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When the College of Engineering holds its inaugural Girl Scout Day on Saturday, April 26, the event will offer all the fun and excitement of a game show but it will be the participants quizzing the hosts for answers that could lead to future careers.
Sponsored by the Fluor Corporation in association with the university?s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, Girl Scout Day will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and feature the theme ?Who Wants to be an Engineer?? More than 150 Junior Girl Scouts (4th-6th graders) from the Girl Scouts ? Spanish Trails Council are expected to take part, going through five workstations while earning their ?Making It Matter? badge and learning engineering fundamentals.
?Engineering is a great career for girls to pursue. It?s an exciting field. An engineer uses her math and science skills coupled with creativity and imagination to solve problems,? says Barbara Hacker, professor of chemical & materials engineering and the campus director of Girl Scout Day. ?We want to help girls realize that engineering is fun and they can do it.?
The event corresponds with the Girl Scouts? mission of inspiring girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism and service, helping them become happy and resourceful citizens. And the combination is a natural one, considering Cal Poly Pomona and the Girl Scouts share a similar ?learn by doing? philosophy.
This event would not be possible without the volunteer efforts of numerous university students, faculty and staff members. Engineering faculty scheduled to lead the sessions are Barbara Hacker and Winny Dong, chemical & materials engineering; Julie Wei and Francelina Neto, civil engineering; Kathleen Hayden, electrical & computer engineering; and Sima Parisay, industrial & manufacturing engineering.
Workstations to be visited during the day include:
- Making a Polymer ? Each Girl Scout will make a polymer from Borax, glue and water.
- Making Connections ? Girl Scouts will learn about electrical circuits and the difference between electrical conductors and insulators.
- Engineering in Action ? College students will lead Girl Scouts through campus engineering labs and show projects such as solar cars and concrete canoes.
- Base-ic Facts ? Girl Scouts will test different solutions to see if they are an acid or base.
- Computer Engineering ? Girl Scouts will work at computer stations using engineering simulation software.
For more than a decade the College of Engineering has hosted a similar program, Merit Badge Day, during which Boy Scouts from across Southern California come to campus. Both community programs are designed to introduce young people to a potential profession.
For more information on Girl Scout Day, contact the College of Engineering at (909) 869-2600.