For more information regarding next year’s tech girls program contact the WPI Office of Multicultural Affairs.

While the children were completing their scheduled activities, including density and safety goggle projects, the parents attended an interactive college financial planning panel discussion, and also a robotics demonstration. The panel, led by Tiana Carrasquillo of Assumption College, Hadley Camilus of Quinsigamond Community College, and Sue Sontgerath of WPI, explained the admissions process and financial related applications that parents will have to fill out in the future.  During the panel parents were encouraged to ask questions pertaining to these topics.  The robotics demonstration was of a project created by current WPI graduate students. Parents watched as the robot moved, and picked up objects, with its two arms, all while being controlled in a separate room.  This project is undergoing testing to determine how user friendly the software is.  Lastly, the parents observed an exhibition of what their children learned and made throughout the day. All in all, this STEM Saturday Program was not only informative, but also interactive and fun for both children and parents.

The majority of the ideas as to why women’s rights have been such a struggle to obtain in the middle east, stem back to religion, and the idea of secularity.  According to Professor Tohidi, without separating church and state it is almost impossible to create new laws, and instill new ideas. This is because the current laws solidify male dominance.  Political unrest, sexual terrorism, protests, and violence are all common occurrences that occur, and are depicted in the media.  However, throughout it all Professor Tohidi emphasized that the situation is getting better. As a self-proclaimed optimist she stressed women must not lose hope, because despair and giving up the fight is what the opponent wants. Change won’t be easy, but change is what is necessary to keep up with an ever-improving world.

Mario Reed, president of the WPI BSU, and narrator of the evening, began the event with an introduction, which included an excerpt from the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston. This passage, performed by current undergraduate students, highlighted how important it is to be thankful for the work of our ancestors, who influenced the way life is today.  After the appetizers and main course had been served, representatives seated at each table stood, and talked about how the novel effected them, and what we, as a population and community, can do to rebuild the world. Some spoke of hardships within their families, and how they’ve struggled to succeed.  Others recited poems, and supplementary excerpts from stories that pertained to them. In conclusion, President Berkey wrapped up the night with the story of his own path to where he is today, and how it is important to be grateful for what we have.  His closing remarks reminded everyone that in order to succeed as a population we must all work together, and not only that but to be optimistic about how it will all turn out. All in all, this was a wonderful event, enjoyed by all, that highlighted and appreciated the current African American community and past leaders who laid the foundation for the way things are today.

Innovative problem solving, and teamwork abilities are two important traits that one must have in order to succeed in engineering. The elementary school aged girls who attended the “Introducing Girls to Engineering Day” event, hosted by the WPI Office of Multicultural Affairs, improved these qualities through a series of activities. Communication skills, brainstorming, and creative thinking were just a few notions that were needed to complete the windmill, package engineering, water filtration, and water feeder activities.   At every 45-minute activity, a new topic was covered, for instance at the windmill activity the girls learned about converting wind energy into energy that can help complete a task.  In other words, they used hair dryers to push the panels of their windmills to rotate a bar that lifted a cup filled with pennies.  With scheduled snack breaks throughout the entire session, and a liquid nitrogen ice cream making conclusion, these girls not only learned about engineering, but also had a lot of fun.

Tech Girls is a program for middle school aged girls, offered by WPI’s Office of Multicultural Affairs. Planned, and taught by current WPI students, the purpose of this program is to get young women interested in science and technology.  Tech Girls meets for two hours, twice a month. Each meeting offers a new glimpse into the different aspects of the applications of science and technology in the real world.

While the children were completing their scheduled activities the parents attended an interactive student panel, financial college planning information session, and a presentation run by the WPI Office of Summer Programs.  All four of the students on the panel are current undergraduates, while two of those are ambassadors of United Technologies Corporation (UTC). The students each talked about their personal journey in getting involved with a STEM related field, and projects they have completed at WPI. The financial planning presentation was run by a consultant, Stephanie Wells, from MEFA, who talked about necessary steps parents should take in preparing to pay for their child’s future college education. The Summer Programs’ presentation provided vital information regarding the numerous programs available for middle school aged children at WPI over this upcoming summer. A parent question and answer session followed each of these presentations. Lastly, the parents observed an exhibition of what their children learned and made throughout the day. All in all, this STEM Saturday Program was not only informative, but also interactive and fun for both children and parents.

For more information on the STEM Saturday Program, please contact the WPI Office of Multicultural Affairs