Closing the GAPS (Girls Aren’t Pursuing Science): A Summer Institute to Foster Women Scientists and Engineers for rising 9th-11th grade students
June 13th-June 17th , from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Click here to download application.
Registration Deadline: May 17
Closing the GAPS Summer Institute will provide the opportunity for female participants, entering 9th through 11th grades, to share a well-planned week of hands-on and technology-based learning activities that promote collaboration and problem solving in an environment that engages and challenges participants. Hands-on projects include designing and building a CO2 racecar, airplanes, building a robotic arm (T-bot), building a car model, and more. In order to gain a better understanding of the real-world application of STEM fields and get access to industry professionals in the workforce, as well as high-tech equipment, students will visit two local industries: Keppel AmFELS and Regional Desalination Plant. College students participating in the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley Research Experience for Undergraduate (UTRGV-REU) program will also share their research experiences with institute participants.
Session topics and activities include:
- CO2 Racecar
- Model Airplanes
- Robotic Arm (T-bot)
- Wind Energy
- Balsa Bridges
- Solar Vehicles
- Industry Field Trips: Keppel AmFELS and Regional Desalination Plant
Participants who successfully complete this summer institute are expected to:
- Gain a better understanding of the real-world applications of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;
- Overcome negative attitudes and perceptions they may have about cultural, social, gender and other perceived barriers to women’s effective participation in STEM careers;
- Demonstrate satisfactory performance while engaging in engineering and other STEM projects;
- Collaboratively solve problems related to STEM topics.
Closing the GAPS Goals
- Provide young women with a better understanding of the real-world applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics;
- Spark and engage young women in engineering and other STEM activities;
- Help young women overcome negative attitudes and perceptions they may have about cultural, social, gender and other barriers to women’s effective participation in STEM careers;
- Introduce young under-represented women to a collegiate experience;
- Collaboratively solve problems.
Additional Information
Classes
Classes are team taught by TSC faculty, public school faculty, and undergraduate students with an emphasis on hands-on activities. Classes are interdisciplinary to allow participants to explore many aspects of STEM.
Registration Guidelines
All registration materials must be submitted and received in order to be considered for the summer institute. Scholarships to participate in the summer institute are available for eligible students. The summer institute is free and open to 9th to 11th grade high school students who are between the ages of fourteen (14) and nineteen (19).
For more information, contact Martha Casquette at [email protected].