we wanted to send was that of encouragement - to never give up on your dreams despite what may stand in your way. This message is especially relevant in the STEM fields. While the academic requirements may be challenging, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, STEM fields have been steadily increasing and are projected to double in growth by 2018. The women of BGE helped reinforce this concept by providing hands on experience to excite the girls about technology. Many girls put the pedal to the metal on BGE's "energy bike" to demonstrate the energy savings of using a compact florescent light bulb (CFL) verses an incandescent bulb. After participating in the activity, it was apparent that a "light" went on not only in the bulbs, but also in the minds of the girls when they were able to understand the concept of energy efficiency. BLSYW's "Cool Women, Hot Jobs" event was not only a success for the students, but also for the women who were fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to interact with such enlightening young women. In addition to BGE, many other women from the public and private sectors were represented including: architects, attorneys, engineers, entrepreneurs, executives, hospitality, media, the professional sports industry and scientists. We look forward to having the students of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women as our leaders of tomorrow
Written by Brittany Scardina, Sr. Community Relations Specialist, Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE). For more information about the BLSYW contact Laura Green via email.
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Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming STEM Events Across the Region
Women in Science at the National Zoo
June 6, 2013 || Washington, DC
Contact: Kristin Schoeninger
Website: Women in Science
Email: Kristin Schoeninger
Address: Visitor Center Auditorium, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20013
The Friends of the National Zoo's Department of Education and Volunteer Services is pleased to announce the first in a series of career panel events featuring Women in Science at the National Zoo.
This event will feature six women representing a variety of backgrounds and experiences, coming together to discuss what it's like to work at the National Zoo. Participants will hear from women in the fields of zoo keeping, research, veterinary medicine and biology about the challenges and rewards of working alongside amazing animals every day. Following the initial question and answer session, students will have the opportunity to talk with panel members in a small group setting.
Dates: Wednesday, June 6, 2013; 3:30-5:00pm
Ages: Girls in grades 6-10. Registration is highly encouraged.
GET IT 2013: Fly Into Your Future
June 17-21, 2013 || Annapolis, MD
Contact: Dr. Angela Moran
Website: USNA STEM
Email: Dr. Angela Moran
Address: 590 Holloway Rd, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD 21402 Engineering touches every aspect of our lives. Sign up now for Fly Into Your Future. This year's camp will explore the physics and mechanics of flight. The week long day camp includes design challenges and competition, team building activities, tours of labs and research areas, networking with professional female engineers. Dates: June 17-21, 9am - 4pm Ages: Girls in grades 7-10.
C-Tech2 - Computers & Technology at Virginia Tech
June 30 -July 13, 2013 || Blacksburg, VA
Contact: Susan Arnold Christian Phone: 540-231-3973 Website: CTech2
Address: 215 Hancock Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 Virginia Tech's College of Engineering invites rising junior and senior high school girls to participate in a program called C-Tech2 - Computers and Technology at Virginia Tech. A primary focus of the program is to help develop and sustain the interests of women in engineering and the sciences. The program allows young women to explore applications of engineering, math, and science in a way that is fun and exciting. They will spend the majority of their time involved in hands-on activities designed to increase their interest in and knowledge of applications of engineering, math, and science to real world situations. Dates: June 30 -July 13. Application deadline April 30th. Ages: junior & senior girls. Fees: $1000/2 weeks; full and partial scholarships are available.
iEngineer @ UMD
July 8-12, 2013 || College Park, MD
Contact: Candice Staples Phone: 301-405-9434 Website: iEngineer
Email: Candice Staples
Address: 1131 Glenn L. Martin Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 This is a summer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) camp for rising 4th and 5th grade students. Piloted in the summer of 2009, this one-week commuter camp is an exciting opportunity for girls and boys to learn more about STEM through a variety of fun, hands-on activities! Dates: July 8-12, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Age: Entering the 4th or 5th grade in fall 2012 Fees: $325 upon acceptance into the program. Fee is subject to change.
Exploring Engineering at UMD (E2@UMD): Women in Engineering
July 7-13 & July 14-20, 2013 || College Park, MD
Contact: Bria McElroy Phone: 301-405-3283 Website: E2@UMD
Email: Bria McElroy
Address: 1131 Glenn L. Martin Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 A summer program for high school women (rising juniors or seniors) who are considering engineering as a possible major and career. Students live on campus for one week and explore the world of engineering through fun hands-on activities, laboratory experiments, informative workshops, team design challenges, and seminars with professional engineers. Please visit the E2@UMD website for application information. Dates: Section I: July 7-13
Section II: July 14-20 Applications are now available online. Age: For rising 11th or 12th grade high school women interested in math, science and engineering. Fees: The cost of the program is $900 per student subject to change. This fee covers all expenses except transportation to and from the University of Maryland and spending money.
Stepping Stones to Your Future
July 15-19 & July 22-26, 2013 || College Park, MD
Contact: Elizabeth Remmers Phone: 301-405-0315 Website: Stepping Stones to Your Future
Email: Elizabeth Remmers
Address: 1131 Glenn L. Martin Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 This is a one-week commuter summer camp for rising 7th and 8th graders who are interested in math, science, and engineering. This is an excellent opportunity for participants to work alongside current University of Maryland students in a variety of science and engineering related activities such as finding out how much force it takes to break an aluminum bar, building a wind-powered vehicle, and understanding the ideas behind reverse engineering. Dates: Section I: July 15-July 19, 9:00 am-3:30 pm, Section II: July 22-July 26, 9:00-3:30 pm. Applications for Stepping Stones to Your Future are now available online. Full and partial scholarships available based on financial need. Ages: 7th & 8th grades
Fees: $350 upon acceptance into the program. Fee is subject to change.
The Perry Initiative - Perry Outreach Program
August 24, 2013 || Newark DE
Contact: Kristen Coakley
Website: The Perry Initiative
Email: Kristen Coakley
Address: Spencer Laboratory, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 The Perry Initiative - Inspiring Women to be Leaders in Orthopaedic Surgery and Engineering will hold its Perry Outreach Program (POP) for high school students in the Newark/Wilmington area. Women in grades 10 and up interested in careers in orthopaedics or engineering are encouraged to apply. In addition to six hands-on "mock surgical" exercises, participants will hear lectures from local women surgeons and engineers. Dates: August 24th, 9:00 am-3:30 pm, Accepting online applications until July 24, 2013. Ages: High School grades 10-12
Fees: Free.
WIE LEAD Academies
Summer 2013 || College Park MD
Contact: Bria McElroy Phone: 301-405-3283 Website: WIE LEAD Academies
Email: Bria McElroy
Address: 1131 Glenn L. Martin Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 Students are given the opportunity to spend 1-2 days learning and applying principles related to a particular engineering discipline at the University of Maryland. See website for application. Dates: TBA. Check website for more information. Applications for the WIE LEAD Academies will be posted online in the Spring. Age: Rising juniors and seniors. Talented rising sophomores may be accepted on a case by case basis. Fees: Each academy is $50 subject to change.
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Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming STEM Conferences and Webinars
NCWIT Summit on Women and IT
May 22-25, 2013 || Tucson, AZ
Theme: Practices and Ideas to Revolutionize Computing
Website: NCWIT Summit on Women and IT
Livestream: Livestreaming of plenary sessions and selected workshops. click here.
National Girls Collaborative Project Webinar
Title: Mission Solar Systems: Engaging Girls in Engineering & Space Careers
June 12, 2013, 11am PST, 2pm ET
Website: NGCP
National Coalition of Girls Schools Annual Conference
June 24-26, 2013 || Wellesley, MA
Theme: Launching Future Leaders
Website: NCGS Conference page
The JASON Project 2013 Educators Conference
June 27-29, 2013 || Ashburn, VA
Website: Jason Project 2013 Educators Conference
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