WATERLOO, Ont. (Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010) - More than 150 young women interested in what a future in engineering could hold for them will make their way to the University of Waterloo campus on Saturday, Oct. 16 for the sixth annual Go Eng Girl! event. The girls, in Grades 7 to 10, will have the chance to discover firsthand what engineering is all about.
Waterloo’s event is part of a provincial initiative to spark interest in engineering at a time when young girls are thinking about their future careers and are choosing the courses that will prepare them for further education. On the same day, 15 other Go Eng Girl! locations across Ontario will be alive with engineering-related activities. Organizers expect over 1,000 girls to participate this year.
“This event is meant to open the eyes of these young, talented and smart girls to the range of careers that an education in engineering can provide for them,' said Mary Wells, chair of Waterloo’s Go Eng Girl!, and associate dean of engineering outreach. “Parents are always amazed at the opportunities studying engineering can provide to their daughters as well as the importance of continuing to study mathematics and sciences in high school to ensure they keep their options open for university.”
The girls and their parents will have their own programming for the day, with the girls participating in age-appropriate group activities where they’ll solve a fun but complex engineering task.
Girls in Grades 7 and 8 will design and build a functioning device that cushions an egg after it is dropped, while Grade 9 and 10 girls will design and build a functioning automobile powered by a balloon. After the designs are complete, everyone will be invited to attend an information fair showcasing various student groups and offering further information about admissions and co-operative education.
"These fun activities are a great example of how hands-on learning, one of the things the University of Waterloo is known for, influences success," said Wells, who is also a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering.
The event begins at 9 a.m. with registration in the J.R. Coutts Engineering Lecture Hall, followed by welcoming remarks from Adel Sedra, dean of engineering, and Wells.
After an inspirational talk by Sylvia Wu, a current Waterloo engineering student, parents and the girls divide into their specific programming: the girls taking part in their activities and the parents attending a speaker series of female engineering graduates. After a free lunch, members of an undergraduate student panel will share their engineering experiences.
Participants must have pre-registered. More information can be found at www.engineering.uwaterloo.ca/wie/goenggirl.html.
Parking is free in lot C for attendees during the Go Eng Girl! event.
About Waterloo Engineering
The faculty of engineering at the University of Waterloo is a multi-faceted engineering school with eight academic units, home to about 260 faculties, more than 1,840 graduate students and 6,340 undergraduate students. More than 33,000 alumni have made their mark in industry, academe and the public sector, in Canada and around the world. For further information, go to www.engineering.uwaterloo.ca.
