Empowering Girls in Science and Engineering

Analysis of 2010 US Census Bureau data shows that the engineering workforce is predominantly male. Men engineers account for 88% of the workforce and women only for 12%. Minority women are even more severely underrepresented with only 4% of the engineering workforce being female minorities. Introducing girls to women in science and technology and exposing to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities can have a profound effect on their appreciation of the fields and encourage them to consider STEM related careers. On May 7, 2016, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) with support from the Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education Center (STRIDE) and American Association of University Women (AAUW) offered the UAB Girls in Science and Engineering Day at UAB, an event promoting STEM careers with hands on workshops for introducing middle school girls to engineering. The event provided a variety of experiential learning opportunities that engaged students in planning, design, and problem solving, promoted student creativity and teamwork, and provided a fun and positive experience. This report summarizes event activities and lessons learned. Overall, the event was very successful and the feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive.The activities undertaken in this project can serve as a model that other Universities can replicate to empower young students in becoming engineers and pursuing transportation engineering as a career choice.

• Record URL:
  https://stride.ce.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/STRIDE-Empowering-Girls-Final-Report-UAB013.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/36670
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/37347
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Alabama, Birmingham

  1170 Administration Building
  701 20th Street South
  Birmingham, AL  United States  35294

  Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education Center (STRIDE)

  University of Florida
  365 Weil Hall
  Gainesville, FL  United States  32611

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Sisiopiku, Virginia P
• Publication Date: 2016-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 33p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Education and training; Females; Transportation careers; Transportation engineering
• Candidate Terms: Middle school students
• Identifier Terms: Science, Techology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01683981
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Project UF-EIES-1200009-UAB TO13
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 23 2018 6:12PM