Subscribe to LSUWire
Send this to a friend
| Subscribe to LSUWire
|
|
Send this to a friend
|
| BATON ROUGE – The LSU College of Engineering, or CoE, has partnered with two major industry leaders to provide a two-week engineering experience to introduce promising female high school students to LSU and the field of engineering through basic instruction, workshop activities and contact with industry professionals. Sponsored by Marathon and Fluor and hosted by the CoE Office for Diversity Programs, the 2009 Exploration Camp for Inspiring Tomorrow’s Engineers, or XCITE, will be held July 6 - 17 on the LSU campus. This annual pre-college summer program for girls entering 9th and 10th grades is based on general engineering curriculum including science, technology and mathematics courses. Girls will learn about what various types of engineers do through hands-on activities, engineering design projects and an introduction to academic research, professional engineers and their work environments. Additionally, each program participant will have the opportunity to participate in discussions about gender issues in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines, experience college life, develop communication skills and experience team building and leadership activities. Without the encouragement of teachers and professionals, as well as opportunities to investigate science in fun, inquiry-based learning activities, students have limited information to base their future decisions for course study on. The result is that they may not have taken the necessary preparatory classes to consider majoring in an engineering discipline in college. XCITE is designed to spark participants’ interest in engineering by providing hands-on experience projects, introducing basic engineering concepts, facilitating interaction with industry professionals, LSU engineering alumni and LSU engineering professors, as well as building confidence through leadership and team-building activities. XCITE campers will live in LSU’s on-campus housing, attend classes, participate in experiments, work on individual and team/group projects and hear informative and motivational talks by guest speakers. Organizing an engineering summer camp and getting high school students engaged during summer vacation isn’t easy, but previous participants have confirmed that the camps are making a difference, as those campers typically apply to LSU’s CoE after high school. Selected highlights of the camp include: Introduction to Engineering: Hands-on Activities of Engineering Disciplines Engineering Design Projects Math and Science Courses Introduction to College Life Teamwork and Leadership Activities Mentoring Communication Skills Development In 2007, the CoE established the Office for Diversity Programs, overseeing both the Women in Engineering Program and Minority Engineering Program. The Office for Diversity Programs initiatives focus on the recruitment and retention of female and minority students to thereby improve overall enrollment and graduation rates, and enhance diversity both within the CoE and the workforce. The college’s goal in establishing the Office for Diversity Programs is “to enhance the academic environment for talented female and minority students and to increase the visibility of highly qualified women and minorities in all sectors of engineering.” Attracting aspiring students to CoE and fostering their educational development underscores the importance of short- and long-term efforts of the Office for Diversity Programs. MEDIA NOTE: Photo opportunities include: Wednesday, July 8, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Industry Panel Lunch will include several LSU alumni and industry representatives and high school students from the XCITE camp, sharing ideas and experiences in Room 2412 of Patrick F. Taylor Hall. Thursday, July 9, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Students will being doing “scope on a rope” in Room 101 of the Construction Management building behind Patrick F. Taylor Hall. Friday, July 10, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Students will take readings and samples at the LSU lakes. Monday, July 13, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, July 15, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.; and Thursday, July 16, 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. The Design Project of Environmental Engineering will be held in Room 101 of the Construction Management building behind Patrick F. Taylor Hall. -30- |
 |  |  |
|