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Abstract:
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As women working in technical fields, we have a unique opportunity to inspire the interest and success of young women in science and technology. As powerful and influential women, we partner with professionals, educators and parents in our community to have an impact on growing the pipeline of young women who become scientists and engineers. The IBM EX.I.T.E. (EXploring Interests in Technology and Engineering) camp program held in Austin, Texas is one of 48 camps worldwide, and is a shining example of this kind of partnership. Held in Austin for the past six years, this program has directly touched over 150 girls in the Austin and surrounding communities by providing a week-long engineering and technology camp and a year-long mentoring program.
During the week of Austin EX.I.T.E. camp held each summer, 25 to 30 girls from local schools are exposed to hands-on projects from diverse fields including engineering, forensics, robotics, and more. Working on small teams with a dedicated counselor, they complete challenging and fun, individual and team, projects. Professionals from the community volunteer to lead projects and speak about technology and science, as well as self-confidence, self-esteem and presentation skills. The goal of the camp is to provide the girls with a renewed excitement for science and technology, and to grant acknowledgement of their power and importance in their communities.
After EX.I.T.E. camp, the mentoring program ensures that the girls continue to be supported by professional women in their community. Face-to-face activities compliment an email exchange to provide a strong stand for the participants? success in any endeavor. We incorporate Central Texas eWeek with visits during the school year, and participate in IBM grant programs to provide technology for participating schools. In these ways, we expand our influence to the schools and communities. In addition to the participation of professionals and corporations, each year we have the support of principals, teachers, and parents, building bridges in the community that will stand long after the girls leave the camp.
In this paper and presentation, we discuss the operation of IBM EX.I.T.E. camp in Austin, Texas, and the benefits of the program.
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