{"id":2603,"date":"2013-12-03T20:50:20","date_gmt":"2013-12-03T20:50:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ecm.eng.auburn.edu\/wp\/emag\/?p=2603"},"modified":"2013-12-12T15:57:23","modified_gmt":"2013-12-12T15:57:23","slug":"girls-engineer-change-at-summer-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecm.eng.auburn.edu\/wp\/emag\/?p=2603","title":{"rendered":"Girls engineer change . . . at summer camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"11194371896_f00b298957_b\"<\/a>The Auburn Creed states, \u201cI believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.\u201d Twenty rising 8th-, 9th- and 10th-grade girls from around the country embodied this part of the creed by spending a week at the College of Engineering<\/a>\u2019s first Women in Engineering Camp. The camp, held in July on the Auburn campus, provided the opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in engineering and with scientific design processes.<\/p>\n

Virginia Davis<\/strong><\/a>, Mary and John H. Sanders associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, is focused on promoting engineering careers for women and minorities. She saw a need to participate in the camp to provide educational opportunities to students, as well as increase female representation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see significant issues with diversity,\u201d says Davis. \u201cIf current proportions hold true, we won\u2019t have the engineers, economists or mathematicians that we need. We must get women and minorities engaged.\u201d<\/p>\n

Phylesia Hill<\/strong>, a senior in mechanical engineering and camp counselor, recognized the need to encourage women to choose engineering.<\/p>\n

\u201cEngineering is known to be a male-dominated field, and it is comforting, as a female, to see other females with the same interests,\u201d she says. \u201cHaving a women\u2019s only camp for engineering is important.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Flickr\"<\/a> view  Auburn Engineering<\/a> on flickr   \"Auburn<\/a><\/div><\/div>
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To kick off the week, Bonnie Wilson<\/strong>, Auburn\u2019s coordinator for the Women in Science and Engineering Institute, introduced participants to the engineering design process including how to identify a problem or opportunity for improvement, research, brainstorm solutions, select an approach, and finally, prototype, test and refine a design. The girls put this process to the test by creating ping pong ball launchers before moving on to a more serious matter on a global scale.<\/p>\n

Wilson discussed a number of everyday challenges faced by women in Ukunda, Kenya, the birthplace of Auburn alumna Esther Ngumbi. Esther, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Entomology, and her parents opened a primary school \u2013 the Faulu Academy \u2013 in Ukunda after her parents retired from public service in 2011.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe campers learned about life without running water and electricity, and were challenged to research and create solutions to these everyday obstacles to benefit the lives of students at the school,\u201d says Wilson. The girls brainstormed and researched a variety of issues and developed prototype solutions that they presented to Ngumbi. Among the items developed were a long handled spoon for cooking, a flexible gutter system for collecting rainwater, and reusable cooling packs for refrigeration, as well as underground water storage solutions and a rigid gutter system.<\/p>\n

Hill noted that Ngumbi\u2019s reaction to the campers\u2019 finished projects was the highlight of the Women in Engineering Camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the girls saw how amazed she was, they realized that being an engineer is more than creating things \u2013 being an engineer is creating things that change lives,\u201d says Hill.<\/p>\n

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\"Flickr\"<\/a> view  Auburn Engineering<\/a> on flickr   \"Auburn<\/a><\/div><\/div>
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The campers were also shown how engineering impacts everyday challenges that most Americans and people from other first-world countries never face. Thomas Baginski<\/strong><\/a>, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, presented student-made, low-cost water purifiers that prevent water-borne diseases in impoverished locations. Today, more than five countries, most recently India, are reaping the benefits of these one-of-a-kind purifiers. Baginksi explained how a pinch of salt and specially coated electrodes work together to produce chlorine compounds that sanitize the water to make it potable.<\/p>\n

Cheryl Seals<\/strong><\/a>, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, taught an introduction to computer programming class throughout the week. Campers were introduced to computing concepts, personal productivity tools, web page development and visual programming using the program Alice 3D. Lessons were put into action by having the students create a web page or interactive game about themselves, which they presented to the group.<\/p>\n

Participants also received a tour of the automotive manufacturing systems laboratory, or the \u201cLego Lab,\u201d from LuAnn Sims<\/strong>, graduate program coordinator and instructor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. In this lab, students use Legos to design and build vehicles at a rate of 70 cars per hour. Students produce three types of Lego vehicles: a 278-piece speedster, 254-piece SUV and 231-piece Baja car. The process requires 18 students, 15 for assembly operations and three for material delivery.<\/p>\n

Christine Schnittka<\/strong>, a joint assistant professor in the College of Engineering and College of Education, gave an introduction to electrical generation and energy transformations by appealing to the students\u2019 love of pets. In many regions, coal is the primary source of energy which ultimately harms the environment. By examining indicator species, such as amphibians and snails, scientists can see the effects of burning coal for energy. In her \u201cSave the Snails\u201d curriculum, Schnittka explained how to create electricity by capturing the energy from gravity, and in turn, limiting the use of coal.<\/p>\n

Schnittka developed the snail teaching curriculum to portray engineering as a real-world situation to helping animals. \u201cThey have empathy for animals and want to develop ways to help them,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

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\"Flickr\"<\/a> view  Auburn Engineering<\/a> on flickr   \"Auburn<\/a><\/div><\/div>
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In addition, campers worked with Davis and her research assistants to learn more about how chemical engineering can create a positive environmental impact. Tera Jo Stone<\/strong>, a senior in chemical engineering, created a “magic sand” demonstration using a hydrophobic coating that repels water. Stone\u2019s experiment served as an engaging example of how a small change in properties can affect an object\u2019s behavior, as well as the role chemical engineers play in environmental clean-up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s really important for girls to know that there are other female engineers in the College of Engineering,\u201d says Stone. \u201cI really like when all sorts of students, male and female, can come and have a good time and learn about our program in fun ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout the week, campers had the opportunity to meet with women engineers, including members of Auburn\u2019s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and the college\u2019s 100 Women Strong program.<\/p>\n

Jessica Taylor<\/strong><\/a>, undergraduate student recruiter for the College of Engineering, served as a coordinator and camp counselor for the week. As a female Auburn Engineering graduate, she thought there was no better way \u201cto expose women to the world of engineering than through a summer camp.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taylor sees the potential for future women\u2019s camps after determining the first one a success. \u201cI thoroughly enjoyed organizing the first Women in Engineering summer camp. With the help of many people, it was a successful week,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was such a fun and rewarding experience to see 20 girls get excited about engineering. I am truly looking forward to the next summer camp as we develop more ways to attract women into the field of engineering.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the end of the jam-packed week, parents were invited to the graduation ceremony held in the Shelby Center. Watching each girl walk proudly across the stage was a momentous occasion \u2013 20 potential engineers ready to take on the world.<\/p>\n

<\/div>
\"Flickr\"<\/a> view  Auburn Engineering<\/a> on flickr   \"Auburn<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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