December 2012

PNWGCP Updates   

FabFems Spotlight

There are more than 100 profiles in the FabFems role model database and entries are added on a daily basis. FabFems are enthusiastic about the science and technology work they do and want to inspire our future generations. Encourage girls to visit FabFems to search profiles, connect with role models, and find resources on career pathways. To get more involved, 'like' our Facebook page, 'follow' our Twitter feed, and/or help fill our boards on Pinterest. 

Meet Cheryl Platz, a Senior User Experience Designer at Microsoft. Cheryl encourages girls to "make their own happiness" and creatively combine their passions instead of choosing just one. She followed her own advice when she studied human-computer interaction at Carnegie Melon, combining computer science, visual design, and cognitive psychology. Her varied experience includes working on interface design at the Walt Disney World and Sims game design at Maxis/Electronic Arts. Cheryl now works at Microsoft as a user experience designer on products for IT professionals. She enjoys the variety of her work: sometimes she researches and creates programs, and other days she sketches and does visual design. In her free time, Cheryl is a professional actress. She has been a cast member with Seattle TheatreSports and performs regularly with an improv troupe called NERDprov.

To learn more about Cheryl Platz, visit her FabFems profile at: http://www.fabfems.org/users/cheryl-platz. If you are a potential role model, submit a profile on FabFems.org to show girls what you do and what you are passionate about. 

Middle School Girls IGNITE

Technically Learning launched a new collaboration with IGNITE (Inspiring Girls Now In Technology Evolution) to co-host several half-day events that will introduce over 100 Seattle-area middle school girls to Robotics using Technically Learning's curriculum and LEGO® NXT Mindstorms kits and software. The events feature a fun, hands-on Robotics-themed activity, in which teams of girls are paired with women volunteers from IGNITE who are professionals in exciting STEM careers. These events are typically held on-site at a Seattle-area STEM company.

The first of four planned events was on November 29, 2012, bringing 28 middle school girls from South Shore K-8 in Seattle to the Microsoft campus in Redmond. The event engaged 10 women volunteers from Microsoft who also shared their inspiring personal stories with the girls over lunch. This collaboration with IGNITE will increase the ability to reach more girls at a critical time in their educational development. For more information about IGNITE, visit: http://www.ignite-us.org. 

Project Splash Educator Training

Events and Opportunities    

Project Splash Informational Webinar

January 16, 2013; 3:00 - 4:00 PM Pacific

Participants will learn more about the Project Splash educator training, summer camp opportunities, and how to get involved.

Register: http://www.ngcproject.org/project-splash-informational-webinar 

National Engineers Month

Oregon and Southwest Washington

February 2013

Throughout February, students across Oregon and SW Washington will engage with volunteer science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals who will visit their classrooms. The purpose is to give students a glimpse into a vast world of exciting career opportunities and inspire them to excel in math and science, the key to those opportunities.

Register: http://www.becpdx.org/nem/overview.aspx

Northwest Council for Computer Education Conference (NCCE)

Portland, OR

Women in Science and Engineering Conference

Seattle, WA

March 2, 2012

The conference is a day devoted to celebrate women in engineering academics and careers. The conference offers educational and professional enrichment, bringing pre-college, undergraduate, and graduate students together with faculty, administrators, and professional women.

Register: http://www.engr.washington.edu/wiseconf  

Women in Trades Career Fair

Portland, OR

May 16-18, 2013

Presented by Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., the Women in Trades Career Fair is a three day interactive event designed to increase the overall number of women working in the trades and to help fill the imminent gap in the labor force. The event offers hands-on activities designed to introduce women and girls to the possibility of a future career in the trades.

Details: http://www.tradeswomen.net/fair 

Resources   

American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AIChE), Puget Sound Youth Mentoring

AIChE is seeking mentors for group and one-on-one mentoring between Puget Sound high-school aged youth and active chemical engineering professionals. Mentoring sessions begin with a kick-off party and include a half-day job shadow.

http://pugetsound.aiche.org/mentoring

Computer Science (CS) Unplugged

CS Unplugged is a collection of free learning activities that teach computer science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons, and lots of running around. The activities introduce students to underlying concepts such as binary numbers, algorithms, and data compression.

http://csunplugged.org 

The DuPont Challenge

The DuPont Challenge is a science writing competition, encouraging students in grades 7-12 to research and write an original essay on any science topic that sparks their interest. The contest began 25 years ago to honor the crew of the Challenger space shuttle mission. Prizes are awarded to both students and teachers, and include an expenses-paid trip to the Kennedy Space Center.

http://thechallenge.dupont.com

StarLogo

StarLogo is a free modeling and simulation software that uses visually recognizable graphics to make programming education video games more accessible to youth. Users can create 3-D graphics to make more compelling games and rich simulation models.

http://education.mit.edu/projects/starlogo-tng  

Education Northwest

Education Northwest conducts more than 200 projects annually, working with schools, districts, and communities across the country on comprehensive, research-based solutions to the challenges they face. They work with teachers, administrators, policymakers, and communities to identify needs, evaluate programs, and develop new solutions. 

http://educationnorthwest.org

Washington Afterschool Network

The Washington Afterschool Network (WAN) is a formal statewide collaboration which serves as the action arm for School's Out and is designed to improve the quantity and quality of afterschool programs in Washington. WAN brings together policymakers, educators, afterschool providers, youth development workers, program developers, advocates, and parents interested in striving toward improved outcomes for children and youth through school-based/school-linked afterschool youth development programs.

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/programs

The EdLab Group is a private, non-profit organization with funding from federal and state governments, private foundations, corporations, and individuals. Our mission is to leverage the power of technology and diversity to transform teaching and learning.