Girls Can Explore Engineering in Summer GEE Program at U of M
For release: April 15, 2004
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

GEE, the world needs more women engineers. Why? Because nationally only 11 percent of engineers are women, as compared to the legal and medical professions, where fully one-third of each of those work forces is female, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Over the past two decades, the number of women enrolled in undergraduate engineering programs has changed little; currently, women make up 20 percent of engineering undergraduates.

This summer, the University of Memphis hopes to begin changing that statistic. Middle school girls can learn about the field during the fun, learn-by-doing Girls Experiencing Engineering (GEE) program at the U of M's Herff College of Engineering.

Through hands-on projects, program participants will discover what engineers do and how skills like creative thinking, problem-solving, and communication can contribute to their future success. GEE students will meet practicing women engineers, who will share information about their educational paths and careers.

GEE will offer a choice of two one-week sessions, June 7-11 or June 21-25. Activities will run from 8 a.m. to noon at the Herff College. There is no charge for the program, which is sponsored by the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis.

Girls who are living in Shelby County and who will be entering the seventh, eighth or ninth grades for the 2004-05 academic year are eligible to attend GEE. Middle school math and science teachers also may participate.

For more information, or to register, call 678-5282 or go online to www.ce.memphis.edu/gee.

More News Releases