Ohio State camps inspire women, minorities to pursue engineering
The Ohio State University College of Engineering is trying to change the statistics. What statistics? According to the National Science Foundation, despite comprising 30 percent of the U.S. population, African Americans and Hispanics represent only 11 percent of those working in the science and engineering fields.
And while women make up half of the overall workforce, they held just 14.5 percent of engineering jobs in 2015.
“We’re problem solvers in engineering and having a diverse pool of engineers makes the solutions more holistic,” said Lisa Barclay, senior director of the college’s Office of Diversity, Outreach and Inclusion. “We can’t have excellence, we can’t have more engineers without women and underrepresented minorities being at the table.”
The first program, STARS (Students Taking Advantage of Resources in STEM), will be held June 11-16 for rising high school juniors or seniors, especially those from underrepresented and underserved populations, followed by RISE (Respected Involved Skilled and Empowered) for rising female high school junior and seniors June 18-23.
Led by faculty, staff and students, the camps’ hands-on science and engineering activities will occur throughout campus. Projects and activities include a weeklong robot programming challenge with Sparki robots, DIY audio speakers, RC car building at the Center for Automotive Research, an “electric” demonstration at the High Voltage Lab, a Spine Research Institute tour and much more.
The RISE and STARS programs are sponsored by the GM Foundation, with additional support from Delphi Automotive.
Editors: Reporters are welcome to attend and interview campers and instructors. Photographers and videographers are welcome to attend camp activities to capture photos or video. Contact Candi Clevenger (clevenger.87@osu.edu) for best days/times for footage and images, as well as logistics.
