Susan Ganter

Evelyn Brown

Leslie Pagliari

Cindy Putnam-Evans

Mary Farwell

Margaret Wirth

More than 85 Pitt County middle school students were exposed to the fun side of science, technology, engineering, math and medicine on April 1. Making this day camp a little different: The participants were all girls. The first STEM2 Girls Conference brought eighth-grade girls from 11 Pitt County schools to East Carolina University’s campus to encourage the girls to pursue advanced math and science courses during high school.

“Research has shown that up to sixth grade girls want to go into science and math, but then it plateaus in the seventh and eighth grade,” said Margaret Wirth, director of the Center for Science, Mathematics and Technology Education.  “We’re trying to stop that curve.”

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Numerous studies indicate that earning an undergraduate STEM degree is related to students' first-semester college GPA and enrollment in mathematics and science "gatekeeper" courses. Performance in mathematics and selection of STEM majors (careers) in higher education is of particular importance to girls in eastern North Carolina, to help overcome the disadvantages of rural poverty and/or minority status.  The goal of this project is to increase advanced mathematics course selection by girls entering secondary education in an effort to increase the number of girls pursuing post-secondary education and ultimately selecting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors and careers.

In Fall 2011, a one-day MAGIC Conference will be held at ECU for 100 eighth grade girls. The girls will be selected by Pitt County Schools and transported to the campus with supervising teachers to participate in the conference, which will emphasize mathematically-focused activities in the STEM disciplines led by professional STEM women. Areas of representation will include, but are not limited to, mathematics, education, biology, chemistry, engineering, technology and health/medicine. The 8th grade girls will engage in a round robin set of applied mathematics and experiential learning sessions throughout the day. Faculty and other professionals from the various disciplines will involve the girls in interactive activities designed to increase their interest in mathematics and science. The day will include a motivational speaker, team building, and a culminating activity. These sessions are specifically designed to encourage the girls to enroll in Algebra 1 or higher mathematics courses in the 9th grade.

Subsequently, the STEM professionals will visit the girls at their schools during Spring 2012, to continue promoting high school mathematics courses while offering opportunities to register for a summer STEM experience. The STEM Girls Summer Program will provide a one-week intensive educational experience for middle school students, exposing them to rich mathematical real –life applications. These half-day sessions will allow the students to rotate through five different experiences each day, integrating applied mathematics with the sciences and engineering while emphasizing problem solving techniques. The five days STEM Girls Summer Program will provide a coordinated in-depth look at each discipline through a mathematical lens culminating with a family night at ECU to inform students and their parents about STEM careers and the many STEM options that ECU offers. A Speakers Bureau will be developed during the fall and promoted in Spring 2012 that includes female faculty available to visit local schools and speak to students throughout the school year on STEM2 topics and careers.