GEM-SET

The Girls’ E-Mentoring in Science, Engineering, and Technology (GEM-SET) program is designed to expand the opportunities for girls and women to enter and succeed in education and careers in science, engineering and technology (SET). GEM-SET realizes the importance of encouraging girls to enter rapidly growing, traditionally male dominated SET fields that will provide them with future jobs offering competitive salaries and economic self-sufficiency. The GEM-SET program offers e-mentoring opportunities, which connect girls with women in SET fields who encourage them to take classes in SET, show them that SET careers are fun, exciting and challenging, and share experiences to help them overcome concerns and barriers in SET. Through the GEM-SET listserv girls ask questions and receive answers from mentors in a safe and effective manner, which are then sent to each participant through the Daily Digest. The GEM-SET Web site (www.gem-set.org) provides biographies of mentors, archives of past Daily Digests, and GEM-SET activities as tools for raising interest and learning about SET.

T.W.I.S.T.E.R.

Tennessee Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research (“ T.W.I.S.T.E.R.”), a conference for high school-age girls across the state hosted by the Adventure Science Center , encourages young women to pursue science and technology careers. Participants experience hands-on activities and discussion during sessions led by women in a variety of science fields. Additionally, attendees can compete in an essay contest to win a $500.00 scholarship from Women in Technology in Tennessee . The students have the opportunity to participate in individual workshops according to their own interests in areas including Aerospace, Engineering, Chemistry, Construction management, Forensic science, Nursing, Pharmacology, Veterinary medicine and more. In these workshops participants spend the day learning from and with local women role models who are professionals in each field. This program allows girls to experience non-traditional careers in a fun day of learning.

Engineering a Future

Engineering a Future is a hands-on learning workshop for girls in 5th to 8th grade that teaches them about careers in engineering through fun activities and mentoring by women engineering professionals and students. This program shows girls the exciting possibilities of an engineering career by examining how engineers use problem solving and creativity to change the world around them. Girls examine products designed by engineers, participate in learning activities that show them how fun engineering can be, and interact with engineers who can answer their questions about pursuing a career in engineering. This program is currently held annually at Tennessee Technological University in February.