Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold sm

Girls Inc.: Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold.

After all, a girl is not an object that one can treat and manipulate like a puppet, a girl is someone who needs love, kindness, and someone who understands them.  

Stefany, 15 

Girls Advance into Scientific Frontiers

Girls Advance into Scientific Frontiers
Girls Inc. prepares girls for science, math, engineering, and technology careers with funding from the National Science Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2002

New York City, New York-- Men out number women in science, math, engineering, and technology fields. Women earn only 18 percent of the doctorates in computer science in the U.S. and 12 percent of all engineering Ph.Ds. But Girls Incorporated'with the help of a $2.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF)'hopes to inspire a new cadre of female physicists, software, developers, and architects that will close the gap.

Girls Inc. Thinking SMART is a science and engineering program for adolescent girls, especially girlsfrom low-income families, and diverse ethnic backgrounds and girls with disabilities. Thinking SMART introduces girls to interesting science, math, and technology careers and pairs them with accomplished women in these industries.

The program engages girls in team projects within four areas: Material Girls (structural engineering/architecture), Eco Girls (ecology/environmental engineering), Space Girls (space/physics), and Net Girls (computer science). It also includes a mentoring initiative, online activities and training, and resource materials. Science, math, and technology professionals and girls at Girls Inc. affiliates in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Indiana are currently piloting the four modules. At the end of the five-year grant period, Thinking SMART will be distributed nationwide through a network of more than 1,500 Girls Inc. program sites.

Megan Andersen, of the New Hampshire center, has built picnic tables for a local park with her team. Their next project requires the group to measure, cut, and sand wood for a gazebo. 'I'm proud of what we built. Usually, you see men at a construction site, not women. This proves that we can get along and get the job done,' says the 13-year-old.

Devoted to making the U.S. a world leader in scientific advancement, the NSF is the only federal agency dedicated to supporting cutting-edge education and fundamental research in all scientific and engineering disciplines. Girls Inc. received its first grant from the NSF in 1985.

'We're pleased that girls and women are at the forefront of the NSF's agenda, and we appreciate their support,' says Joyce M. Roch', president and CEO of Girls Inc. 'Thinking SMART opens girls' minds to wonderful, alternative careers within their reach.'

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