NEW: GRRL Tech Moves to URI, Has Record Expo
Friday, March 16, 2012
It's been another banner year for Rhode Island girls and technology, thanks to URI and Tech Collective's GRRL Tech.
The 11th GRRL Tech expo was hosted by the University of Rhode Island for the first time yesterday, and the expo paired faculty and staff with female industry professionals in facilitating 23 student workshops focused on STEM careers ranging from bioscience, animal science, and oceanography to engineering, physics, and computer science. Workshop sessions were held throughout the URI campus, including in the new Center for Biotechnology & Life Sciences building.
GRRL Tech
Presented by Tech Collective, Rhode Island's industry association for Information Technology and Bioscience, GRRL Tech (Girls Reaching Remarkable Levels) is an interactive technology expo offering female high school students an engaging look into dynamic and rewarding technology opportunities. Through industry mentoring and hands-on workshops, GRRL Tech aims to encourage STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning and offer career insight into STEM careers and industries.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCVS's Donna Sams: Don't be deterred
GRRL Tech's Keynote Speaker, Donna Sams; Retired Senior Vice President, PBM Systems for CVS Caremark Corp., delivered the opening keynote address, discussing the challenges and opportunities that resulted in the career pathway that she paved for herself. She encouraged students to follow their interests, have confidence in themselves, and not be deterred by challenges.
"STEM education is an increasing concern for both our students and our workforce," said Kathie Shields, executive director of Tech Collective. "Not only do we want to inspire girls to be excited about science, technology, engineering and math careers, we want to insure that they obtain the basic logic and knowledge of learning behind these subjects as they all graduate into a knowledge-based economy where employers are looking for a new type of skilled-worker. We have seen the statistics that say women do not equally represent the STEM career fields, yet at the same time these are the jobs that are growing."
STEM and girls
Significant challenges for girls heading into STEM careers remain. Women in STEM education and careers still presents a gender gap despite the fact that women fill close to half of all jobs in the US, according to the US Department of Commerce, but hold less than 25% of STEM jobs. Additionally, women have obtained a disproportionately low share of STEM related undergraduate degrees, particularly in engineering. There are many possible factors contributing to the discrepancy of women and men in STEM jobs, including: a lack of female role models, gender stereotyping, and less family-friendly flexibility in the STEM fields. The good news--women with STEM jobs earned 33 percent more than comparable women in non-STEM jobs--considerably higher than the STEM premium for men. As a result, the gender wage gap is smaller in STEM jobs than in non-STEM jobs.
Workshops with real-world implications
After the opening remarks and keynote speaker, students attended 2 45-minute workshops facilitated by URI's faculty and female professionals working in STEM career fields. Workshops at this year's expo included; Chemistry--batteries and how they will power our future cars; Computer Science--digital forensics and solving cybercrimes; Engineering--students will learn what LED is and build their own flashlight; Phycology--how phycology is used with technology to influence decisions and behaviors; Biotechnology and Animal Health--students will visit URI's Peckham Farm and work with lambs, Oceanography--the science of hurricanes. Educators and guidance counselors attended one workshop as well as an educator session offering resources and information about local programs related to STEM and career awareness.
Scholarships to RI girls
Dr. Laura Beauvais, Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs and Dr. Dean Libutti, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at URI, awarded this year's scholarships. Four scholarships valued at $4,000 per year for four years were awarded to Alyssa Friedman of North Providence High School, Kimberly Geraghty of Johnston Senior High School, Megan Major of East Providence High School, and Morgan Quinley of North Smithfield High School.
Scholarship winners were selected by the GRRL Tech Committee for their exceptional scholarship essays addressing the questions: "Describe a time when science, technology, engineering or math has influenced your life and how this has inspired you to pursue a career in STEM. What ideas do you have for attracting more students to STEM careers in the future?" Scholarship winners were selected based on their essay addressing career goals and their vision of themselves and other students.
For more coverage, don't miss GoLocalTV, fresh every day at 4pm and on demand 24/7, here.
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