A group of girls entering the 7th grade are learning to design and fly a
radio-controlled airplane at Grand Valley as part of a summer camp aimed
at increasing interest in science and engineering among girls.
The Regional Math and Science Center and the Padnos School of
Engineering at Grand Valley, in conjunction with the Society of
Manufacturing Engineers Educational Foundation hosts STEPS (Science
Technology and Engineering Preview Summer) camp.
The STEPS program is a one-week introduction to the world of technology
and engineering for girls entering the 7th grade. The purpose of the
camp is to introduce young women to the opportunities for technical
careers early enough to influence their choices of math, science and
technical courses in middle school and high school.
STEPS provides an opportunity for girls to learn more about what
engineers do. The workshops are taught by instructors with a background
in engineering, technology and science. Activities include designing,
manufacturing and flying a radio-controlled airplane.
STEPS, a tuition-free, technology-based summer camp for girls, was
created in 1997 at the University of Wisconsin-Stout as part of an
effort to attract more woman and minorities into the field of
engineering early in their academic pursuits. The program targets young
people at two critical stages, as they enter seventh grade and then
again in 10th and 11th grades.
Celebrating its 70th anniversary, the Society of Manufacturing
Engineers is the world's leading professional society supporting
manufacturing education. Through its member programs, publications,
expositions, and professional development resources, SME promotes an
increased awareness of manufacturing engineering and helps keep
manufacturing professionals up to date on leading trends and
technologies. Headquartered in Michigan, SME influences more than half a
million manufacturing engineers and executives annually. The Society has
members in 70 countries and is supported by a network of hundreds of
chapters worldwide. For
more information, visit the society's Web site at www.sme.org.
Learning to fly
Aug 2, 2002
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