National Girls Collaborative Project E-Newsletter March 2015

March 2015

In This Issue

Collaborative Network Activities

FabFems Spotlight

Upcoming STEM Events
Champions for Collaboration

Resources

Global Resources

Quick Links

Enewsletter Archive

NGCP Website

NGCP Facebook

NGCP Twitter

NGCP Blog

FabFems

NGCP Updates

Celebrate Women's History Month with the Big Dream!

Big Dream is a documentary film that follows the stories of seven young women in technology fields around the globe. Each story looks at these young women's ambitions and how they overcome personal challenges to pursue careers in STEM fields. The goal of the film is to excite young women, their families, and friends to the possibilities inherent in STEM. To host a screening of Big Dream in your community complete this form.

Do You See Your Students in Future STEM Careers?

NGCP is pleased to collaborate with the Educational Research Center of America, Destination Imagination, and the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity on a research project focused on high school student perceptions of STEM careers. High school educators will receive a package of student surveys and instructions in early March. To participate, send your name, high school, and school mailing address to info@studentresearch.org with "STEM Career Survey" in the subject line. Thank you in advance for your participation! View the press release on the NGCP Press page to learn more.

Collaborative Network Activities

STEM-tastic: Getting Girls Excited about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math with SciGirls!

New Orleans, LA; March 21, 2015

SciGirls trainings integrate inquiry-based STEM instruction with a commitment to gender equity. Participants will learn the latest research for exciting and engaging girls (and boys) in STEM, experience hands-on activities, and receive free materials for video-enhanced activities with a creative twist on teaching STEM.

SciGirls Professional Development

Copperas Cove, TX; March 28, 2015

SciGirls trainings integrate inquiry-based STEM instruction with a commitment to gender equity. Attendees will learn the latest research for exciting and engaging girls (and boys) in STEM, experience hands-on activities, and receive free materials for video-enhanced activities with a creative twist on teaching STEM.

SciGirls Training at the University of Albany

Albany, NY; March 28, 2015; 9:00 AM-3:30 PM

Participants will learn how to re-shape current lesson plans to engage a wide variety of learners using 21st century skills, learn how to use media in the classroom, and explore circuits using play dough and other hands-on science activities aligned to New York State Learning Standards.

STEAM Powered Collaborations for Girls: Celebrating the Successes!

Lafayette, LA; March 28, 2015; 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
Attendees will connect with like-minded participants, hear how LaSTEM Girls Collaborative Project mini-grant recipients have enhanced STEM opportunities for girls in Louisiana, become inspired to make a positive difference for girls, and learn how to create positive collaborations.
Register

CoCoSTEM Role Models Matter Training

The Role Models Matter program provides participants tips and practical strategies for communicating effectively with young girls and inspiring them in STEM careers. At this event, participants will learn how to break the ice, share their stories, and effectively facilitate hands-on engineering design challenges.

Durango, CO; April 10, 2015; Register

Durango, CO; April 11, 2015; Register

CoCOSTEM SciGirls Training

Durango, CO; April 10, 2015

Engaging Youth in STEM with SciGirls! A PNWGCP Professional Development Forum

Seattle, WA; April 25, 2015; 9:00 AM-4:00 PM

Participants will learn the latest research for exciting and engaging girls (and boys) in STEM; experience hands-on STEM activities; and gain access to free materials for hands-on, video-enhanced activities that put a creative twist on teaching STEM.

Oregon Girls Collaborative Project Engaging Girls Forum

This forum will provide an introduction to the National Girls Collaborative Project and the Oregon Girls Collaborative Project, information about what exemplary practices can help us do, and strategies for implementing them in your program. We will present examples of engagement techniques and strategies, give participants time to discuss and ask questions about strategies, and provide time for participants to work together.

Bend, OR; May 8, 2015; Register

Newport, OR; May 15, 2015; Register

Jennifer Wadella

The FabFems Spotlight highlights women from the FabFems Role Model Directory. FabFems are enthusiastic about the science and technology work they do and want to inspire a future generation of FabFems. Search the Role Model Directory to find FabFems to connect with in your area.

Meet Jennifer, Software Engineer at SMRxT. She loves building javascript applications and speaking at technical conferences. Jennifer is an active member of the Kansas City tech community and the founder of Kansas City Women in Technology (KCWiT), a non-profit aimed at growing the number of women in technology careers in Kansas City. Visit Jennifer's profile to learn more.

We benefit from role models at all stages of our lives. The FabFems Role Model Directory is excited to have more college students joining the directory and recognizing the power they have as role models.

Stay connected to FabFems:

Upcoming STEM Events

Sharing Solutions: Advancing Girls in STEM

Bryn Mawr, PA; March 19-20, 2015

Attendees will discuss "the leaky pipeline" and the persistence of girls and women in STEM fields. Sessions are designed to generate an exchange of ideas, with the goal of learning from each other, and examining lessons learned. Register

National Society of Black Engineers Convention

Anaheim, CA; March 25-29, 2015
This year's them is "Innovation and Excellence: Re-imagining Your Future", which will showcase innovation in a variety of traditional and emerging fields. Workshops will introduce new technologies and provide a blueprint plan for igniting entrepreneurial spirit to thinking beyond what is common. Register

National Women in Cybersecurity Conference
Atlanta, GA; March 27-28, 2015
This conference brings together women in cybersecurity from academia, research, and industry. Participants will have the opportunity for networking and mentoring. Register

National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity Professional Development Institute

Alexandria, VA; April 20-23, 2015

Sessions will provide practitioners with research-based strategies and innovative tools to help implement best practices. The latest research and policy considerations related to equity, education, and careers will be presented. Register

BOOST (Best of Out-of-School Time) Conference
Palm Springs, CA; April 28 - May 1, 2015
Participants will have the opportunity to network, participate in team-building activities, and learn about the latest trends and research in innovative and quality out-of-school time programming. Register

National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) STEM Forum & Expo

Minneapolis, MN; May 20-23, 2015

The NSTA STEM Forum and Expo brings together informal and formal educators and exhibiting companies who are interested in, and/or who have tools and resources to share that will ensure successful implementation of STEM education into our schools and communities. Register

Smithsonian Latino Center's Young Ambassadors Program

Washington DC; June 21- July 31, 2015

The Young Ambassadors Program is a college preparatory and leadership program to encourage high school seniors to explore a wide range of academic and career opportunities through the lens of the Latino experience. Students will be selected for an all-expense paid, interdisciplinary training to be held in Washington, D.C., and a four-week paid internship in a museum and cultural institution. Application deadline is April 6, 2015. Apply

Champions for Collaboration

NGCP Champions Board members are selected to provide the NGCP with a balance of expertise and regional representation. We highlight Champions Board members to inspire and inform your work to engage girls in STEM. This month we feature Randy Freedman, Outreach Manager for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).

Randy Freedman

What excites you most about your work? At SWE's annual outreach event, Invent It. Build. It., a middle school girl told us she, "felt like a mini-engineer". Seeing and hearing that spark is what excites me most about my work. Designing and implementing programs that ignite that spark with a team of brilliant and dedicated engineers who volunteer of their time is also extremely rewarding.

What do you most appreciate in a collaborator? One of the keys to effective collaboration is finding partners with complementary strengths. I appreciate partners that help us leverage our strengths and theirs. An example of this is our collaboration with FabFems. SWE presidents are often inundated with requests for volunteers. By encouraging SWE members to become FabFems we can take the onus off of the SWE president and help match members to volunteer opportunities more directly.

Who are your role models? There are so many role models who have influenced me, but my mom stands above all. At 71 she is the Clinical Director of a large chemical dependency and mental health facility, a great friend, and confidant to me. Her life-long commitment to the underserved and to the community is an inspiration.

What advice would you give to the NGCP community? Encourage a growth mindset!

STEM Resources

March is National Women's History Month!

The 2015 theme is "Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives", encouraging women to share their stories to encourage girls and young women to think larger and bolder, and give boys and men a fuller understanding of the female experience.

Untold History of Women in Science and Technology

Listen to women from the White House Administration tell the stories of their personal heroes across the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Maryam Mirzakhani

Maryam Mirzakhani is the first woman to ever win the Fields Medal, known as the "Nobel Prize of mathematics", in recognition of her contributions to the understanding of the symmetry of curved surfaces.

Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection

This data collection has a wide range of data on access and equity. The data is collected from U.S. public schools and includes data about K-12 mathematics and science and Advanced Placement course-taking, and customizable charts and data tables.

Motorola Solutions Foundation Grants

Motorola Solutions Foundation is accepting applications for the Innovation Generation grants. These grants provide funding to STEM education programs that engage students in innovative, hands-on activities, teach innovative thinking and creative problem-solving skills, focus on girls and underrepresented minorities, collaborate with other STEM education providers or institutions, and demonstrate measurable change in STEM awareness, skills, or education through the use of evaluation systems and appropriate measurement tools. The application deadline is March 20, 2015.

NGCP Program Directory: Search for Collaborating Programs or Register Your Program! The online Program Directory highlights 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.

Global Resources

Mobile Learning Week 2015

Mobile Learning Week 2015, Leveraging Technology to Empower Women and Girls, was celebrated February 23-27, 2015. A symposium, forum, and research seminar were held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to encourage conversations about gender-sensitive approaches to the application and use of ICT in education. The Global Girls Collaborative Project led a workshop titled, Using Collaboration to Empower Women and Girls in Science and Technology Education. The interactive workshop included hands-on activities designed to facilitate collaboration and provided an overview of the current research on collaboration and the importance of collaboration in engaging girls in ICT.

NCWIT's International Women's Day-in-a-Box
International Women's Day takes place each year on March 8 during Women's History Month, marking a time to celebrate women's achievements, call for change, and advocate for equality. The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) has designed a International Women's Day-in-a-Box resource to help IT companies and departments celebrate successes, address barriers to women's full participation in IT, and promote diversity in order to become globally competitive.

Discover e Global Marathon

Online; March 9-11, 2015

The Global Marathon is a free, virtual forum designed for, by, and about women. In conjunction with International Women's Day, the Marathon is a collaborative place for individuals and organizations to gain knowledge, network, and inspire and share personal and professional contributions that women make in the world. Register

International Girls in Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Day

Global; April 23, 2015

International Girls in ICT Day is an opportunity for girls and young women to see and experience ICTs in a new light, encouraging them to consider a future in technology. To date, over 111,000 girls and young women have taken part in more than 3,500 events held in 140 countries around the world. Learn more about organizing an event on the International Telecommunications Union Girls in ICT Portal.

Partners

About Us

The National Girls Collaborative Project? is partially funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, GSE/EXT: National Girls Collaborative Project: Building the Capacity of STEM Practitioners to Develop a Diverse Workforce, Grant No. HRD-1103073.