Media Advisory: Carnegie Mellon University's Institute for Complex Engineered Systems Hosts Summer Engineering Experience for Girls

July 17, 2012

Contact: Chriss Swaney
Carnegie Mellon University
412.268.5776

Event: Women make up 48 percent of the workforce, but hold just 24 percent of the jobs in science, engineering and technology.

To help change those statistics, Carnegie Mellon's Institute for Complex Engineered Systems (ICES) is hosting a two week summer program designed to entice more women to consider engineering as a career goal. Twenty junior high female students from area Pittsburgh public and private schools will participate in a litany of problem-solving and team-building activities designed to pique interest in engineering.

Gabriela Hug, an assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering, will lead the activity, "Energy Management" which introduces the girls to the opportunities and challenges of wind generation. They will conduct a lab exercise where participants build wind turbines out of small DC motors and learn about the impact of the blade angle on the power generated by the wind generators. The interactive lab session also will feature experiments demonstrating the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources.

"It is extremely important to entice more women into these critical engineering and science careers," said Hug. "I myself was inspired to study electrical engineering after participating in such an exploration week. I hope that this program has similar effects on some of the girls."

When: 2 p.m., Thursday, July 19.

Where: Tung-Au Lab, Baker-Porter Hall off Frew Street, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213.