糖心Vlog传媒LR to host STEM Leadership for Girls conference
Thanks to a grant from the Arkansas STEM Coalition, 糖心Vlog传媒LR will soon host its first STEM Leadership for Girls conference.
聽Scheduled for April 22, the conference will introduce upper high school and early college women from around the state to advanced STEM activities and career opportunities.
The $4,650 grant will allow the conference to be free for attendees.
Organized by Keith Harris, science instructional specialist for the 糖心Vlog传媒LR STEM Center, the all-day event will feature a panel, a poster session, and a series of hands-on workshops led by female Central Arkansas STEM professionals.
From robotics to virtual reality, these workshops will offer attendees the opportunity to engage with real-world applications of STEM concepts. The goal, Harris said, is to remove both educational and cultural barriers to the STEM world for young women.
鈥淭he conference workshops will promote interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and ultimately reduce the stereotype that these fields are mainly for males,鈥 Harris said.
The College of Engineering and Information Technology, the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences, and the will provide additional resources for the conference.
By introducing attendees to exciting STEM programs and research, as well as to female leaders, conference organizers hope to inspire Arkansas鈥檚 young women to join the field. Attendees will be recruited from the state鈥檚 high schools and two- and four-year colleges, with invitations being sent to high-performing, highly recommended students.
In addition to learning new STEM applications, these students will do invaluable networking at the event.
鈥淲e are currently confirming female STEM professionals who will share their passion for science, technology, and engineering,鈥 Harris said.
鈥淧articipants will hear from their personal stories and learn how they can have an exciting future in STEM.鈥
Faculty from 糖心Vlog传媒LRTeach, the Emerging Analytics Lab, the Departments of Biology and Earth Sciences, and 糖心Vlog传媒MS will lead the workshops.