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GE Girls at UCONN, a five-day learning program from July 20 to 24, is sponsored by GE Women’s Network of GE Corporate and GE Capital, in collaboration with the University of Connecticut and Stamford Public Schools.
Research shows a majority of young girls have an interest and proficiency in STEM, yet may not fully understand the academic and career opportunities available to them. Additionally, middle school girls begin to lose interest in STEM just as they begin considering their future options, according to a press release.
"We are thankful for the opportunity to expose our middle school girls to a rich and engaging STEM experience,” said Dolan Middle School seventh-grade science teacher Brian Ruckdeschel in a press release. “The goal is not only to build short-term STEM interest, but also to have a long-term impact on future choices for women in STEM education and career opportunities. GE makes this possible through their generous STEM program."
Interested seventh-graders applied to participate in the program in the spring and were chosen through their schools. The curriculum includes experiments related to construction, programming, electronics, and chemistry-topics that directly translate to GE’s core values -- building, moving, powering and curing, according to a press release.
The participants will be conducting hands-on experiments, including computer programming, building a solar oven, and learning the chemistry behind making ice cream and lip gloss.
In addition to science and technology experiments, the girls also will have the opportunity to share stories and experiences with GE "Leaders in Residence." These women will serve as mentors and offer the girls real-life role models of women in STEM careers, according to a press release.
The girls also will have the opportunity to meet GE leaders through panel discussions and a graduation ceremony and celebration.
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