Science Conference for Girls, Parents and Teachers at UCSB
The conference will offer a fun, inspiring and motivational day, geared toward increasing the number of women in STEM fields. The conference features keynote speaker Dr. Anita Sengupta, a NASA scientist who worked on the Mars Curiosity Rover. The conference features eight creative hands-on science workshops and special workshops for parents and educators to help them prepare teens for college and science careers.
WHO: Featured guest speakers Dr. Anita Sengupta, NASA scientist who worked on the Mars Curiosity Rover (keynote) and Robin McDougal, M.Ed., Author, The Pearl Project and What Color is Your Thinking?; Naiyma Houston, Founder and Director of Upper Hand to College; participating girls grades 6-12, and parents, teachers and chaperones who will attend a special selection of workshops.
Student workshops:
· Make Your Own Lip Balm
· Build a Water Filter
· Fun with Polymers
· Create a Prosthetic Hand Model
· Create Your Own Hand Sanitizer
· Challenge Your Design Skills; Hair Dryer Dissection
· Design a Hot Air Balloon
· Aquarium Visit
· Campus Tour of UCSB
WHAT: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) conference for girls in grades 6-12, parents and educators. The conference will offer a fun, inspiring and motivational day, geared toward
increasing the number of women in STEM fields; and providing tools for parents for education advocacy and preparing teens for college and science careers.
WHEN: Saturday, November 17 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
(Best time window: 10:30 a.m. – noon)
WHERE: UCSB Campus, Corwin Pavilion at the University Center
Few girls are pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields. A recent Girl Scout Research Institute study found that 17 percent of high school girls are interested in STEM fields, yet women account for only 20 percent of the bachelor’s degrees in engineering, computer science and physics. Furthermore, while women make up nearly 50 percent of the U.S. workforce, they hold less than 25 percent of the jobs in STEM.
“We want to help increase the number of women seeking careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields,” said Naiyma Houston, Founder and Director of Upper Hand to College. “We invite all girls, grades 6-12, to join us for this inspiring and fun-filled day to learn about the variety of career opportunities in STEM fields and meet and connect with female role models.”
Upon completion of the day’s workshops, participants will earn a Certificate of Participation from the 2012 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Conference.
The conference will also feature a separate track of workshops for parents, teachers and counselors where participants will learn why a STEM education is especially valuable for girls and how to best prepare girls for a STEM education in high school and college. Parents have the opportunity to participate in a Parent Academic Coaching session with Robin McDougal, M.Ed, author of The Pearl Project, and What Color is Your Thinking?
The economic future of California and the U.S. depends on developing a diverse and robust STEM workforce. Currently in the U.S. there are 3 million unfilled jobs that require STEM skills. Over the next ten years it is projected that STEM jobs will grow 17 percent compared to 9.8 percent for non-STEM jobs.
About Upper Hand to College
Upper Hand to College is an educational firm inspiring and empowering girls to seek careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Upper Hand to College supports students throughout their journey toward a STEM career; from grade school through college. Upper Hand to College provides tutoring in math and science, fun engaging after school programs and college counseling for our students, grades 6-12. For college students, we provide assistance seeking summer internships and scholarships. We serve students living in the areas of Ventura and Santa Barbara, California. For more information about Upper Hand to College, call (805) 984-2656 or click here.
