U of G Hosts Engineering Event for Girls
October 09, 2007 - News Release
The University of Guelph is one of 15 Ontario universities hosting a free one-day event for girls in grades 7 to 10 and their parents to showcase career opportunities in engineering.
The Go ENG Girl event runs Oct. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 1307 of the Thornbrough Building.
An initiative of the Ontario Network of Women in Engineering and supported by the Council of Ontario Deans of Engineering, the program aims to enhance young women's interest in engineering and encourage enrolment in engineering programs at the post-secondary level.
Currently women represent less than 20 per cent of first-year engineering classes in Ontario.
"It's important to expose girls to the world of engineering by allowing them to participate in fun hands-on design activities instructed by enthusiastic role models who are female engineering students at the University," said Andrea Woon-Fat, co-chair of the event and a liaison officer in the School of Engineering. "Encouraging girls to learn more about engineering may lead to a future career path, which would motivate them to continue taking math and science classes throughout high school."
While the girls are participating in different hands-on activities involving water filtration and a hydraulic arm, parents can take part in an information session consisting of a panel of faculty, undergraduates and graduate students. Afterwards, the girls will give their parents a presentation of what they worked on.
The day will also include lunch and an information fair where parents and their daughters can talk with various engineering-related organizations including Women in Science and Engineering, Creative Encounters, Engineers Without Boarders, U of G's Engineering race car team, the Biological Engineering Club and graduate research groups.
Participants are encouraged to register in advance. For more information and registration details for Go ENG Girl
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Deirdre Healey, Ext. 56982.
